Pickling Spices Recipes

PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients for the onions.
• Sprinkle the salt over the dry, peeled onions.
• Stir to make sure the salt is distributed. Cover, refrigerated overnight (do not leave longer than overnight if you want your onions to be crisp).
• When ready, rinse the onions and dry with kitchen or paper towels.
• Gather the ingredients for the pickling liquid.
• Place the malt vinegar, sugar, and all the pickling spice ingredients in a large stainless steel pot.
• Heat on medium to dissolve the sugar, but do not boil.
• Pack the onions into clean, sterilized jars (about two wide-mouth, quart-size canning jars, or smaller jars, if desired).
• Pour the vinegar-spice liquid over the onions to fill the jars, making sure each jar has pickling spices and that there are no air pockets.
• Seal the jars and let cool. Store refrigerated. The onions will be ready to eat after about one month.
• Peeling pickling onions is fiddly and time-consuming. To speed up the process, cut off the top and tail of the onions.
• Then place the onions in a large heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over to cover.
• Drain the water after 10 minutes, and presto, the skins will just rub right off.
• Do not leave in the water too long or the onions will start to go mushy when you preserve them. Dry the onions with a kitchen towel or paper towels. Proceed with pickling.

BASIC PICKLING SPICE BLEND

Steps:

• Crush the cinnamon and bay leaves: In a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder, break down the cinnamon stick into small (about 1/4 inch) pieces. Transfer to a small bowl, then repeat with the bay leaves, crushing them into small pieces of about the same size. Transfer them to the bowl as well.
• Mix up the spice blend: Stir in the rest of the spices. Use a small funnel to transfer the mixture to a spice jar, or use it right away. The spices will keep in a tightly-lidded jar for up to 1 year.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE

Steps:

• Place mustard seeds, allspice berries, whole coriander seeds, and red pepper flakes into a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine. Add ground ginger to seeds and shake again. Sprinkle crumbled bay leaves over spice mixture and place cinnamon stick halves into the jar. Seal and shake to combine. Mixture can be stored in the tightly sealed jar for up to 1 month without loss of flavor.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight jar or container. Use in favorite pickle recipes.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
• Use in your pickle recipes as directed.
• Makes approximately 3/4 cup.

HOW TO PICKLE CUCUMBERS (QUICK METHOD)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, garlic, water, salt, and honey if using.
• Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.
• While waiting for the brine to cook, place the dill in the bottom of a quart-size jar.
• Add a few layers of cucumber slices. The cucumbers can be sliced as thick or as thin as desired, but the thinner they are the faster they'll pickle.
• Add a layer of onions (if using), then more cucumber slices, repeating until the jar is nearly full. Leave about ½ inch of head space at the top of the jar.
• Pour the brine over the pickles, put the lid on, and place it in the fridge. If you don't have enough liquid to cover the pickles, then add some more vinegar and water in equal amounts until you do.
• Wait at least 12 hours before eating the pickles (the longer you wait the more flavorful!).
• Tip: Since these are going to be kept in the fridge, a canning jar isn't necessary. Whatever heat safe lidded glass jar you have on hand that's big enough will work.

HOMEMADE SPICY GARLIC DILL PICKLES RECIPE

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to mix.
• Prepare your jars and lids for canning. I run my jars through the dishwasher to sterilize and remove them while still warm. Add the lids to a small pot of simmering boiled water to pull from for the canning process.
• In a large stock pot to avoid contaminationbring the vinegars, water and salt to a simmer.
• To each sterilized jar add: 2-3 tablespoons of pickling spice, 2-3 fronds and stalks of dried dill weed, 2-3 Thai red peppers depending on your preference and 4-5 whole garlic cloves to each jar. Pack the whole or sliced cucumbers into the jars so they are tight but aren't damaged in the process. The cucumbers should sit below the neck of the jar. Trim the cucumbers if they're poking up too high.
• Pour the brine into the jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace, just covering the cucumbers.
• Wipe the rims of the jars and use tongs to place the lids and rings (that have been sterilized in simmering water) on top of the jars. To avoid contamination, do not touch the lids where they sit on the jars with your fingers.
• Process in a canner water bath of boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove the jars from the pot and allow them to cool on a dishtowel on the counter. As the jars cool you will hear them pop as they seal. Sealed jars should feel solid when tapped and be concave in shape.
• Store in a dry cool place. Pickles will be ready to try in about 7-10 days but get even better over time. They can be stored for up to 1 year.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE RECIPE

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients to a small jar with a lid (one cup wide-mouth canning jar works great). Use your fingers to break the bay leaves into small pieces.
• Stir to combine.
• Add a lid and store until needed.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE

Steps:

• Add of the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to mix.

HOMEMADE PICKLING SPICE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Store in an airtight jar in a cool dry place. (Makes about 1/3 cup.)
• Test Kitchen Tip: For best results, use 2 tablespoons Pickling Spice per 2 quarts of water.