Crispy and Delicious Homemade Cucumber Pickles
The Perfect Ratio for Making Pickles with Garden-Grown Cucumbers
Homemade cucumber pickles, made with fresh garden vegetables, are exceptionally delicious. While you can certainly use regular cucumbers, dedicated pickling cucumbers offer a superior crunch and deeper flavor. These easy-to-make pickles are a refreshing addition to any meal. After just one day in the refrigerator, they develop a wonderful taste, and you’ll find yourself reaching for them again and again!
Pickle Ingredients- 12 pickling cucumbers
- 3 green peppers (or Korean chili peppers)
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1 lemon
Brine Ingredients- 2 cups water (400ml)
- 1 cup sugar (200g)
- 1 cup vinegar (200ml, apple cider or brown rice vinegar recommended)
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt (15g)
- 1 tablespoon pickling spice (optional, can be omitted)
Lemon Washing Ingredients- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- A little vinegar (for rinsing)
- 2 cups water (400ml)
- 1 cup sugar (200g)
- 1 cup vinegar (200ml, apple cider or brown rice vinegar recommended)
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt (15g)
- 1 tablespoon pickling spice (optional, can be omitted)
Lemon Washing Ingredients- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- A little vinegar (for rinsing)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start making delicious cucumber pickles! Aren’t these pickling cucumbers cute and lovely? The key to great pickles is starting with fresh ingredients.
Step 2
While you can make pickles with just cucumbers, adding green peppers (or Korean chili peppers) for a hint of spiciness and a red chili pepper for color creates a wonderfully flavorful and slightly piquant pickle. Adding lemon slices also enhances the refreshing aroma and taste.
Step 3
Since we’ll be using the lemon peel, thorough cleaning is essential. Scrub the lemon’s peel meticulously with baking soda and coarse salt. Then, soak it in water with a little vinegar for about 5 minutes. Finally, blanch the lemon by rolling it in boiling water for a moment, and then quickly rinse it under cold water to cool it down.
Step 4
The golden ratio for the pickling brine is: 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar, and 1 part sugar. Add about 0.1 parts coarse salt, and you can include pickling spice if you like. Feel free to adjust the sweetness and sourness to your personal preference.
Step 5
Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan. Add the sugar, coarse salt, and pickling spice (if using).
Step 6
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. Once it starts boiling, immediately turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar while the brine is still hot. This helps to preserve the fragrant aroma of the vinegar.
Step 7
Arrange the prepared pickling cucumbers, chili peppers, and lemon slices attractively in a clean, sterilized glass jar. Using a sieve, pour the hot brine over the pickles, ensuring they are submerged. (Apologies for the dark photos; my hands appear extra dark due to working in the garden!)
Step 8
Place a small plate or a weight on top of the cucumbers to keep them submerged in the brine. Cover the jar, let it cool completely, and then refrigerate for at least one day to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 9
Here are the cucumber pickles after resting in the refrigerator for a day! They have turned a lovely yellowish hue and look incredibly appetizing. The balance of sour, sweet, and salty flavors is just right.
Step 10
The addition of lemon slices makes them even more refreshing. Unfortunately, I used regular green peppers instead of spicy Korean chili peppers, which lessened the piquant kick. Next time, I’ll definitely use Korean chili peppers for that extra bit of heat!
Step 11
These pickles are crisp, refreshing, and sure to be loved by everyone. With just 12 cucumbers, they might disappear quickly! I wish my garden would yield more pickling cucumbers so I could make plenty of pickles and preserved vegetables.
Step 12
During the summer, crisp and refreshing pickles are excellent for stimulating the appetite. They pair wonderfully with chilled dishes like naengmyeon (cold noodles) or jjolmyeon. Enjoy them as a delightful treat!
