With so many different flavor options, it can be hard to find a jar of pickles with the perfect mix of sweet, sour, salty and spicy. Take flavor into your own hands with a few simple ingredients for a less processed and fresher version of the treasured store-bought treat. This recipe makes a delicious dill, but you can omit garlic and add sugar for a sweeter bite, include red pepper flakes and black peppercorns for a spicier option, or even include fresh raw onion for an extra kick.
Ingredients
4 small pickling cucumbers, or 1 large English cucumber, sliced into equal-sized spears or rounds
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt
1 Tbsp. organic pickling spice (or 1/2 tsp. each: black peppercorns, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, dill seeds)
1 bay leaf
8-10 fresh dill sprigs
Optional: 2 peeled garlic cloves
Optional: 2 tsp. raw cane sugar
Directions
1. In one-quart wide-mouth jar, combine water, apple cider vinegar, salt, pickling spices, bay leaf, dill sprigs, garlic cloves and raw sugar. Stir well.
2. Add cucumbers to jar and seal tight. Shake for 10 seconds to disperse ingredients.
3. Refrigerate jar for at least 36 hours. Enjoy pickles for up to one week.
