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These garlic dills will forever change the way you approach pickles.
By
Marisa McClellan
Marisa McClellan
Marisa McClellan is a food writer, canning teacher, and the voicebehind the long-running food blog Food in Jars. She is the author ofFood in Jars(2012),Preserving by the Pint(2014),Naturally Sweet Food in Jars(2016), andThe Food In Jars Kitchen(2019).
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Updated October 18, 2022
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Why It Works
- This recipe can either be made shelf stable or as a refrigerator pickle.
- Simple techniques for cutting the cucumbers greatly improves their texture and crunch.
I was raised to believe in the power of the pickle. Turkey sandwiches required a layer of carefully blotted garlic dills. Giant dinner salads weren't done until the pickled beets were passed. And don't even get me started on the idea of a hot dog without some sour pickle relish. It was unthinkable.
My people just happen to like a good pucker.
During my childhood, our vinegar vehicles were thestore-bought variety.All that changed about four years ago when I discovered just how easy it was to pickle at home. I haven't looked back since.
Homemade pickles aren't complicated,but there are a few things you should know before getting started.
5 Things to Know Before Pickling
- Always start with the freshest produce you can find.The less time those cucumbers spend in your crisper drawer, the crunchier your finished pickle will be.
- When you're working with cucumbers, make sure toslice off the blossom end.It can harbor an enzyme that will lead to softer pickles. And no one likes a soggy pickle.
- When you're chopping your pickles before packing them into the jars, take into consideration the number of cuts you're making.The larger the pieces, the more structural integrity the pickles will retain,again protecting that crunch. This means that whole pickles will always have more bite than spears, which will have more texture than slices. It's just something to keep in mind.
- One of the joys of making your own pickles is that you cancustomize the flavor to suit your taste buds.This doesn't mean you should go monkeying around with the balance of vinegar to water (that ratio needs to stay stable to keep your pickles safe), but you can alter the amounts of garlic, dill, peppercorns and chili flakes you add to each jar. Love garlic? Throw a couple more cloves in there! Can't stand spice? Skip the hot stuff altogether.
- Don't mess with the amount of salt.Salt does two necessary things in this recipe. First, it helps draw the water out of the cucumbers, creating space that the vinegar brine will then occupy. Second, it acts as a preservative, keeping your pickles fresher longer.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2011__08__20110823-pickles-500-85e1b589bf00496cba6b63fdfd96c9e5.jpg "Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe (2)")
This recipe can either be made shelf stable or it can be a refrigerator pickle. For the shelf stable version, you give the jars a 10-minute dip in a boiling water bath in order to sterilize and put enough heat in the jars to create a seal (this does make for a slightly softer pickle). For a refrigerator pickle, once the jars have cooled, they can go into the fridge.
Either way, give them at least a week before you crack open the jar, so that they get nice and puckery.
August 2011
Recipe Details
Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe
Active30 mins
Total168 hrs
Serves10to 12 servings
Ingredients
2 quart Kirby cucumbers (approximately 3 pounds)
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups filteredwater
2 tablespoons pickling salt
8 garlic cloves, peeled
4 teaspoons dillseeds
2 teaspoons blackpeppercorns
1 teaspoon red chile flakes
Directions
Wash jars thoroughly in warm, soapy water. If you plan on making shelf stable pickles, prepare a boiling water bath canner. Put fresh canning jar lids into a small saucepan with 3 inches of water and set to the barest simmer.
Wash and dry kirby cucumbers. Remove blossom end. Cut into chips, spears or leave whole, depending on your preference.
Combine vinegar, water and salt in sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Equally divide garlic cloves, dill seed, black peppercorns and red chili flakes between jars. Pack prepared cucumbers into jars as tightly as you can without crushing them.
Pour the brine into the jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace (that's the amount of space between the surface of the brine and the rim of the jar).
Remove any air bubbles from jars by gently tapping them. You can also use a wooden chopstick or plastic utensil to help remove stubborn bubbles.
Wipe rims and apply lids and bands (don't screw them on too tightly).
If processing jars for shelf stability, lower jars into your processing pot. When water returns to a boil, set a timer for 10 minutes.
When time is up, remove jars from canning pot and allow them to cool. When jars are cool enough to handle, check seals.
If you choose not to process your jars, let them cool before putting them into the refrigerator. Do note that your jars may seal during the cooling process. However, without the boiling water bath process, that doesn't mean they're shelf stable. Still refrigerate.
Let pickles rest for at least one week before eating.
Special Equipment
4 pint jars or 2 quart jars
Read More
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- Pickling
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| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 28 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 5g | Carbs |
| 1g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 10to 12 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 28 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 877mg | 38% |
| Total Carbohydrate 5g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
| Total Sugars 2g | |
| Protein 1g | |
| Vitamin C 4mg | 20% |
| Calcium 27mg | 2% |
| Iron 0mg | 3% |
| Potassium 205mg | 4% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
