Description
Crisp and tangy Polish pickled cucumbers dance with traditional flavor in this simple preservation technique. Salt, dill, and garlic create a classic European pickle that connects home cooks to generations of culinary heritage you can savor in every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cucumbers:
- 4 medium cucumbers
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
Seasoning:
- 2 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp dill seeds
Herbs and Spices:
- 2 sprigs fresh dill
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash cucumbers and slice them into uniform, thin rounds or spears, ensuring consistent thickness for even pickling.
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, white vinegar, salt, and sugar, heating the mixture until salt and sugar completely dissolve.
- Crush garlic cloves and add them to the pickling liquid along with black peppercorns, dill seeds, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Allow the pickling brine to cool to room temperature, which helps preserve the cucumbers’ crisp texture and prevents overcooking.
- Place sliced cucumbers in clean, sterilized glass jars, layering them with fresh dill sprigs throughout the container.
- Carefully pour the cooled pickling liquid over the cucumbers, ensuring they are completely submerged and covered by the brine.
- Seal the jars tightly and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, allowing flavors to meld and cucumbers to develop their tangy, aromatic profile.
- For optimal taste, let pickles rest in the refrigerator for 48-72 hours before consuming, which intensifies the pickling process and deepens the flavor profile.
- Store refrigerated pickles can maintain their quality for up to 2 weeks, providing a delicious homemade condiment for various culinary applications.
Notes
- Slice cucumbers uniformly to ensure even pickling and consistent flavor absorption throughout each piece.
- Experiment with different vinegars like apple cider or rice vinegar to create unique flavor variations and add depth to the pickle profile.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing red pepper flakes, making the pickles milder or more intense based on personal heat preference.
- Use fresh, crisp cucumbers from local farmers markets or garden for maximum crunchiness and optimal pickle texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 15
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg