How To Make Fermented Pickles

Making fermented pickles is easy and delicious.

I make them in five gallon buckets all summer...just adding more cucumbers to the mix as I pick them. 

They have a complex and delicious taste that vinegar-based pickles just can't compete with. 

The recipe below makes a half gallon (2 quarts) of pickles). 

Ingredients: 

• Approx. 2 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers....choose ones on the smaller side if possible. 
• 5 cups water (if you live in the city, use distilled or spring water since chlorine can inhibit the fermentation process)
• 2 tablespoons Himalayan salt or sea salt
• Approx. 10 garlic cloves You can easily double this if you like them garlicy
• A handful of dill
• 3–4 bay leaves (or a grape leaf, oakleaf or horseradish leaf). It helps them stay crisp!
• Whatever spices you like…I like the following:
  1/4 teaspoon turmeric, and up to 1 tsp of each: fennel seeds, coriander seeds, peppercorns, dill seeds, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and/or allspice, 
  1–3 fresh red chilies, dried arbol chilies, or some chili flakes, and/or ½- 1 onion, sliced. The more the merrier, in my opinion. :) 
• clean jars (or a bucket/crock)

Recipe:

1. Rinse the cucumbers. Cut off the ends, if desired, as they can be bitter. If you want to, you can soak the cucumbers in ice water for 10-20 minutes first. I generally don't do this but it is an option as it crisps them. 
2. Mix up the salt and water.
3. Layer all the ingredients into the jars, packing in tightly.
4. Pour on the brine. 
4. Leave at least an inch or so of brine at the top. Weigh everything down with a plate, cup, or fermentation weights. The goal is that you don't want anything to be above the brine.
5. Cover the jars with a kitchen towel or cloth. (You don’t want to put a jar lid on because the air needs to escape.)

Put it in a cool, dark place for 3-7 days. Note that the brine will start to get cloudy. That's normal and a good sign that the ferment is working! Check to be sure that everything stays under the liquid.  If you need to add more brine, just mix up 1 tsp salt and 1 cup water. 

After you start to see bubbles (after day 3 or so), you can test them and see how it tastes. Once you have the desired taste, put them in the fridge.



Enjoy!