Description
Ina Garten’s dill pickles bring crisp, tangy flavor to sandwich platters and charcuterie boards. Home cooks can easily recreate these classic kosher-style pickles with simple ingredients and basic pickling techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¼ lbs (567 g) kirby cucumbers, ends trimmed
- 1 cup (240 ml) rice wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic
- 6 sprigs dill
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt
Instructions
- Brine Creation: In a saucepan, combine vinegar, water, and kosher salt. Heat gently over medium-low temperature until salt dissolves completely, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
- Flavor Foundation: Layer a clean Mason jar with crushed garlic, dill sprigs, red pepper flakes, and black peppercorns to create an aromatic base.
- Cucumber Preparation: Trim and slice cucumbers, then pack them tightly into the jar, ensuring a dense arrangement that prevents floating during pickling.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour the heated vinegar mixture over the cucumbers, fully submerging each slice to initiate the pickling process.
- Flavor Development: Let the jar rest at room temperature for one hour to cool and begin flavor melding, then seal the lid and transfer to the refrigerator.
- Pickling Maturation: Allow pickles to marinate for at least 24 hours, giving ingredients time to harmonize and develop a complex taste profile. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, enjoying their tangy, crisp texture throughout.
Notes
- Quick Brine Tip: Dissolve salt completely over medium-low heat for smooth, even flavor distribution.
- Flavor Layer Strategy: Arrange garlic, dill, pepper flakes, and peppercorns at jar’s bottom to maximize taste intensity.
- Cucumber Cutting Technique: Slice cucumbers uniformly and pack tightly to prevent floating and ensure consistent pickling.
- Refrigeration Wisdom: Let pickles rest 24 hours before eating, allowing flavors to meld and develop deep, tangy character.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 10
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg