Jeepers Creepers

 Today I'd like to share a recipe for Pickling 

ALMOST ANYTHING!

With spring here, and summer ahead - it's nice to have something already premade, light, and refreshing as a side dish or healthy craving!

How To Quick Pickle Any Vegetable

PREP TIME 20 minutes

COOK TIME 5 minutes

MAKES 2 pint jars

INGREDIENTS

1 pound fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers, carrots, green beans, summer squash, or cherry tomatoes

2 sprigs fresh herbs, such as thyme, dill, or rosemary (optional)

1 to 2 teaspoons whole spices, such as black peppercorns, coriander, or mustard seeds (optional)

1 teaspoon dried herbs or ground spices (optional)

2 cloves garlic, smashed or sliced (optional)

1 cup vinegar, such as white, apple cider, or rice

1 cup water

1 tablespoon kosher salt, or 2 teaspoons pickling salt

1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional)

*Carrots can be peeled and sliced into matchsticks or coins. 

*Cherry tomatoes are best preserved whole. 

*If you’re using green vegetables — to make, for example, green bean pickles or zucchini pickles — you can blanch vegetables first in boiling water for two to three minutes and then shock them in an ice bath to preserve their color, but this step is purely optional.

Preparing Vegetables for Pickling

• Thinly slice: cucumbers, summer squash, ginger, red onion
• Cut into spears: carrots, cucumbers
• Peel: carrots
• Blanch: green beans (optional, but helps preserve their color)

Flavoring Quick Pickles

• Fresh herbs: dill, thyme, oregano, and rosemary hold up well
• Dried herbs: thyme, dill, rosemary, oregano, or majoram
• Garlic cloves: smashed for mild garlic flavor, or sliced for stronger garlic flavor
• Fresh ginger: peeled and thinly sliced
• Whole spices: mustard seed, coriander, peppercorns, red pepper flakes
• Ground spices: turmeric or smoked paprika are great for both color and flavor
  

1. Prepare the jars. Wash 2 wide-mouth pint jars, lids, and rings in warm, soapy water and rinse well. Set aside to dry, or dry completely by hand.

2. Prepare the vegetables. Wash and dry the vegetables. Peel the carrots. Trim the end of beans. Cut vegetables into desired shapes and sizes.

3. Add the flavorings. Divide the herbs, spices, or garlic you are using between the jars.

4. Add the vegetables. Pack the vegetables into the jars, making sure there is a 1/2 inch of space from the rim of the jar to the tops of the vegetables. Pack them in as tightly as you can without smashing.

5. Make the brine. Place the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar (if using) in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Pour the brine over the vegetables, filling each jar to within 1/2 inch of the top. You might not use all the brine.

6. Remove air bubbles. Gently tap the jars against the counter a few times to remove all the air bubbles. Top off with more brine if necessary.

7. Seal the jars. Place the lids on the jars and screw on the rings until tight.

8. Cool and refrigerate. Let the jars cool to room temperature. Store the pickles in the refrigerator. The pickles will improve with flavor as they age — try to wait at least 48 hours before cracking them open.

RECIPE NOTES

Storage: These pickles are not canned. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. If you process and can the jars, they can be stored at room temperature unopened.

Y U M M Y