Artificial Flavors Free Quick Pickled Cucumbers
Crisp, tangy, and bright with fresh dill and garlic, these quick pickled cucumbers deliver serious flavor without a single synthetic shortcut. Store-bought pickles are one of those sneaky products where artificial flavors can hide in plain sight on the ingredient label, but this brine is built entirely from real, recognizable pantry staples. Apple cider vinegar and honey do the heavy lifting here, creating that perfect sweet-sour balance that makes you want to eat them straight from the jar. A quick salt-and-drain step pulls out excess moisture so the cucumbers stay satisfyingly crisp even after soaking in the brine. The optional ground turmeric adds a gentle warmth and a gorgeous golden hue without any artificial color or flavoring involved. These are ready to eat in under an hour and pair beautifully with sandwiches, grain bowls, or anything that needs a punchy, refreshing contrast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 medium english cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
For the brine
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp honey
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Toss the cucumber slices with 1 tsp fine sea salt in a colander set over the sink. Let stand for 10 minutes, then rinse briefly under cold water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, and 1/2 tsp fine sea salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey dissolves and the brine just comes to a simmer, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.
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