How to Make Pickles from Scratch

Almost every culture around the world has their own art of making pickles at home. Brine solution, oil, herbs and spices like mustard seed, cloves, garlic, cinnamon, etc. are used to make pickles. The origin of the term is from the Dutch word pekel, which translated means brine. In the United States and Canada, the word pickle means pickled cucumber. If other vegetables are used to pickle, then the name of the vegetable is used after the word pickled. Pickles were made since ancient times to preserve out of season foods, using salt as the main ingredient. When sailors set sail, they often carried salted pork, salted beef, with them. Although the aim was to preserve food, people also took to eating pickles, as the process of pickling lent it a great flavor. After reading on the history of pickles, you will want to know, the recipe make pickles from scratch.

Pickles Recipes

It is said that cucumbers were grown only in India in ancient times. Therefore, they were brought from India and were pickled, so that they could be preserved. Over time, pickle recipes may have undergone a lot of change, however the change has not been drastic. Most of the change has happened in the kind of utensils used. While making pickles from scratch, the ingredients, which are used include, pickling salt, pickling spices, herbs, vinegar. If you want to make sweet pickles, then salt will make way for sugar. It is necessary, you pick up the right kind of cucumbers to make pickles, else the chances of the pickle going bad cannot be ruled out. You may want to conduct a hollowness test on the cucumber, before you use them for pickles.

Recipe # 1
This recipe does not cook the ingredients. The pickles are ready to be savored 10 to 15 days after they are made. There is a similar dill pickle recipe, which can also be used to make pickles.

Ingredients

• 12 sliced cucumbers
• 4 cups sugar
• 4 cups white vinegar
• ½ cup pickling salt
• 1 ½ tsp coriander seeds
• 1 ⅓ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 ⅓ tsp celery seed
• 1 ⅓ tsp mustard seed
• 1 tsp alum powder

Preparation

• In a bowl, mix sugar vinegar, alum powder and pickling salt till all the ingredients dissolve well.
• Then, add coriander seeds, turmeric powder, celery seeds and mustard seeds to the mixture.
• Take a large jar and place sliced cucumber at the bottom of the jar.
• Pour the mixture on the cucumber and place the jar in the refrigerator.
• When the cucumber change color, the great sour pickle recipes is ready to be savored.
• In the mean time, do ensure to stir the pickles at regular intervals.

Recipe # 2
This is one of the traditional pickle making recipe, which has been used for a number of centuries. If you want to make pickles without canning, this is the recipe.

Ingredients

• 12 pickling cucumbers
• 1 ¾ cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 ½ cup chopped fresh dill
• ½ cup sugar
• 8 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 tbsp pickling spice
• 1 ½ tsp dill seed
• ½ tsp dried crushed red pepper
• 1 ½ tbsp coarse salt
• 2 cups water

Preparation

• Apart from dill sprigs, mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
• Stir the ingredients, so that they are well combined.
• Leave the mixture aside for 2 hours, so that sugar and salt are dissolved.
• Transfer half of the cucumber slices into one jar and the other half into another.
• Then, pour the sugar mixture in equal quantities.
• Top it up with dill sprigs.
• Now, close the jars tightly with the lids.
• Let the pickle refrigerate for 8 to 10 days before you start using them to enhance the flavor of your meals.
• It is important, you keep the pickle refrigerated, else it may go bad.

You may want to take a look at some more pickles recipes

• Green Tomato Pickles
• Bread and Butter Pickles

I hope with this write up, you have found the answer to the question how to make pickles from scratch. Likewise you can also use Christmas pickles recipe as well to make pickles for the festive season. If you are fond of canning, then these canning pickles recipes are just for you. You can use different recipes to make pickles every time for lovely variation.