Salt dill pickles
1 servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish inns used to | ||
| Specialize in pickled | ||
| Vegetables and preserves. | ||
| Many houswives in the SHTETL | ||
| And ghettoes also made | ||
| Pickle and jams | ||
| To supplement the family | ||
| Income Being frugal, they | ||
| Did not throw | ||
| Away the pickling juice but | ||
| Used it to flavor and sour | ||
| Many dishes, | ||
| Especially soups. | ||
Directions
SALT DILL PICKLES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My mother, a superb pickler, maintains that the crunchiness and good green color of pickled cucumbers are achieved by first pouring boiling water over the cucumbers, blanching them for a few seconds and then refreshing them immediately with cold water.
2 lb Small Cucumbers (1kg); blanched and refreshed 2 oz Dry Dill Stems and Flower Heads (50g); bruised 5-6 ea Fat Cloves Garlic; peeled; quartered 1 ts EACH: Black Peppercorns, Allspice and Mustard Seeds 4-5 ea Bay Leaves x Water x Salt 3-4 ea Small Hot Chillies (to taste) x Vine Leaves
Wash and blanch the cucumbers. Refresh and arrange in a crock or a large glass jar in layers, interspacing them with dill, garlic and spices. Pour cold water, to cover, over the cucumbers in the crock.
Pour out the water into a measuring jug. Salt with 1 tb (30g/1oz) salt for each 2 cups water (500ml/1pint). Dissolve the salt well in the measured water and pour over the cucumbers. Place vine leaves on top, then fit a heavy plate or wooden cover inside the crock and place a weight on to hold the cucumbers submerged. Leave in a warmplace to ferment. Skim as needed during the fermentation period.
When bubbles disappear, the pickles are ready use; this can take up to 2 weeks or in a warm, sunny place it can take as little as 4-5 days. When fermentation stops, keep the pickles in a dark, cool place or refrigerate.
From: In Search Of Plenty: A History Of Jewish Food Published By: Kyle Cathie Ltd. Written By: Oded Schwartz Written By: Oded Schwartz From: Sam Lefkowitz Date: 03-29-95 (18) (E)Homecooki