Hi Besties! Now I have to be honest, I am NOT a fan of pickles. My husband on the other hand, LOVES them. We like to think the pickle theory is similar to the olive theory from How I Met Your Mother, and it makes us a great couple – hah! Anyway, our cucumber plants went crazy last year and Tom couldn’t let any go to waste, so he was eating multiple cucumbers a day (it was insane!). That’s when we decided to experiment to find the PERFECT pickle recipe. I know these might not be for everyone, Tom likes his pickles with a bit of a kick, but he would literally sit and eat an entire jar at a time!
We grow our cucumbers on this trellis from Amazon! We have found that it has lasted many years and is the perfect height to walk through and grab cucumbers.
Amazon items linked throughout this post are linked using my Amazon Associate account. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and really appreciate your support!
Tips to making the PERFECT pickles
- This recipe works fine with any type of cucumber that you are growing in your garden. Personally, I have had really good luck wiht these seeds. We found it works best if you pick the cucumbers before they get too big and use them pretty quickly after they are picked. This way they fit in the container better and you get nice full slices, I think they are also crunchier and have a better flavor this way.
- Tom loves the cucumbers cut into long spears, but you can use any shape cucumber with this recipe! The pickle chip will actually be ready much more quickly, in just a day or so.
- Make sure your container has a tight-fitting lid to prevent air from getting in and spoiling your pickles. I like to save my large glass jars after I use tomato sauce or things like that and I find that they work perfectly.
- You can adjust the amount of garlic, dill, and onion to your liking. If you prefer a stronger garlic flavor, add more cloves. If you love the taste of fresh dill, add more of it to the jar. If you want them to be spicier, add more red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. kosher salt
- 3-4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1/2 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard seeds
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 small onion, sliced very thin (any kind works but we like Vidalia)
- 1 bunch fresh dill
- A few cucumbers from your garden, sliced into Spears. I can generally only fit about 2-3 in my containers at a time.
Directions
- In a medium saucepan combine everything except the cucumber, dill & onions. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- While you are waiting for the liquid and spice mixture to boil, slice your onions really thinly and rinse and slice your cucumbers to the shape that you like. We always cut then into spears.
- In a large mason jar or a container with a tight-fitting lid (I usually use old tomato sauce containers), add the sliced cucumbers, onions, and dill. Make sure not to overfill the jar, as you want room for the liquid.
- Pour the cooled brine over the cucumbers, onions, and dill, making sure they are fully covered.
- Close the lid on the jar or container and shake gently to distribute the ingredients.
- Place the jar in the refrigerator for at least 24-48 hours and up to 2 weeks. The longer they sit, the more flavorful they will be.
Besties Garden 
Leave a comment