Emulsifier Free Classic Dill Pickles

Total time24 hr 25 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time5 min

4.7

(23)

Store-bought pickles are one of those products where the label almost always hides a surprise — polysorbate 80, modified food starch, or some other additive you didn't ask for. This homemade version keeps things completely clean, relying on nothing but vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and a handful of whole spices to do all the work. Kirby or Persian cucumbers are packed tightly into jars with smashed garlic, fresh dill, mustard seeds, peppercorns, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat, so every bite is layered with real, recognizable flavor. The optional grape or horseradish leaves are a clever old-school trick that helps the cucumbers stay snappy and crisp without any additives. A quick stovetop brine gets poured over the top, and after just 48 hours in the fridge, you've got tangy, garlicky pickles that taste like they came from a proper deli counter. They keep for up to three weeks refrigerated, which means you can always have a jar ready to go alongside sandwiches, grain bowls, or honestly just eaten straight from the jar.

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Ingredients

8 servings

2 lbs kirby or persian cucumbers (about 8–10 small cucumbers)
1 ½ cups distilled white vinegar
1 ½ cups water
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
4 sprigs fresh dill
1 tsp dill seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
½ tsp mustard seeds
2 grape leaves or 2 horseradish leaves (optional)

Instructions

1
Trim about 1/8 inch off the blossom end (the end opposite the stem) of each cucumber — this removes enzymes that can soften the pickles. Cut the cucumbers into spears by halving lengthwise, then halving again, or slice into 1/4-inch rounds.
2
Divide the garlic, fresh dill sprigs, dill seeds, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes (if using) evenly between two clean wide-mouth quart mason jars. If using grape or horseradish leaves, place one in each jar against the inside wall.

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