Monday, September 8, 2008

Pickles!

A few weeks ago at T^2's housewarming party, I had homemade pickles for the second time in my food-conscious life. I could have said adult life, but I think that would have been a lie. My aunt (Hi, Auntie Patrice!) makes her own pickles too which I had a couple of summers ago - my first time - and I'll bet my mom made them at some point (Mom? Have you made pickles?).


But since I only started getting 'into food' in the last couple of years, it wasn't until I had Tammi's pickles that I wanted to try making my own. Since then I've come across approximately 497 pickle methods and home-pickling stories on various blogs made from a plethora of fruits and vegetables. I wanted to start with a classic cucumber dill pickle, and I knew I would want them to be sandwich appropriate (Tammi's were delicious on burgers) so I sliced them into rounds instead of spears.


I poured in a pretty standard brine: 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt. I added two garlic cloves and a bit of dill. I stuck it in the fridge.

The next day I gave the pickles a try. WHOA. SO vinegary. And maybe even too salty. And frankly, they did not improve with age, even though I poured out some of the brine and added more water. Next time I will go skew the ratio in the favor of water if I want to eat them out of hand. All is not lost, however! The extra tart pickles are DEEElicious on Hugh's turkey burgers with marmalade mustard glaze, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.

My Too Acidic But Delicious on Burgers Pickles
Inspired by Tammi, who I think was inspired by Tom's Grandma

1 glass jar
1 large cucumber
1/2 c rice vinegar
1/2 - 1 c water
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
a few sprigs dill
2 cloves garlic

Clean the jar. Slice the cucumber into rounds between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick. Slice the garlic cloves into a couple of pieces. Put the cucumbers, garlic and dill in the jar - you will probably have extra cucumber slices. In a large measuring cup or bowl combine the vinegar, water and salt, and stir to dissolve. Pour the brine over the contents of the jar. If there is still space fill it with water. Stick the jar in the fridge. Pickles are ready the next day but will keep for weeks in the fridge.

4 comments:

  1. My standard refrigerator pickle ratio is 1/4 c. each cider vinegar and sugar per cuke with 1 tsp. pickling salt and dill to taste. Makes a great Asian-y sweet and sour pickle. Mmm, pickles.

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  2. Ooooh sweet and sour? I'll have to give that a try. Thanks!

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  3. Kewl! Thanks for the shout out A ~ and the pickles look very delish!! I'm gonna try those savory muffins this week :) xxoo Auntie P

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  4. BREAD & BUTTER CUCUMBERS
    1 kg telegraph cucumbers [approx 2]
    ¼ c salt
    1 ½ cups white or white wine vinegar [I use white]
    1 cup water
    1 cup caster sugar
    1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds
    Few sprigs fresh dill if you have it
    Wash and trim ends off cucumbers.
    Cut them into quarters lengthways and then into sticks the size of standing up in your jars.
    Place in ceramic or glass bowl, sprinkle with the salt and mix through, cover and stand overnight.
    Through into colander, drain and rinse thoroughly, drain again.
    Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and mustard seeds in pot and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves, then bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins.
    Add cucumbers, bring back to boil and remove from heat immediately. Cool slightly.
    Lie sterilised jars on sides, and pack with cucumbers and sprigs of dill.
    Stand up, cover with vinegar mix and seal.
    You can eat them as soon as cold.

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