By Terry Boyd, Blue Kitchen
Makes 16 pickle spears
1-1/2 cups distilled white vinegar (see Kitchen Notes)
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds (I used brown mustard seeds)
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1-1/2 cups water, plus extra
4 Kirby cucumbers, about 1 pound total
1 jalapeño pepper, sliced into thin rings
3 to 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
12 sprigs fresh dill (plus more, if desired)
1. Special equipment: 2 wide-mouthed jars tall enough to accommodate the cucumber spears.
2. Combine vinegar, sugar, salt and coriander, mustard and fennel seeds in a medium sauce pan. Bring the vinegar to a boil over medium high flame, stirring frequently, until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat and cool completely.
3. Wash and dry the jars. Rinse the cucumbers carefully and pat them dry. Quarter the cucumbers lengthwise and pack slices into the jars. Divide the chopped garlic and jalapeño slices between the jars, tucking between the cucumber slices. Tuck 6 sprigs of dill into each jar.
4. Add 1-1/2 cups of water to the vinegar. Divide vinegar mixture between jars, making sure the seeds get divided as well. If necessary, add a little water to completely submerge the cucumber slices. I added about 1/4 cup to each jar. Close jars tightly and shake to mix in added water. Refrigerate at least 24 hours before eating. Pickles should keep up to a month refrigerated.
Kitchen Notes
Vinegar variations. Distilled vinegar gives these pickles a sharp, clean flavor. It also preserves the pickles’ beautiful emerald green color; cider vinegar would not. You might also experiment with white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar. Some recipes even call for a mix of white vinegar and white wine; keep in mind that the wine’s alcoholic content would still be present in this mix.
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