A Great Food Accent Dill Pickles

Dill Pickles may have begun as a way to preserve an overabundance of cucumbers. Or maybe, a certain type of cucumber was too small and more pungent than larger salad cucumbers. Making dill pickles provides a wonderful accent to many dishes as a luncheon or dinner condiment. Originally, dill pickles were made in large wooden barrels. The wood actually enhanced the flavor of the pickles. These could be found in most general stores and mercantile emporiums. There’s a certain nostalgia for dill pickles in pickle barrels. The flavor brings back memories of that wonderful crunch and unique dill aroma, eaten out of hand and loved by children and adults. All the fun of the dill pickle barrel was reaching in for just the right one.

A Pickle By Any Other Name

They may be called gherkins, pickles or cornichons. Dill Pickles can be rotund, slim or in-between. Some are heavy with dill flavoring; others may have a heavier garlic accent. Dill pickles by another other name is still a dill pickle made with fresh dill in a salty brine. No matter where in the world one travels, they’ll find dill pickles, though the variations in flavor may be due more in part to the types of spices added to the brine. Some markets sell prepared pickling spice which includes peppercorns, dill, paprika, bay leaf, caraway, coriander and mustard seeds.

How To Make Delicious, Crunchy Dill Pickles

Not all cucumbers can be used to make dill pickles. True dill pickles are made from the cucumbers that are not longer than 4 inches, firm, freshly picked and free of bruising. Avoid overripe cucumbers. They tend to mascerate in pickling brine. Many greengrocers sell pickling cucumbers for the express use of pickling your own. Making dill pickles is relatively simple. The main ingredients in dill pickles are fresh dill, a clove of garlic, vinegar (usually plain white or apple cider vinegar) salt and water. There are several steps to preparing dill pickles:

Step 1: Wash cucumbers thoroughly

Step 2: Prepare pickling jars. Sterilize by boiling briefly as you would in a canning process. Make sure lids are sterilized as well.

Step 3: Prepare brine. The amount of brine depends on the amount of cucumbers to be pickled. Add water, vinegar, fresh dill, salt and pepper. Place in a pan and bring to a boil.

Step 4: Place cucumbers in the sterilized jars and pour brine until it reaches the neck of the jar. Cover and seal tightly.

The actual pickling time is about 2-3 weeks. Dill pickles are a tasty compliment to hot dogs and hamburgers. Few barbecues take place without sliced dill pickles or dill pickle relish added to hot dogs and hamburgers. Most major fast food restaurants today still include a dill pickle with the purchase of hot dogs and hamburgers. Though the hot dogs and hamburgers may have a unique size, shape or cooking method, few are sold without the ever-present tasty dill pickle.

Cucumberless Dill Pickles

Most people think of dill pickles as being made exclusively from cucumbers. Not always true. Dill pickles in Pennsylvania Dutch country are often made from squash or firm fruits like pears. Rhubarb stalks are sometimes pickled with dill, black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar and a dash of honey for sweetness.