Homemade Crunchy Cucumber Pickles
Homemade Crunchy Cucumber Pickles
How to Make Delicious Homemade Cucumber Pickles!
I only used cucumbers this time, but they also pair wonderfully with radishes or red cabbage.
Ingredients- 2 fresh cucumbers
- 200ml water
- 100ml vinegar
- 100ml sugar
- 1 Tbsp pickling spice
- 1 bay leaf
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thoroughly scrub the cucumbers with salt under running water. This step helps to remove any dirt or imperfections from the cucumber skins, ensuring a cleaner pickle. Don’t be shy with the scrubbing!
Step 2
After washing and drying, slice the cucumbers. Aim for slices that are about 0.5mm thick. This thickness is ideal as it allows the pickling brine to penetrate effectively while maintaining a satisfying crunch. If they’re too thin, they might become soggy, and too thick, they won’t absorb the flavor as well.
Step 3
In a saucepan, combine the brine ingredients: 200ml of water, 100ml of vinegar, and 100ml of sugar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. For a balanced flavor, a 2:1:1 ratio of water to vinegar to sugar is a great starting point, but feel free to adjust it to your preference for sweetness or tanginess. Add 1 tablespoon of pickling spice and 1 bay leaf to the mixture. Bring this to a simmer over medium heat, allowing the sugar to dissolve completely and the flavors to meld.
Step 4
Carefully pack the sliced cucumbers into a clean, sterilized glass jar. Pour the hot pickling brine directly over the cucumbers, ensuring they are fully submerged. Be cautious as the brine is very hot! Pouring it while hot helps to keep the cucumbers extra crisp. Once the brine has cooled slightly, seal the jar and refrigerate. Let it sit for 1 to 2 days to allow the flavors to develop. Your delicious homemade pickles will be ready to enjoy!
