Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3

Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3

Do you have an abundance of cucumbers from your garden?  Are you unable to keep pace with picking, eating and giving away to family and friends?  If so, you’re in the same position as I am…  basically up to my eyeballs in cucumbers!  Don’t let your cucumbers go to waste.  Start pickling them. Even if you don’t grow your own cucs, go to the market, buy some and give Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3 a try. It’s so easy.  With this recipe, it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare the pickles, and requires ZERO steps of the traditional canning process. By the next day, you’ll be eating perfectly crisp deli-style pickles. Munch on that!

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Cucumbers

This is what I mean by “up to my eyeballs in cucumbers!” Above are 24 cucs I picked today after picking 14 of them two days prior!

Organize Recipe Ingredients

ingredients for pickles - cucumbers, vinegar, garlic and dill

Here are some of the basic ingredients you will need to get started – cucumbers, white vinegar, garlic, and dill. Plus kosher salt and peppercorns. All other seasonings are optional such as hot pepper flakes, fennel seed, mustard seed, celery seed, coriander and/or cumin seeds.

Cut Cucumbers

It’s time to get pickling! Wash and dry cucumbers.  Trim ends. After trimming, taste a sliver from each end to avoid using a bitter cucumber. Cut cucumbers into spears, discs or sandwich slices. You decide!

Add Cucumbers, Spices and Dill to the Jars

Then add cucumbers to the jars with all of the other ingredients except for the distilled water. Pack the cucumbers in tightly.

Pour in Distilled Water, Secure Lid, and Shake to Distribute Flavors

Pour in Distilled Water, Secure Lid, and Shake to Distribute Flavors

Once all of the ingredients are in the jar add the water and fill to the very top. Then screw lid on very tightly. Shake jar to distribute flavors. Leave on counter for 12 hours. Then shake again and turn jar upside down for another 12 hours.

Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3

Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3

Pickling process is complete. Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3 are ready. Either store pickles in the refrigerator or begin munching!

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5 from 2 votes

Homemade Dill Pickles…Easy as 1,2,3

Prep Time5 minutes
Pickling Time1 day
Total Time1 day 5 minutes
Course: condiment, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cucumbers, Dill, dill pickles, pickles
Servings: 12 spears/jar
Author: GFchow @ gfchow.com

Equipment

  • Mason Jars – Large (2-3 cups)

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pickling cucumbers, cut into spears, discs or sandwich slices (use medium to large sized cucumbers)
  • 5 dill sprigs, most of stems removed (more or less to taste) wash and pat dry
  • 2-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
  • 1/2-1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 20 peppercorns, any color whole
  • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes to taste
  • distilled or filtered water enough to top off the jar

Instructions

  • Wash and dry cucumbers. Trim ends. After trimming, taste a sliver from each end to make sure the cucumber isn't bitter. (See NOTE below for additional info.)
  • Cut cucumbers into spears, discs or sandwich slices. If cutting into spears, cut the cucumber in half vertically. Depending on the size of the cucumber you may need to cut each half into thirds or quarters. (See photos above.)
  • Add cucumbers to the jar and then add remaining ingredients except for the water. (The ingredients should fit snugly in the jar.)
  • Once all of the ingredients are in the jar, add the distilled water to the very top and then screw lid on very tightly.
  • Shake jar to distribute flavors.
  • Leave on counter for 12 hours. Then shake again and turn jar upside down for another 12 hours.
  • After 24 hours, store you pickles in the refrigerator or start munching immediately.

Notes

Eat after 24 hours or refrigerate for months. (But best if eaten sooner!)
Be sure to start with pickling cucumbers that have a good seed to flesh ratio. You don’t want to pickle cucs that have seeds that are too big or have too few seeds.  
If using home-grown cucumbers, taste a sliver from each end of the cuc before proceeding to make sure neither end is bitter which can sometimes happen with home-grown cucumbers.  If one end is bitter, don’t use the cucumber.  Use it for a salad and only use the sweet, non-bitter portion.
Experiment with the seasonings. Consider coriander seeds, bay leaf, celery seed, fennel seeds, mustard seed, etc.

Recipe source unknown.

If you like this recipe, you may also like these other GFchow recipes. Citrus Dill Gravlax, Chicken Burgers with Garlic-Rosemary Mayo, and Mom’s Gazpacho Soup.

GLUTEN FREE DISCLAIMER

The recipes you find here are considered by me to be gluten free.   However, it is up to you to make sure the ingredients you use are gluten free.  Whenever possible, I will list specific brands of ingredients that I use, but always be sure to check the labels yourself to verify the item is gluten free. 



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