Description
Homemade pickles from the Joy of Cooking deliver crisp, tangy perfection with classic dill and garlic notes. Salt, vinegar, and fresh cucumbers create a simple yet irresistible condiment you’ll want to savor with every crunchy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ½ Seedless Cucumber
Pickling Liquid:
- ½ Cup (120ml) Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ Cup (120ml) Distilled White Vinegar
- ½ Cup (120ml) Unseasoned Rice Vinegar
- ¾ Cup (180ml) Water
Seasoning:
- 2 Teaspoons Cane Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds (Optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a clean, heatproof jar large enough to accommodate the cucumber slices comfortably.
- Transform the seedless cucumber into delicate rounds or elongated spears, approximately 1/8 inch (0.3 centimeters) thick, creating uniform pickling pieces.
- Select your preferred vinegar variety – apple cider, distilled white, or unseasoned rice vinegar – measuring precisely 4 fluid ounces (120 milliliters).
- In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar with 6 fluid ounces (180 milliliters) of water, adding 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
- Optionally enhance the pickling liquid by incorporating 1 teaspoon of whole mustard seeds for additional aromatic complexity.
- Ignite the burner to medium-high heat, stirring the liquid mixture continuously until the sugar and salt dissolve completely, creating a transparent pickling solution.
- Gently transfer the cucumber slices into the prepared jar, arranging them to maximize space efficiency.
- Carefully stream the bubbling vinegar mixture over the cucumber slices, ensuring complete submersion and eliminating potential air pockets.
- Allow the jar to naturally cool to room temperature, which typically requires approximately 45-60 minutes.
- Securely seal the jar with a tight-fitting lid, then refrigerate for a minimum of 24 hours to allow flavor development and pickling transformation.
Notes
- Explore vinegar varieties that transform pickle flavor, from apple cider’s fruity essence to distilled white’s sharp bite and rice vinegar’s subtle sweetness.
- Customize your pickle’s personality by tossing in optional spices like mustard seeds, dill, garlic, peppercorns, or red pepper flakes for an extra flavor punch.
- Slice cucumber thickness dramatically impacts pickle texture and pickling speed, with thinner cuts pickling faster but potentially losing crunch.
- Cover cucumbers completely with vinegar solution to guarantee uniform pickling, topping up with extra liquid if necessary.
- Allow jars to cool before sealing and refrigerating, preventing over-softening and ensuring safe handling of your freshly made pickles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 12 kcal
- Sugar: 0.25 g
- Sodium: 0.19 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg