Brazil Nut Free Whole30 Dill Pickles
Crunchy, garlicky, and packed with fresh dill flavor, these refrigerator pickles are the kind of snack you'll find yourself reaching for straight out of the jar. The brine is built from apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and water — clean, simple ingredients that keep things compliant without sacrificing that classic tangy punch. Smashed garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, and optional red pepper flakes layer in serious depth, so these taste anything but plain. A small but smart step — trimming the blossom end of each cucumber — keeps the spears genuinely crisp rather than soft and sad after a day in the fridge. Optional grape leaves or tannin powder take that crunch even further if you want to go the extra mile. Store-bought pickles can be a minefield of additives, natural flavors, and shared facility warnings, but making your own means you know exactly what's in every jar. After just 48 hours in the fridge, you've got a bright, snappy pickle that works as a side, a snack, or a seriously satisfying crunch alongside any meal.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 lbs pickling cucumbers (about 8 small)
- 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 tbsp fine sea salt
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 8 sprigs fresh dill
- 4 large grape leaves or ½ tsp food-grade tannin powder (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim 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 if you prefer chips.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, and sea salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the salt is fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let the brine cool for 5 minutes.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!