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We Can Pickle That: Cucumbers!
Summer is on -- time to cue the cukes! Pickling is the way to go for most of us, but we have a few other tricks up our sleeves for cucumbers.
Pick Your Pickle
First thing's first: Know what varieties of cucumber lend themselves best to pickling, then understand when they're at the right stage of ripeness, lest you end up with pickles that underperform.
First thing's first: Know what varieties of cucumber lend themselves best to pickling, then understand when they're at the right stage of ripeness, lest you end up with pickles that underperform.
Sour Pickles
Our friend lactofermentation gives cucumbers their characteristic tang. This is the deli pickle of your dreams -- but there are a few tricks to perfecting crispy spears. (Image via Tim Vidra)
Our friend lactofermentation gives cucumbers their characteristic tang. This is the deli pickle of your dreams -- but there are a few tricks to perfecting crispy spears. (Image via Tim Vidra)
Half Sours
A slightly less salty brine produces a pickle with a slightly less sour tang. (Image via From Scratch Club)
A slightly less salty brine produces a pickle with a slightly less sour tang. (Image via From Scratch Club)
East Coast New Pickles
A tradition in the Northeast, these pickles are brined but unfermented, making for a crisp, salty cuke. (Image via Linda Ziedrich)
A tradition in the Northeast, these pickles are brined but unfermented, making for a crisp, salty cuke. (Image via Linda Ziedrich)
Dill Pickles
Whether fermented or vinegar-brined, dill pickles are dill-icious, and endlessly variable. (Image via Talk of Tomatoes)
Whether fermented or vinegar-brined, dill pickles are dill-icious, and endlessly variable. (Image via Talk of Tomatoes)
Beer Brined Pickles
Pickles and beer, together at last. The subtle malt and bitterness of beer adds another dimension to garlicky, spicy, assertive cukes.(Image via Karen Solomon)
Pickles and beer, together at last. The subtle malt and bitterness of beer adds another dimension to garlicky, spicy, assertive cukes.(Image via Karen Solomon)
Cornichons
Harvested small, tiny cornichons or gherkins make delightfully tart, crisp accompaniments to pâtés and cheeses. (Image via Lester and Miya)
Harvested small, tiny cornichons or gherkins make delightfully tart, crisp accompaniments to pâtés and cheeses. (Image via Lester and Miya)
Senfgurken
Battle your yellow, overgrown cucumbers by turning them into a classic German pickle, sweet and tangy with mustard seed. (Image via Culinaria Eugenius)
Battle your yellow, overgrown cucumbers by turning them into a classic German pickle, sweet and tangy with mustard seed. (Image via Culinaria Eugenius)
Bread and Butter Pickles
If you prefer to go sweet, which up a batch of bread and butter pickles, enhanced with turmeric to give them their signature sunny yellow hue. (Image via Sugarcrafter)
If you prefer to go sweet, which up a batch of bread and butter pickles, enhanced with turmeric to give them their signature sunny yellow hue. (Image via Sugarcrafter)
Spicy Pickles
Some like it hot, so turn on the heat with these spicy cukes. (Image via Nourish Network)
Some like it hot, so turn on the heat with these spicy cukes. (Image via Nourish Network)
Curry Pickles
A kiss of heat complements complex spices. Indian flavorings make for surprisingly tantalizing pickles. (Image via Sunset Magazine)
A kiss of heat complements complex spices. Indian flavorings make for surprisingly tantalizing pickles. (Image via Sunset Magazine)
Cucumber Kimchi
Korea also has a rich history of pickling cucumbers. Zippy cucumber kimchi is spicy, funky and delicious. (Image via A Kitchen Canvas)
Korea also has a rich history of pickling cucumbers. Zippy cucumber kimchi is spicy, funky and delicious. (Image via A Kitchen Canvas)
Sunomono
Japan's sunomono focuses on the delicate nature of the cucumber, preserving its crispness and fresh flavor. (Image via The Cultivated Life)
Japan's sunomono focuses on the delicate nature of the cucumber, preserving its crispness and fresh flavor. (Image via The Cultivated Life)
Pickle Relish
Turn your sweet or dill pickles into a relish to wake up hot dogs and burgers all summer long. (Image via Headspace Canning)
Turn your sweet or dill pickles into a relish to wake up hot dogs and burgers all summer long. (Image via Headspace Canning)
Jam It
Yup, you can even make cucumber jelly and cucumber jam. Perfectly good on toast, they also make marvelous ingredients in cocktails! Speaking of ...
Yup, you can even make cucumber jelly and cucumber jam. Perfectly good on toast, they also make marvelous ingredients in cocktails! Speaking of ...
Cucumber Infusion
A, uh, different kind of pickling: Infuse cukes into vodka, gin or tequila for a refreshing sipper on steamy days. (Image via Shutterbean)
A, uh, different kind of pickling: Infuse cukes into vodka, gin or tequila for a refreshing sipper on steamy days. (Image via Shutterbean)
Cucumber Chips
It's true -- despite being about 90% water, cucumbers can be dehydrated and made into crisp snack chips. (Image via Nettlefetter)
It's true -- despite being about 90% water, cucumbers can be dehydrated and made into crisp snack chips. (Image via Nettlefetter)
