Easy & Crunchy Refrigerator Dill Pickles Recipe Plus Pickling Spice Recipe.

I have been totally craving pickles, maybe it's my pregnancy talking or maybe it's the fact it's summer, but we've been going through about a jar a week. I thought to myself, could it possible, could I make my own pickles? I'll be honest, making my own pickles has made me love eating them even more! They are after all, the greatest sandwich and burger accessory of all time.  Lately, my favorite is on the side of a grilled cheese sandwich. They add that extra special, crunch, acid and zing to every bite.

Pickles are such a easy and quick snack, and I don't have to feel guilty about eating as many as I want or giving them to Nora. She always requests, pickles at breakfast time.  I don't know about you, but oatmeal with a side of pickles sounds like an amazing combination to me.  hehe. Refrigerator pickles are so incredibly easy and fast to make,  it makes me wonder why didn't I discover making them sooner.

Want to know the secret to good pickle? Other than fresh cucumbers, it's the pickling spice.  It's pretty easy to go pick up a pre-made pickling spice but in doing my own pickling it's just as easy to make my own and it adds major flavor. Trust me, you will taste the difference.  
Pickling Spice Recipe:
2 tablespoons of whole peppercorns
2 tablespoons of whole all spice
2 tablespoons of whole mustard seeds
2 tablespoons of coriander
1 table spoon of red chili flakes- want more heat? make it 2 tablespoons.
6-8  bay leaves- tear up into small pieces.

**Note: I used fresh dill weed for making refrigerator pickles but if you don't have fresh dill weed then use 2 tablespoons of whole dill seed.  If you are pickling something else besides pickles then add the 2 tablespoons of dill seed and 2 tablespoons of celery seeds.

Take a bowl and combine all of the dry ingredients, and do not combine the fresh dill.  The best way to buy all of these spices with out it costing a lot and taking up a ton of space, is by going to a grocery store that has a bulk spice section.  I only spent around 3 dollars and only bought exactly what I needed. 


Ingredients and Supplies:
Pickling Spice
2 lbs of kirby cucumbers or you can use regular cucumbers. Put them in the refrigerator prior to use. When picking out the perfect cucumber make sure they are nice and firm because that indicates how fresh it is.
2 cups of white vinegar
2 cups of cold water
3 tablespoons of salt
1 tablespoon of sugar or 2 tablespoons of honey.
fresh dill weed

Makes 5 pint jars or 2 quart jars and 1 pint jar.  Since these are going straight into the fridge you can also use leftover jars but just give them a good cleaning with hot water and soap.

Wash and then cut the cucumbers into desired fancy shape.  In a sauce pan, on medium heat combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar.  Bring to a boil for 10 minutes.  While your brine is heating up, take jars and add a couple of springs of dill weed. Then stuff the jars full of cut up cucumbers. Take a tablespoon and add your pickling spice, 2 scoops for quarts and 1 scoop for pints. Once your brine is ready, then pour into jars. (I used a measuring cup for easy pouring.)  Leave about 1/4 of an inch of breathing room on the top of the jar but make sure the cucumbers are covered with liquid.  Screw on jar lids on tightly and give them a little shake and swirl.  

There will be extra pickling spice but just throw it into a ziplock bag and use it for your next pickling project.  Wait until the jars are cool before putting into the fridge.  Now you have to wait until the next day before are ready, boo!  But, I promise it is worth the wait. These pickles come out, crunchy, zesty, and fresh. The whole process took me about 20 minutes with toddler help. You can't really beat that.   

13 comments

Rachel @ Love, Rachel said...

I've always wanted to try this! Seems easier than I thought!

Motormouth Macey said...

Sooooo making these this weekend! Seems so easy! Thanks for the great instructions!

Vanessa said...

I'll have to give that a try this summer once the cucumbers start!

QP said...

I am going out to sauvie in august to get a whole ton of pickling cucumbers and am going to go crazy so we have enough to last all year!

Christine D. | The Plumed Nest said...

i learned recently that pickles help with indigestion (luca is always craving them and he has acid reflux) - so there might a true correlation between pregnancy and pickles after all!

i should really give this a try. i say that with so many recipes, but i think am actually going to do this one! i love how simple it is. and i love pickles too.

Eva said...

Love these pickles made home ! I would like to make it but I've never see the nature's pickles! I will look for. I rememberd when I was pregnant I used to eat a lot ! Have a nice sunday Erika ;)

Unknown said...

yum i LOVE pickles too!

Katrina Sophia

Tessa~ Here there be musing said...

oh i've never tried to "put up" anything in my life! and at 77, i really should be "blushing," to say that!!!! -grin-

i get all nervous about the sterilizing and all that. conjure up visions of food poisoning in what i might make.. etc., etc., etc.

but!!!!

just clean well some jars and go to it, with this plan!!!! wow, i just might do it. at long last!!! ,-)

thank you for the recipe and push. and thank you for commenting in my blog.

oh! one more thing... you have the magic ingredient, which i don't. an adorable little kitchen helper!!!!! what a sweetie!!!!

gentle hugs,
tessa~

Loulou said...

Mmm, I love pickles too. And you're right ... they would be the perfect side to a grilled cheese sandwich, especially it they're lovely homemade ones like these. I've made an assortment of pickled vegetables before, but oddly enough, have never done cucumbers. I must try your spice mix!

Tori Dickey said...

Thanks for the recipe! These look great. My family also goes through pickles quite quickly so I'll have to try this.

Lauren said...

So funny. I must have popped on here at the wrong time on Friday because I missed the pickle post! Did you see my instagram of the pickles our neighbor Father Mike gave us? HUGE jar. Yesterday, Neel said (out of the blue), "Let's have a pickle!"

OMG, they were so good! Need another for lunch!

Rach said...

So I had no idea that there was such a thing called "pickling spice", but I kind of think that's amazing. These sound tasty! :)

Unknown said...

Making these tonight! Luckily I have most of the pickling spice ingredients on hand from my pickled onion project a couple months ago, AND my garden dill is ready to go :) Thanks for sharing the recipe!