Seven Day Pickles: A Simple and Tasty Recipe You Can’t Miss
You ever tried them seven day pickles? Now, don’t go thinkin’ it’s some fancy food that only them city folks eat. No, no, these here pickles is somethin’ every good ol’ country kitchen knows how to make, and they sure can make your mouth water. I ain’t kiddin’! Now, let me tell you, it’s not hard, and you don’t need any of them fancy gadgets. All you need is a few cucumbers, some salt, sugar, vinegar, and a little patience. That’s it. But don’t rush through it, ’cause these here pickles need time to get real good. Seven days, just like the name says. Trust me, after them seven days, they’re gonna taste like heaven on a plate!
What You Need
- Fresh cucumbers (about 4 or 5, but you can use more if you got a big batch)
- 4 cups of vinegar (I use white vinegar, but you can try others if you like)
- 2 cups of water
- 3 cups of sugar (yes, you heard me right, three cups)
- 1/4 cup of salt (don’t skimp on the salt, it helps with the pickle taste)
- Pickling spices (these can be bought in any grocery store, don’t need much)
- Garlic cloves (2 or 3, if you like a strong flavor)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Start with them cucumbers. Now, you gotta clean ’em real good. I mean scrub ’em with a brush, get all that dirt and grime off. If any cucumbers look a little funny or have spots on ‘em, toss ’em out. Don’t be puttin’ no bad ones in your pickle jar.
Step 2: After you cleaned them, slice ’em up. You can slice ’em in circles, or if you want, you can cut them in spears. Your choice, but don’t make ‘em too thick, else they won’t soak up the brine right.
Step 3: Now, get yourself a big ol’ pot and bring 4 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of water to a boil. Once that starts to boil, throw in your 3 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup of salt. Stir it around real good till everything dissolves. Now, this part’s important: throw in a couple tablespoons of pickling spices and maybe a couple cloves of garlic for that extra bite.
Step 4: Once you got the brine all ready, pour it over your cucumbers in a big jar or container. Make sure the cucumbers are covered by the liquid. If you got too many cucumbers, add a little more vinegar and water till they’re all submerged. You don’t want ‘em floating at the top.
Step 5: Now, cover up your jar tight. Leave it sit on the counter for the next 24 hours. Yeah, you heard me, just leave it out. Don’t put it in the fridge or anything yet. Over the next day, you’re gonna see some bubbling and foaming happenin’. That’s the pickling magic workin’ its way through them cucumbers.
Step 6: After 24 hours, it’s time to put ‘em in the fridge. Just leave ’em there and let ‘em soak for the next six days. Don’t mess with ’em! The longer you let ’em sit, the better they get. Every day, you can check ’em and see how they’re doin’. Sometimes I like to shake the jar a little to mix up the brine, but that’s up to you.
Step 7: By day seven, your pickles should be lookin’ and tastein’ real fine. You can open up that jar and taste ’em. If you like ‘em sweeter, they’re ready. If you want a little more of a bite, just let ’em sit for another day or two. They’ll keep on fermentin’ and get more pickled as time goes on. But trust me, by the seventh day, you’re gonna have some crispy, tangy, and sweet pickles that’ll make your tongue do a little happy dance.
Why Seven Days?
Now, you might be wonderin’, why seven days? Why not just eat ‘em after a few hours or a couple of days? Well, let me tell you, them seven days let all them flavors really sink in deep. The vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices, they soak into them cucumbers, and the magic of fermentation works its charm. That’s why these pickles taste so much better than any store-bought ones. You can even use this same method with green beans, carrots, or whatever you fancy. Just remember, good things take time!
How to Store Your Seven Day Pickles
Once your pickles are done, you gotta store ‘em right. Keep them in the fridge and they’ll stay fresh for a long while. I usually keep mine for a month or two, but I gotta tell you, they hardly last that long in my house! The longer they sit, the better they get, but they’re always good for at least a few weeks. Just don’t leave ’em out too long, or they might spoil.
Enjoying Your Pickles
Now, what do you do with them pickles once you got ’em? Well, you can eat ’em straight outta the jar, of course. But they go great on sandwiches, in salads, or even just as a snack. Some folks even like to eat ‘em with a piece of cornbread, and I tell you, that’s a match made in heaven. You can also try ’em with fried chicken or any kind of BBQ, and your guests will be askin’ for the recipe, I promise you that!
So, there you have it, folks! Them seven day pickles—easy to make, tasty as can be, and perfect for any time of the year. Now go ahead, get your cucumbers and start the process. You’ll be enjoyin’ them pickles before you know it!
Tags: [Seven Day Pickles, Homemade Pickles, Cucumber Pickles, Easy Pickles Recipe, Sweet Pickles, Pickling Cucumbers, Country Recipes]
