Crispy Pickled Cucumbers
Description
Perfect for winter pantry storage. Ingredient amounts are calculated for two 500 ml jars. Choose small cucumbers so they steam through well in 15 minutes. Use fresh vegetables recently picked from the garden. Optionally add oak, horseradish, cherry, and currant leaves, as well as mustard seeds. It is important that the sealed jars cool to room temperature before you move them to the pantry.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the specified ingredients. Buy fresh, firm medium or small cucumbers. Soak them in cold water for 1–2 hours.
- 2
Step 2
After that, rinse them thoroughly in water, washing spines off the surface along with dirt and dust. If you like, you can trim the ends from both sides of the vegetables; they will marinate faster.
- 3
Step 3
Rinse the cherry or oak leaves and horseradish leaves, and place them on the bottom of clean, dry jars. Add one dill umbel to each jar as well. Dill seeds may be used, but not fresh dill greens!
- 4
Step 4
Fill the jars with cucumbers, placing the large ones first, then use smaller ones to fill the gaps between them. Pack the container as tightly as possible.
- 5
Step 5
Bring water to a boil in a kettle or saucepan and pour it into the jars so the cucumbers are completely covered with boiling water.
- 6
Step 6
Cover the jars with lids, leaving the vegetables to steam for 15 minutes. Do not screw the lids on — simply cover the containers with the lids.
- 7
Step 7
Peel the garlic cloves, rinse them in water, slice them, and add them to a saucepan or pot together with black peppercorns. You can also add mustard seeds and various herbs and spices.
- 8
Step 8
Carefully drain the hot water from the jars into a saucepan. You can use a special perforated nylon lid to avoid scalding yourself with the hot water.
- 9
Step 9
Pour 4 tsp apple cider vinegar into a saucepan, or substitute 3 tbsp 6% vinegar. Bring the liquid to a boil and turn off the heat.
- 10
Step 10
Pour the marinade into the jars to the top so that it covers all the cucumbers.
- 11
Step 11
Immediately seal the containers with lids by screwing them on, or use a canning jar wrench if the jars are not threaded. Let cool at room temperature for about 24 hours.
- 12
Step 12
After the specified time, the cucumbers will begin to change color or will change completely, and the container will cool down. There is no need to wrap the jars in a blanket or comforter. Take them to the pantry for storage and remove them as needed. Enjoy your meal!