Description
Crisp garden cucumbers dance with zesty dill pickles in this classic homemade recipe that brings European pickling traditions to your kitchen. Quick brining creates tangy, crunchy pickle slices you’ll crave on sandwiches, salads, and straight from the jar.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 1 large cucumber
Pickling Liquid:
- 100 milliliters (3.4 fluid ounces) white wine vinegar
- 100 milliliters (3.4 fluid ounces) water
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh dill (optional)
Instructions
- Carefully slice cucumbers into thin, uniform rounds using a sharp mandoline or knife for consistent pickling.
- Transfer cucumber slices into a sterile glass container, layering with optional fresh dill sprigs for enhanced aromatic flavor.
- Combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and ground black pepper in a saucepan, heating over medium flame while stirring until sugar completely dissolves.
- Introduce nigella seeds to the liquid mixture, allowing them to infuse their distinctive flavor during a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully pour the steaming hot brine directly over the prepared cucumber slices, ensuring complete coverage and maximum flavor absorption.
- Allow the pickles to rest at ambient temperature for approximately 30 minutes, enabling initial flavor melding and slight cooling.
- Transfer the container to the refrigerator, letting the pickles marinate and develop their tangy profile for a minimum of 12 hours before serving.
Notes
- Select crisp, firm cucumbers for the best texture and crunch in your pickles.
- Experiment with different vinegars like apple cider or rice vinegar to create unique flavor profiles.
- Use a mandoline slicer for uniform, thin cucumber slices that pickle evenly and look professional.
- Adjust sugar and salt levels to create a custom sweet-tangy balance that suits your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 16 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 2280 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.3 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg