How to cook lightly salted cucumbers?
In the middle of summer, the harvesting season begins. Cucumber ripens first among vegetables. Unlike its closest relatives (zucchini, squash), it is valued unripe and is more difficult to keep fresh for a long time. So that the harvest of cucumbers does not lose freshness and useful properties in a week, they are lightly salted. Therefore, the topical question in the summer is how to cook lightly salted cucumbers.
History of appearance
Vegetable pickles are a favorite of many. It is a traditional appetizer and an ingredient in popular Russian dishes. They are in place at dinner, and on the festive table, and at a picnic.
This product was even an obligatory item on the royal menu, and Ivan the Terrible himself loved to crunch on pickles.
However, in Russia they began to pickle cucumbers not only in order to preserve a rich harvest for the winter, but also to give the vegetable an expressive taste.
The "ogyros" brought by the Byzantines proved to be prolific, but watery, and did not have a rich taste. In Russia, they learned to soak it, salt and ferment it. The young vegetable absorbed salt, the aroma of spices and leaves, and became crispy and closer to the way we know it today.
Oak barrels were used for salting.This method is still considered the best, but only guardians of culinary traditions who have a lot of free time use it. Most housewives prefer simple and modern methods, because partly this dish is valued precisely for the speed of preparation.
Inside the barrel was lined with oak or blackcurrant leaves "for the spirit and strength of the brine." Horseradish, tarragon and other herbs and roots were added to cucumbers. All this was placed in layers, shifting with currant leaves, and stored in the cellars for several months. Then a marinade recipe came from Europe, and cucumbers began to be rolled up for the whole winter.
Over time, they got used to fresh cucumbers, brought out new varieties. The "milk" vegetable began to be considered "sweet" and "crisp like cartilage", and more consumed immediately from the garden. But salted and pickled cucumbers did not become less popular from this. As well as marinated.
Difference from pickled
These pickles are often confused. In fact, there is a difference between salted and pickled cucumbers. They differ from each other in taste, composition, shelf life and useful properties.
Lightly salted cucumbers are soaked in a 20-25% salt water solution, adding fresh herbs and spicy seasonings. They are considered salted only for the first few days.
At this time, they still have a delicate, fresh, sweetish taste and a characteristic crunch when biting. Then the fermentation or sourdough process begins. These are pickled cucumbers. They can be pasteurized and rolled into jars for several months.
Pickles can go bad. To prevent this from happening, preservatives are added to the soaking solution. The solution becomes a marinade in which vegetables can be stored for a long time, being hermetically sealed in a small container.
The marinade requires aggressive ingredients, such as vinegar. It destroys many useful substances of cucumber and significantly affects its taste. Therefore, salted and pickled cucumbers are completely different dishes.
Lightly salted cucumbers are ready within a few hours. It is very comfortable. You can pickle them in a soft container and put them in the refrigerator. Or do it before going on a picnic or in the woods. They'll get ready on the road. You need to eat such cucumbers in a few days.
Pickled cucumbers should "ripen" in the marinade. But they are stored until the next summer season.
Salted brine preserves all the beneficial properties of the vegetable. At the same time, the brine itself is saturated with vitamins and nutrients not only from the cucumber, but also from other ingredients.
There is practically no benefit in the marinade. And vinegar and sugar only add calories to the appetizer.
properties and calories
The calorie content of salted cucumbers per 100 grams is 10-13 kcal. This is less than one hundredth of the daily calorie intake per day. You can use them even if you follow proper nutrition and a diet that does not exclude salt from the diet.
The characteristics of salted vegetables are almost the same as the characteristics of fresh cucumbers, if we consider the beneficial properties of the product.
First of all, cucumbers are useful because they contain water. It accounts for about 95% of the composition of one fruit, or 94-95 out of 100 grams. And this is not just water, but the most pure and harmless liquid for the body, which is perfectly absorbed along with vitamins.
Consider what the remaining 5% of the composition includes.
- Alimentary fiber. Their purpose is to help the digestive tract.
- The minimum content of BJU (about 1%).Nevertheless, due to the large amount of water in the product, it satisfies not only thirst, but also hunger.
