Sweet n’ Sour Quick Pickle Recipe!

Originally published July 9, 2018 on theredrockflock.com

I have a tendency to not plan things out and just go for them… that’s why this is a recipe for quick pickles and not professionally jarred fancy pickles. I also had a hard time finding a recipe for a small quantity of pickles because apparently if you are so desperate to jar pickles, you are probably in the situation where you grew cucumbers and have like 100000 extras.

That was not the case for us, because we only had 3 fat cucumbers given to us by our neighbors and I knew 2 people weren’t going to eat like 10 jars of pickles. Dusty loves vinegary things so I figured I’d through together some sweet and sour quick pickles for him to munch on. That makes me sound like I’m some housewife that sits around all day making food for my man. Essentially true!

YOU NEED:

• 2 medium cucumbers (~1/4″ slices)
• 1/4 red onion (sliced thinly)
• 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 3/4 cup unfiltered apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp mustard seed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

1. First thing’s first. Let’s get that sugar dissolving. Combine 3/4 cup white vinegar and 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar in a non-reactive bowl (I used my melamine bowls). Whisk in 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper.

2. While the sugar is dissolving in the vinegar, slice up your onions nice and thin and your cucumbers into ~1/4″ slices. My fat cucumbers wouldn’t allow me to make nice round slices so I cut them in quarters.

3. When your cucumbers and onions are sliced up, add them to a second bowl.

4. Measure out your crushed red pepper and mustard seed. Sprinkle them over the bowl of cucumbers and onions and mix.

5. Now that your sugar/vinegar mixture should be pretty much dissolved now, cram all those delicious seasoned cucs (how do you spell that) and onions into your clean jar, and pour the vinegar mixture over them. Close up the lid and pop it in the fridge to pickle overnight (at least 8 hours).

This is a super simple recipe and I think you can make pickles as complicated or easy as you want. You can totally experiment with the types of vinegars. You could make asian inspired pickles with rice vinegar and fresh ginger, or maybe extra spicy pickles with jalapeños. I would also love to do this same pickle recipe with cauliflower and carrots!
Enjoy!

-Olivia

Originally published July 9, 2018 on theredrockflock.com