You’ve probably had a refrigerator pickle at some point. Whether you made them or your grandma did, refrigerator pickles are a staple recipe every home cook should have in their back pocket. This particular recipe is one I use weekly to always have something crunchy on hand. It involves pickling without boiling, instead creating a simple brine of heated water and vinegar and adding it to a jar. I’ve recommended some of my favorite spices to add, but feel free to get creative with flavorings like classic dill, spicy, garlic… whatever suits you!
the basic ingredients
You can easily double these ingredients if you’re looking to keep a larger stash or just particularly love to munch on pickles!
Cucumbers: You can use either a few pickling cucumbers or one large English cucumber. Water and Vinegar: The base of the pickling mixture! If you don’t water down the vinegar, your pickles will be too tart. I use apple cider vinegar for a bit of sweetness, but white wine vinegar works too. Non-Iodized Salt: 1 tsp of non-iodized salt will help to add flavor to the pickles. Avoid iodized salt, which can cause discoloration. Optional Flavorings: To get the ball rolling, here are a few flavoring ideas: fresh dill, crushed garlic, bay leaf, whole black peppercorns, or red pepper flakes. You can also add other veggies like onions or radishes.
Making them is easy
As with all of my pickling recipes, the directions include a minimal-step process that can be ready in as little as 5 minutes.
Dishes that need a side pickle
Sandwiches are always better when they come with a pickle (or two)! Here are some yummy sandwiches just begging for a pickle.
Buffalo Tempeh Sandwiches: These are already over-the-top packed with flavor, but somehow, a pickle makes them even better! Pressed Eggplant Sandwiches: These are easy to make and are delicious on a warm day, with a pickle in one hand and this sandwich in the other. Bulgur Falafel Wraps with Yogurt Tahini Sauce: These wraps have a lot of similar spices to dill pickles so they’re easy to make and eat side by side.
