Crunchy, refreshing and delightfully tangy- who doesn’t love a good pickle? Plus, they’re a cinch to make at home!
This month, the Recipe Redux challenged us to write about our favorite DIY kitchen essentials. Specifically, they wanted to know what healthy kitchen staples do we now make from scratch that we used to purchase in the past?
When I read the challenge, a few ideas popped into my head right away like homemade frozen pancakes, fish sticks, salad dressings, and popsicles. But then I thought about it some more and found the perfect recipe- my Super Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles. Once you make these, you’ll never buy pickles at the store again!
Crunchy, refreshing and delightfully tangy- who doesn’t love a good pickle? I developed this recipe when I was working on my cookbook Natural Pregnancy Cookbook. After all, dill pickles are one of the most common pregnancy cravings and I figured this recipe could help prevent some late-night runs to the grocery store.
Plus, cucumbers provide a good amount of Vitamin K, Vitamin C and potassium. They're are also packed with water to help keep you hydrated.
But of course this is not a dish to just be enjoyed during pregnancy; the whole family will love these crispy treats. And with summer rapidly approaching it’s the perfect way to take advantage of the season’s bounty of fresh cucumbers.
Did you know that dill pickles are actually a cinch to make at home? Instead of using a traditional canning method, you can make a quick and easy version in just a few steps- no special canning equipment or techniques needed!
The technique is called refrigerator pickling. Simply pack your cucumbers into a mason jar or other heatproof container with an air-tight lid. Cover them with a basic pickling brine made with vinegar, water, salt and sugar. Add some herbs and spices and pop the jars in the fridge. They’ll be transformed into pickles overnight.
The best cucumbers to use are pickling cucumbers, also called Kirby cucumbers. They’re small and have a firm flesh with fewer seeds, giving you a crunchier pickle. Also, their thin skin allows the brine to penetrate better making them more flavorful. If you can’t find them, you can use Persian cucumbers or any other variety.
I like to add whole coriander and mustard seeds to make the pickles more flavorful but these are optional.
Refrigerator pickles won't last as long as traditionally canned pickles but they will keep in the fridge for about a month. You can use this technique with any number of vegetables (like cauliflower, carrots or radishes) and is a great way to use up those veggies that are getting a little old in the fridge.
Recipe
Super Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Crunchy, refreshing and delightfully tangy- who doesn’t love a good pickle? Plus, they’re a cinch to make at home!
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Servings: 5
Calories: 41kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- ⅛ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 12 sprigs fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (optional)
- 1 pound Kirby, mini or Persian cucumbers (about 5 pickles), cut into spears
Instructions
- Heat the vinegar, water, salt and sugar together in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
- Divide the garlic, chili flakes, dill, coriander seeds and mustard seeds between two standard (1 ½ cup) mason jars. Place the cucumber spears in the jars, packing them in to fit. Pour the brine mixture into the jars. Add water as needed to cover the cucumbers with liquid. Close the jars and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.
- Store pickles in a sealed jar in the fridge.
Nutrition
Serving: 0g | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.2g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg
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Erin says
Sonali, how did you know I loved pickles?! 🙂 Wonderful recipe!! And extra crunchy...just how I like them 😉
sonaliruder says
Beef and pickles are a classic combo, so I had no doubt you'd love these, LOL 🙂 Thanks Erin!
Ben Maclain @ havocinthekitchen says
Lovely recipe, Sonali! I love pickles exactly this way when they're still crunchy and almost fresh, just with a delicate aftertaste of marinade. And such a vibrant color! Well done!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Ben! You perfectly described how I like my pickles too and these are exactly that 🙂
Min Kwon says
Wow! I love this!! I remember when I first moved to the states, everybody at my school seemed to be obsessed with them. I honestly didn't like it back then, but it slowly grew on me ;). Love how simple this is to make!! Can't wait to try. I do have plenty of mason jars!
sonaliruder says
Haha, yes, I imagine you have a healthy supply of mason jars 🙂 I hope you guys like them Min!
