Who doesn’t like cucumber pickles!!!
But what is it about cucumber pickles specifically that has captured my heart (and my taste buds)?
Perhaps it’s the versatility of the pickle.
a condiment, a side dish, or even a snack- you can enjoy it literally at your every meal. From Korean kimchi to german sauerkraut- almost every cuisine has a different version of cucumber pickle.
Yet, there’s something uniquely satisfying about a classic dill pickle!
Briny, garlicky flavor- nothing compares with it. Today I decided to show you an Old fashioned sweet pickled cucumber recipe.
Gramma’s sweet pickled cucumber recipe easy
Oh, the delight of a crispy, tangy, and slightly sweet pickle!
As a pickle lover, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of biting into a perfectly pickled cucumber made by my gramma. Let me show you our family old fashioned sweet cucumber pickles which was mainly prepared by her.
INGREDIENTS
· 3 to 4 cucumbers
· water
· 1 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
· 2 cups sugar
· 1 teaspoons kosher salt
Optional ingredients
· 2 garlic cloves
· Mustard seeds
· Some pink peppercorns
· 1 teaspoon mixed peppercorns
· Any herbs
Instructions
1. Wash the cucumbers thoroughly before cutting them up into slices. Slice the cucumber thick or thin. You can choose your own thickness yourself.
2. Once you have sliced up all the cucumbers, put the slices into a strainer and add one teaspoon of salt. Toss the cucumbers and make sure the salt is evenly distributed among the slices. Let it sit for about 30 minutes in the kitchen sink or over a bowl.
3. After 30 minutes, start rinsing the cucumber slices under cold water and wash away all the salt. Do this for a few minutes to make sure you get all the salt off the cucumbers.
4. In a medium-sized pot, add 1 cup of vinegar, 2 cups of sugar, and 3 cups of water. Heat the mixture until the sugar and salt are dissolved. You can use some herbs or spices in the water if you want.
5. After some time, place the cucumber slices in a jar and pour the hot pickle juice directly into the jars.
6. Cover the jar and store it in the refrigerator. There you have your own cucumber pickle.
Are sweet pickled cucumbers the same as gherkins?
Well, Sweet pickled cucumbers and gherkins are similar, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Allow us to explain……
Gherkins are a variety of cucumbers that are smaller and have a more wrinkled skin than the typical cucumber. They are usually pickled in vinegar or brine and are commonly used in sandwiches, salads, and as a garnish.
So what’s the difference?
Sweet pickled cucumbers are also cucumbers that have been pickled in a sweet brine, but they are typically larger.
And most importantly, not as wrinkled as gherkins.
In a nutshell, gherkins are a specific variety of cucumber, sweet pickled cucumbers can refer to a broader range of cucumbers that have been pickled in a sweet brine.
Can you use regular sugar for pickling cucumber?
Yes, regular granulated sugar is perfectly fine for pickling.
In fact……
Regular sugar is one of the most commonly used sugars in pickling. And the one used for picking from centuries in different cuisine.
Most of the cases, sugar is an essential ingredient.
Why?
Sugar is often added to balance the acidity and sweet flavor of the pickles and make them tangy. What Granulated sugar do is dissolves easily in the pickling liquid and provide a consistent sweetness to the pickles.
However, some pickling recipes may call for other types of sugars, such as
- Brown sugar
- Or honey