Easy Homemade Pickles

Directions

  1. 1Slice cucumbers into desired shapes (rounds or spears).
  2. 2Combine water, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper flakes (optional), and pepper in a bowl, stirring until salt dissolves.
  3. 3Pack cucumbers into a jar, top with dill, garlic, and a bay leaf.
  4. 4Pour the liquid over the cucumbers, ensuring they are fully submerged. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (rounds) or 3 hours (spears).

Ingredients

  • 1 medium-to-large cucumber or 2 small cucumbers
  • 0.5 cup water, at room temperature or cooler
  • 0.5 cup rice vinegar
  • 1.5 tablespoons maple syrup or sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 20 twists freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 leafy sprigs of fresh dill, roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 1 bay leaf

Equipment

wide-mouth jarliquid measuring cup or bowl

Tips

  • For sweeter pickles, add more maple syrup or sugar to taste.
  • This recipe is for refrigerator pickles and not designed for canning.
  • English cucumbers are ideal for thin slices, while Kirby or small garden cucumbers work well for spears.
  • Adjust the amount of black pepper to your preference; 20 twists might be a tablespoon from some pepper mills.
  • If using dried dill, adjust the quantity according to your taste and experience, there is no exact suggestion in the content provided, for dried dill.