Pickles are definitely one of my favourite things in the world - ever since I was old enough to sit up in a high chair, you'd find me "gumming" on a big ol' kosher dill when my family went to one of the local pubs. I'm definitely on the side of the "sour" or "spicy" pickled goods though - you won't find me loading up a cocktail plate with the syrupy-sweet classic bread and butters when there's tons of sour pickled cocktail onions and gherkins to choose from! That said, a good portion of the family adore the sweet "chips", so back when our garden was overflowing with cucumbers I knew I would make them a little something special to top their burgers through the Summer. The first batch was more successful than I ever imagined - jars kept coming back to me with little notes asking for more, and I've been making them almost constantly since. My secret is taking the classic "sweet" pickle a little over to the "savoury" and even "exotic" side - onions, mustard seed, Tellicherry pepper and even a pinch of Sichuan peppercorns make them addictively unique and definitely worthy of even the most high-end sandwich.
Thankfully, the whole process is dead-simple, not to mention fast... to get into the jars. However, I implore you - wait that week before cracking into them. Trust me. That pickling time in the fridge is crucial - otherwise you're just eating damp cucumbers, and who wants that? Plus, being pickles, they last (almost) forever in the fridge, so even if you're not constantly pickling, you can have a nibble or three of preserved Summer anytime you like!
Shared with Gluten Free Fridays
Zippy Quick B & B Pickles
Makes ~3 pints, 24 servings
1 ¾ lbs fresh cucumbers, cut into ¼” slices
2 tbsp minced dried onions
2 tbsp coarse sea salt
¾ cup sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp mustard seed
1 tsp celery seed
½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns (optional but recommended)
¾ tsp whole black peppercorns
1 cup cider vinegar
⅓ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
Per pint jar:
¼ tsp Ball® Pickle Crisp® Granules (I don't know of another brand of calcium chloride, but if you have one you like use it)
- Pack cucumber slices into jars, set aside.
- Bring remaining ingredients, except Pickle Crisp®, to a boil.
- Pour brine over cucumbers in the jars, add Pickle Crisp® and screw on lids.
- Store in the fridge at least 1 week before enjoying.
Calories: 12.3
Total Fat: 0.0 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 49.1 mg
Total Carbs: 3.0 g
Dietary Fiber: 0.3 g
Protein: 0.2 g
*NI includes average absorption of salt and sugar but no additional whole spices
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