Rice Free Classic Dill Pickles
Crunchy, garlicky, and loaded with fresh dill flavor, these homemade pickles are the kind of thing you'll want to keep stocked in the fridge at all times. The brine comes together in minutes on the stovetop — just vinegar, water, salt, and a touch of sugar — and the real magic happens from the combination of fresh dill sprigs, dill seeds, peppercorns, and smashed garlic packed into each jar. Trimming the blossom end of the cucumbers is a small but smart step that keeps them snappy rather than soft, and the optional grape or horseradish leaves add an old-school touch that serious pickle fans will appreciate. Store-bought pickles can hide surprising additives, so making your own means you know exactly what's going in the jar — and every single ingredient here is naturally free of grain-based fillers or thickeners. After just 24 to 48 hours in the fridge, you've got tangy, deeply seasoned pickles that work on burgers, charcuterie boards, or honestly just eaten straight from the jar. This is one of those recipes that looks impressive but requires almost no skill, just a little patience while the brine does its thing.
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Learn more →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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