**Discover Culinary Delights: Cucumber Essentials and the Art of Horseradish Dill Pickling**
Journey into the realm of pickle perfection with our comprehensive guide to cucumber essentials and the art of horseradish dill pickling. In this culinary exploration, we present a collection of delectable recipes that transform ordinary cucumbers into extraordinary pickles, bursting with flavor and perfect for any occasion. Whether you're a seasoned pickling pro or a curious home cook looking to expand your culinary repertoire, this article offers something for every pickle enthusiast. From classic horseradish dill pickles to variations like sweet and spicy or bread and butter pickles, we'll take you step-by-step through the pickling process, ensuring pickle perfection every time. Get ready to impress your friends and family with homemade pickles that will elevate any meal or snack to new heights of flavor and satisfaction.
GRANDMA'S DILL PICKLE RECIPE
How to make classic homemade dill pickles using fresh cucumbers, dill, spices, and brine. This recipe follows a simple hot water bath method.
Provided by Lovely Greens
Categories Appetizer
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sterilize your preserving jars with either boiling water or by placing them in an oven at 130°C/265°F for thirty minutes. Whatever your method of sterilization, allow the jars to cool before packing them with your ingredients. While they're cooling, take your jar's lids and place them in bowl of boiling hot water. Leave them there until you need to fit them onto the jars.
- Wash your gherkins and start packing them into your jars. If they're small, pop them in whole but if medium to large cut them into slices. This helps to get more into the jar and also for easier serving once the jar is opened. For each quart of pickles you'll add half a teaspoon of black peppercorns, two whole garlic cloves and plenty of dill.
- Make the brine: for approximately every four quarts of tightly packed gherkins you'll need to bring two quarts of water and one quart of white vinegar to a boil. Add 1/2 cup of salt and stir until dissolved. Let this cool until just warm and then pour it into each of the jars, filling to a centimeter (just less than 1/2") below the top of the jar's brim.
- Clean the tops of the jars then fit on your preserving lids and screw the rings on. Most every preserving recipe will tell you to not over-tighten the rings but in my experience I've found that it's best to twist them on fully but not super tight. If they're too loose then the contents of your jars can leak out in the water bath.
- Place a metal preserving rack or towel at the bottom of a deep preserving pan and then place the jars inside. The jars should be at least an inch apart and the pan needs to be deep enough to have the jars inside with over an inch of water comfortably covering the tops.
- Cover the jars with warm/hot water from the tap then bring the pan to a boil. Boil the jars for fifteen minutes then lift them out of the water. If you're using a towel at the bottom of the pan then you'll need a 'jar lifter' tool available at many kitchen shops. Set the jars on the counter and allow to cool. You'll know that the jars are properly sealed when you hear the lids popping.
- Allow the pickles to infuse with the brine for at least two weeks before eating them. Stored in jars in a cool pantry your pickles will last up to a year, though I doubt you'll be able to let them sit there that long.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 64 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
CLASSIC HORSERADISH DILL PICKLES
Steps:
- First, cut cocktail cucumbers into spears.
- Second, chop the onions.
- Third slice the horseradish root into strips.
- Next, place the cucumber, onions, and horseradish into a bowl and add the salt.
- Finally, toss the cucumbers, onions, and horseradish in the salt.
- Next, add 1 cup of ice and water to cover the salted cucumber mix.
- Place the cucumber mix into the fridge for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours remove from the refrigerator.
- Drain cucumbers, onions, horseradish, and rinse them over a colander.
- Finally, place the cucumbers, onions, and horseradish into a sterilized glass jar with a sterilized lid and ring.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 20 servings, Calories 20 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 1 g
BLUE RIBBON HORSERADISH PICKLES
Spicy pickles with a hint of horseradish will set your pickles head and shoulders above the rest. You will get raves on these pickles! I always get asked to make more or bring more to work. These are worth a try! This makes a really crisp, great tasting pickle!
Provided by SHAWN
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Pickled
Time 3h20m
Yield 50
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Soak the cucumbers in ice cold water for 2 to 3 hours.
- Sterilize 5 (1 quart) jars with lids and rings and keep hot.
- In a large pot, combine the water, vinegar, sugar and pickling spices. Stir to dissolve sugar and bring to a boil.
- While the mixture is heating up, place the following things into each jar: 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 strips of horseradish, and a few sprigs of dill. Trim the ends from the cucumbers and make a slit in the skin of each one so the brine can soak in and any air can get out. Pack the cucumbers into the jars. Pour the boiling brine into the jars to within 1/2 inch of the rims. Seal with lids and rings.
- Bring the water to a boil in the pot where you sterilized the jars. Place the jars into the water and turn off the heat. Let them sit in there until the water is cool. Test the jars for a good seal by pressing on the center of the lid. Refrigerate any unsealed jars.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 22.6 calories, Carbohydrate 5.7 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 699.1 mg, Sugar 5 g
SNAPPY HORSERADISH DILL PICKLES
These pickles are a great last-minute gift because they are so easy to make-a little horseradish adds zip to a jar of purchased pickles. They're in hot demand at Christmas! My husband and three grown sons can't get enough of them.
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 30m
Yield 1 quart.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Drain and discard juice from pickles. Slice pickles into spears and return to jar. Add horseradish. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, water and vinegar to a boil. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Pour over pickles. Cool completely. Cover jar and shake. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 48 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 678mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 0 protein.
DILL PICKLED CUCUMBERS
Forget shop-bought gherkins and pickles - making your own preserved cucumbers is much tastier, and easy to do too
Provided by Jane Hornby
Categories Side dish
Time 25m
Yield Makes 4-5 x 450ml jars
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cut the pickling or ridged cucumbers into sticks or slices. Layer with the coarse crystal sea salt in a large bowl, cover and leave overnight. Drain away the brine, then rinse.
- To make the pickling vinegar, put the whole spices in a medium saucepan. Toast over a low heat until they begin to smell aromatic. Add the dried chilli flakes last, as these can easily catch. Add the bay, pour in all of the vinegar and sugar, let it dissolve, and bring to a simmer. Add the dill sprigs.
- Pack the cucumber into jars, pour over the hot vinegar and seal. Ready to eat in 2 weeks, or longer, if you like.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 15 calories, Carbohydrate 2 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 1 grams protein, Sodium 0.8 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Choose the right cucumbers: Use firm, unwaxed cucumbers for the best results.
- Prepare the cucumbers properly: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and cut them into the desired shape. For dill pickles, cut the cucumbers into spears or slices.
- Make a flavorful brine: The brine is what gives the pickles their flavor. Use a combination of water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices to create a flavorful brine.
- Use fresh herbs and spices: Fresh herbs and spices will give the pickles the best flavor. Use dill, garlic, mustard seeds, and peppercorns for dill pickles.
- Let the pickles ferment: The fermentation process is what gives pickles their characteristic sour flavor. Allow the pickles to ferment for at least two weeks before eating them.
Conclusion:
Homemade pickles are a delicious and easy way to preserve cucumbers. With a little time and effort, you can make your own pickles that are just as good as, if not better than, store-bought pickles. So next time you have a glut of cucumbers, try making some pickles. You won't be disappointed!
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