It wouldn’t feel like SUMMER to me if I didn’t have a jar of refrigerator pickles sitting in the fridge. There was always a bowl of pickled cucumbers on my grandma’s dinner table during the summer as far back as I can remember. She didn’t get any more exotic with the recipe than mixing water, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper together and letting the cucumbers brine in it for several hours before dinner. I saw this recipe for a much more flavorful brine than I use in the FOOD-DAY section of our local newspaper. The recipe is from TED ALLEN’S new book “In My Kitchen.” Ted is host of the very popular “Chopped” on the food network channel. This recipe doesn’t require blanching the vegetables before brining, but I did dunk the carrots in boiling water for 2 or 3 minutes to soften them just a bit. I added 1/2 cup sugar to the brine and a few PEPPERONCINI and SUN DRIED TOMATOES to the mix of vegetables. Suggested veggie choices are cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, turnips, onions, green beans, asparagus, JALAPENOS, watermelon rind, unripe green tomatoes, even apples. The pickles last for weeks in the fridge (where they must be kept at all times). A wide-mouth canning funnel is helpful for pouring hot brine into the vegetable packed jars.
I like a bit of everything on my plate when I’m hungry for these pickles so I don’t bother to make lovely, even layers in the jar. One attack with my fork and it will be all jumbled up anyway. My favorites are cucumber, carrots, cauliflower and sweet onions (I used Walla Walla). The CAULIFLOWER is really, really good. If you keep a jar of these tasty pickles in your refrigerator this summer you will have the best, low calorie snack ever and YOU can serve up an impressive relish tray at a moment’s notice.
- BRINE:
- 4 cups water
- 10 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 cups distilled white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- Several sprigs fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ½ teaspoon pink peppercorns (if you have them)
- ½ cup sugar (my addition)
- VEGETABLES:
- 6 pickling cucumbers, quartered lengthwise
- 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
- 1 handful small green beans
- Cauliflower florets
- 4 small red chiles or 2 jalapenos (I used pepperoncini)
- In a medium saucepan bring water to a boil, reduce heat so the water simmers, and add garlic. (Simmering the garlic in water cooks out sulfur compounds that otherwise will cause the cloves to turn a harmless but very unappetizing blue-green color from the acid in the vinegar. Cook garlic for 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt, raise the heat, and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt dissolves. Remove from heat.
- In 2 sterile 1-quart canning jars, place a few springs of dill. Divid the seeds and peppercorns between the jars. Using tongs, remove the garlic from the brine and place 5 cloves in each jar. then pack the jars full of the veggies and chiles (you want them to be tightly stuffed).
- Bring the brine back to a boil, pout it over the vegetables to cover completely. Let cool and refrigerate. The pickles will taste good in just a few hours, better after a couple of days. They will keep for about 3 months.
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This post is linked to On The Menu Monday at StoneGable.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I made some pickled onions a while ago and have since lost the lid to my jar
I think I will grab some jars this weekend and make some pickles! Thanks for sharing this. Have a wonderful weekend!
Rhonda (@diningalone) recently posted..Favorite Things – #28 Sweeties Candy Store
some of the veggie combos sound really unique and good
My grandmother and mother always had the pickled cucumbers during the summer. I love them but sadly, have never made them….totally forgot about them. This mixture sounds wonderful. I am going to give it a try. Thanks!
Kate recently posted..Flank Steak with Spicy Peanut Noodles
LOVE pickles and brined cukes just screams summer to me — my grandma also always had these on her summer table….from garden to table, same day…in those days, they lived without A/C and never complained about the heat. She always made a big breakfast in the cool part of the day, and a smaller noon meal and by supper time, it was just light fare because it was too darned hot to eat much — those brined cukes were always cool and refreshing
Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
Gail
Gail @ Faithfulness Farm recently posted..Low-Carb Living ~ Zesty Lime Shrimp & Avocado Salad
Cathy~
These sound amazing and perfect for summertime! Thanks:)
Blessings,
Aimee
My husband’s been after me to make pickles all summer and I haven’t gotten around to it. I wouldn’t have thought to use all those different veggies, and I love that they’re used raw—thanks!