- B-group vitamins. This is the most extensive vitamin group, the representatives of which are vital for the body. All B vitamins are water soluble. They are perfectly absorbed when using lightly salted cucumbers and brine.
Their benefits are enormous. Part of the vitamins, such as thiamine, energize the body. They help digest protein foods, including heavy meat products. Partially affect the normal functioning of the nervous system and mental work. The other part is herbal beauty vitamins. They participate in all metabolic processes inside the cells of the body, normalize the absorption of other vitamins. This is expressed in the beauty of the skin, hair and nails.
Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid), found in all green vegetables, is responsible for cell synthesis and metabolism. It also helps the body process BJU for energy and lowers cholesterol. For people with disorders of the cardiovascular system, this vitamin is shown as stimulating pressure and system function.
Folic acid is an essential component for rapid cell division. It is also called the "female vitamin" as it contributes to the easy course of pregnancy. And if salted and pickled cucumbers should be used with caution, then young lightly salted cucumbers are harmless to pregnant women and young mothers.
The remaining B vitamins are found in cucumbers in a very small amount per 100 grams. But they are still beneficial when used regularly. Among them are vitamins that are responsible for harmony, blood sugar levels, tissue regeneration processes, painkillers that prevent the development of anemia, antioxidant substances to prolong cell youth.
- Vitamin C. "Ascorbinka" in sweet pills is often prescribed by therapists to children. It is necessary for the prevention of colds, helps to heal abrasions and makes teeth strong. Importantly, our body is not able to produce vitamin C. Lightly salted cucumber is an easy and tasty way to stock up on vitamins in the summer before the cold season.
- Beta carotene. It is the closest relative of vitamin A. Together, they help the immune system protect the body and prolong youth. Vitamin E supplements this duet in a very small amount. It is also considered an antioxidant and is responsible for healthy skin.
- Vitamin K. The task of phylloquinone is to heal wounds. If there were not enough of it in the body, any scratch would be vulnerable to harmful bacteria. And thanks to vitamin K, protection from blood cells is formed at the site of damage.
- Potassium. Cucumber is very rich in them, and so it is good for the heart and kidneys.
- Iodine. There is more of it in lightly salted cucumbers than in many other vegetables. Due to its high water content, it is easily digestible.
- Minerals. Together they affect the body, make it healthier. In a small amount, the cucumber contains everything you need: iron, fluorine, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper and other minerals.
With such a rich and varied chemical composition of the vegetable, this is not all the advantages of the snack. Additional ingredients for salting are also enriched with useful substances. These substances are water soluble. They without obstacles fall into the cucumber pulp with water and saturate the brine.
The benefits and harms of salted cucumbers
It is worth noting that salted cucumbers can be both useful and harmful to the body.
Pros.
- Helps replenish water in the body.
- Relieves symptoms of heartburn.
- It cleanses the body of toxins and "waste products" that can lead to intoxication. There are reviews of people who used cucumber as part of a detox diet (cleansing) and with kidney stones. They confirm the positive results in both cases.
- Gives the body a rest on a fasting day. Nutritionists prescribe cucumber fasting days once a week or every few weeks.
- Indispensable for diet. People who count calories in order to lose weight also benefit from eating cucumbers. They slow down the process of fat deposition.
In addition, dietary fiber improves digestion, and B vitamins normalize metabolism. In 100 grams of cucumber there are no more than 20 kcal, so they can be snacked several times a day. Lightly salted cucumbers in the summer are an excellent side dish for protein products.
- Useful for diabetics because of the substances in the composition of the cucumber, which regulate blood sugar levels.
- Relieves hangover symptoms. This amazing property of pickle brine is often attributed to its high potassium content. In fact, potassium has nothing to do with it. The reason for a hangover is that the water-salt balance of the body is disturbed. There is a lot of water in the tissues, but little in the vessels. In other words, dehydration sets in. And salt helps water to linger and be absorbed, so brine is an excellent medicine after an immodest celebration.
Delicious, crunchy, fresh and incredibly healthy - such a description of a lightly salted cucumber is misleading. After all, for all its merits, this snack has contraindications.