Jessica Levinson says
I don't keep pickles at home, but whenever We get them at a diner or old school kosher deli my girls love them! I def should make these! I especially love your addition of spices!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Jessica! I hope you guys enjoy them if you wind up trying them out 🙂
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Wow! Look at that gorgeous and vibrant jar! I am so in love with this. Awesome share! , Sonali
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much Anu!
Sherry Ann Allen says
Can I reuse the brine??
Thank you for your time!
sonaliruder says
Yes, I believe you can reuse the pickling brine. You may need to add a little extra vinegar and/or water to completely cover the vegetables depending on how much was absorbed.
Farrah says
hahaha, I never knew dill pickles were one of the most common pregnancy cravings! 😛 I like that you added coriander + mustard seeds! :]
sonaliruder says
Pickles and ice cream- classic pregnancy craving combo! Pretty weird, right? Thanks Farrah <3
EA-The Spicy RD says
These might be the prettiest pickles I've ever seen! I've never pickled anything before, but I'm game to try. I'm thinking this would be a fun summer project with my kids who both like pickles 🙂
sonaliruder says
Wow, thanks EA, I love that you think my pickles are pretty 🙂 These would definitely be fun to make with the kids, enjoy!
Jenny Shea Rawn says
Now these are some gorgeous pickles! Don't think I've used that word to describe pickles before, so well done :). I've been craving pickles throughout my pregnancy and just may have to whip up a batch of these beauties.
sonaliruder says
Haha, I don't think I've used that word to describe pickles either, but I appreciate it! Congrats, so exciting!!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Sonali - first - lady, your photos are stunning! They made it so hard for me to concentrate on your writing - my eyes just kept wondering to those jars and those pickles! And second - I so so love your idea of adding coriander and mustard seeds to pickles! I've never had pickles with these seeds added to them!
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much Shashi! I actually wasn't sure about these photos at first, but they've definitely grown on me 🙂
Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE says
LOVE pickles! I've even tried pickle ice cream at a pickle festival! Still, I've never made my own. I'll have to try this with zucchini, since my husband planted about 14 zucchini plants and all of them seem to be thriving (instead of withering away like when I'm in charge of the garden 🙂 )
sonaliruder says
Pickle ice cream- whoa, you really do love pickles!! How was it?! Feel free to send some of those zucchinis my way, I so wish I had a garden, but living in condo kinda makes it hard 😉
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
Cannot pin this fast enough! My aunt makes these and they are da bomb - can't wait for the glut of cucumbers 🙂
sonaliruder says
Thanks Deanna! Have a great holiday weekend 🙂
Rebecca Pytell says
For YEARS I've wanted to make my own pickles! I must, I must try!
sonaliruder says
Go for it! It's so easy!!
athletic avocado says
These look so good! I need to make pickles!
sonaliruder says
Thanks!
Alanna says
I have never been a huge fan of pickles growing up, but just recently, I am enjoying them more often 🙂 I have never tried making homemade but since I love this recipe so much, I think I'll give it a try!! Beautiful photos as always.
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much Alanna! If you prefer more "cucumbery" pickles, these might be up your alley 🙂
Lauren @ Eating with a Purpose says
We are huge pickle eaters in our house! My favorite store bought ones (which look similar to yours) are $7 a jar- will be trying yours out for sure!
sonaliruder says
Those sound like some fancy pickles 🙂 I hope you enjoy these!
Dixya says
i dont know why i dont make or eat enough pickles..your version looks wonderful.
sonaliruder says
Thanks Dixya!
Tara Rochford says
I am a HUGE dill pickle fan...these look amazing!!!! 🙂
sonaliruder says
Me too! Thanks Tara!
Cali Cuisine says
Looks like a fun weekend project for the kids!
sonaliruder says
Definitely! Thanks and enjoy 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
OMG I Need to try my hand at making pickles- I AM OBSESSED with them!
sonaliruder says
Uh-oh! I'm picturing you at home surrounded by hundreds of jars of homemade pickles! It's a slippery slope...be careful 🙂
GiGi EatsCelebrities says
LOL!!! I will film that...
sonaliruder says
OMG! I can't wait!