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..Southern Tomato Pie with Vodka Crust
Lovely! Ted also had these pickles (or very similar) in last months Food Network magazine, they were hands down the prettiest pic in the mag! Good to know you liked them-enjoy:@)
This sounds delicious! I did want to do some pickling this summer. There are beets growing in the garden that I have been thinking about pickling too. Then in the fall I like to make “chow chow” with green tomatoes, apples, and onions.
Marilyn recently posted..You Know How I Feel
I would love the pickles vegetables, especially with the heat. Looks so good, Cathy!
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..An old favorite…
We were such a pickle family! Jars of every kind in the fridge! I miss the variety we could get in the US. I have never made pickles (though friends have given me homemade ones) and now I am so tempted to try these! They look fantastic! And really, what is summer without pickles?
Jamie recently posted..MILAN-STYLE ASPARAGUS AND EGGS WITH PARMESAN
Kathy, This is a great recipe to have right now. I have an abundance of cukes in my garden! One of my favorite pickled tastes is cucumber. Thanks for including it in your pretty mix!
Your jar of pickles looks like it was right out of a magazine! Summer beauty!
This would be a great addition to ON THE MENU MONDAY! Linky goes live on Sunday evening at 8:00.
I am making this this weekend. It would be the perfect gift to take when I go visiting my daughter and sister next week. Thanks!
Yvonne @ StoneGable recently posted..CHRISTMAS IN JULY BLOG PARTY
This screams out loud SUMMER!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Lemon Thyme Spelt Bars
We always had those cucumbers on our Summer table when I was growing up, I loved them. I’m getting ready to pickle some cauliflower tomorrow. I’ll have to compare this recipe with the one I had bookmarked. Great photo Cathy, wish that jar was in my fridge.
Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch) recently posted..Summer Strawberry Ice Cream Pie, Blue Bell Ice Cream
Thank you! they’re gorgeous..i love finding new ideas..I just made a recipe for pickled onions from a nice Blogger..these will be on my list Cathy.Thanks for taking the time to share.
Monique recently posted..Sablés Bretons De Jeanne~Merçi Amélie~
I have to admit that I’ve never strayed from my mother’s refrigerator pickle recipe which sounds quite similar to your grandmothers. However, when my pickles start coming in like crazy I’d love to try this with all of those crunchy, lovely veggies.
Susan recently posted..Caramlized Onion Toasts and A Night of Gourmet~
that looks so delicious! i love pickled veg!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy recently posted..Cauliflower Pizza Party & a Graduation! GF, V, BED, SCD!
It looks so pretty in the jar! It makes my mouth water just thinking about all that yumminess. Delicious!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..How To Make A Naked Egg
I haven’t made refrigerator pickles for a couple of years now and love the mix of veggies in this version. Time to kick it up a notch — thanks for the great idea! Wondering how green tomatoes would work in this…
kellypea recently posted..Pan Bagnat
I really like mixed pickled vegetables like this. Yours look delicious.
Larry recently posted..Saturday Humor – Fly The Friendly Skies
very pretty Cathy! I love the layers of veggies, looks like a piece of art work!
The Cafe Sucre Farine recently posted..Grilled Pizza Margherita w/ Heirloom Tomatoes and Toasted Pine Nuts
I’ve been pickling everything this summer! They will be a lovely reminder of summer when the snow flies. These are beautiful.
Julie recently posted..Caprese Pasta
They not only sound delicious, I like the looks of them in the jar!
Marigene recently posted..Tureens
They look delicious! Last night we hit 5.00 burger night at a local pub, and the lady at the next table was giving out her recipe for pickles!
I only like sweet, dh likes the dill etc
Kathleen recently posted..Let’s Dish #23 Stripe and Dot for Not A Lot Another Bargain Adventure!