Easy Refrigerator Pickles

Crunchy, amazing and healthy. Refrigerator pickles are one of the easiest things to make and the best part is that you get to control the ingredients! I decided to make my own pickles when I couldn’t find any without “natural flavors” in the ingredients. This was never so before. It seems almost all store-bought items have this ingredient now. What is it? Why don’t they just list what the ingredient is?  Have you ever wondered? Well I can tell you it’s not natural. This will be for another post! 

So I began searching every label and found a couple without “natural flavors” but they were $9.00 a jar! They did taste better, but nine bucks! UGGG! So the adventure began, and how easy it was! Refrigerator pickles are much more simple to make than the jar method.

Pickled veggies are healthy if you make your own or purchase the ones with real ingredients. There are many different recipes online, but I chose a simple one that is really good to share here. 

Start with pickle cucumbers (see photo above). I use the thicker skin ones, in season right now at most farmer’s markets! Cut them in half, then cut those in half, then one more time. Nice thin spears . I used a wide mouth mason jar (smaller one ) and stuffed them in, then poured in the brine. I then just thew in the garlic and dill! I actually experimented with a few recipes and found this one really good. Light and a bit spicy but refreshing. Check out the full recipe below! Nothing artificial, no natural flavors (which are no natural), no colors or preservatives. Just ingredients you have at home and can understand!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 pickle cucumbers
• 3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 water enough to cover
• 1-2 teaspoons of Celtic sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
• 2 cloves of garlic sliced thin
• Fresh cracked pepper- 8 twists
• A handful of fresh dill

DIRECTIONS

Cut pickles in spears. Add them to a quart size wide-mouth mason jar. Next add all other ingredients  except garlic and dill to a bowl and whisk (I like to add to big measuring cup), whisk and pour over pickles. Add dill and garlic last.

Shake it up and put them in the refrigerator they will be ready the next day! Shake every so often to mix the ingredients in the jar.

They last a week or more in the fridge! I hope you enjoy snacking on these as much as I do!

Elissa XOXO

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