First of all, people with stomach diseases suffer from love for lightly salted cucumbers. This is due to the fact that the product has high acidity. It irritates the mucous membrane of the patient's gastrointestinal tract, causes nausea and discomfort.
Also, do not get involved in pregnant women and people who have impaired water-salt metabolism. This leads to swelling and reduces the activity of the thyroid gland.
Pickles are not contraindicated, but you need to follow the measure. Last but not least, the risk group includes people with individual intolerance to the product. And if the cucumber itself is practically not an allergen, then specific products and herbs are used for the brine, which can cause an allergic reaction.
What vegetables are best to use?
Experienced housewives know many secrets that affect the taste and “crunchiness” of cucumbers. And the basis of the basics of the dish is the right cucumbers. That is, the size, ripeness, quality of the fruit, and its variety.
Knowing the pros and cons of varieties is important, but only if cucumbers grow in your own garden. It is easy to make a mistake in the market or in the supermarket. Unscrupulous sellers can pass off absolutely any variety as the famous "Nezhinskiye", and fraud will be discovered only when the pickling turns out to be of poor quality. Therefore, we will consider varieties suitable for salting a little later. To begin with, let's deal with the general characteristics of "ideal" cucumbers for pickling.
Signs of the right variety and good fruit
- Early maturing. The earlier the plant begins to bear fruit, the faster you can get the first batch of cucumbers for pickling. In early varieties, this period falls on the beginning and middle of summer - hot weather, when lightly salted cucumbers are perfectly eaten.
- Suitable for regions with short summers.
- Small or medium size - from 7 to 14 centimeters in length.
- Thin peel with pimples. The thinner the skin, the faster and better it passes salt into the fetus. At the same time, it should be moderately strong so that the cucumber crunches. And the pimples increase the absorbency area of the brine components.
- Black, not white, spikes on the pimples (white - on salad cucumbers, which are not suitable for pickling).
- Strong fruit with no drooping tail. The faster the cucumber gets from the garden into the brine, the better its taste will be.
- Whole flesh, small seeds.
- High percentage of sugar in the composition. It is determined by the specific type of variety. Pickling varieties are more "sugary" than for salads.
- No bitter taste in fruit.
- Aroma. Pickling cucumber must smell good and strong.
- Intense, but not dark green.
- Same size. Accuracy to the millimeter is not important, but fruits of the same weight and size will turn out tastier. The greater the difference in size, the better the small ones will be impregnated and the worse the large ones. It will be difficult to choose the proportions of the ingredients in order to do without under-salted and over-salted fruits in a jar.
There are at least a dozen popular varieties for pickles. Breeders of this culture recommend planting several plants of one or two varieties in the summer cottage, which produce fruits for quick salting. The difference in taste qualities of snacks from special varieties and the first ones that come across is huge. At the same time, pickling cucumbers can be consumed fresh, but universal and salad ones cannot be salted.
It is important to pay attention to additional information when buying seeds. Breeders recommend purchasing F1 seeds, that is, the first hybrid generation.
The cost of hybrid seeds is several times higher than the cost of conventional seeds. And they don't reproduce.But even with such shortcomings, they are more fruitful and hardy. They are almost not afraid of pests, dry or cold weather. They will bear fruit abundantly even in a lean season.
This is due to the fact that hybrids - the result of crossing two varieties - combine the positive qualities of parental seeds.
Variety of varieties
Variety "Gerasim"
One of the earliest and most fruitful representatives of the family. One node gives 2-3 fruits, so a small number of plants is enough to harvest and lightly salt once a week. Gives the first fruits in 40-45 days. It ripens well in open and closed ground. Resistant to common diseases of pumpkin plants: rot, powdery mildew, spotting.
Variety "Salted"
In terms of ripening speed, it is close to Gerasim - 43-45 days. The plant is bee-pollinated, but it develops well even without the help of insects. A pair of fruits sprouts in one node, less often one. Fruiting is uniform and long. The fruits have the most tender and juicy pulp, rich aroma and crispy skin. The color of the fruit is bright, appetizing green. It does not fade in brine. Cucumbers remain fresh in appearance, as if they were recently harvested from the garden.
Variety "Lilliput"
Early ripening cucumber - from the first sprouting sprout to the first fruit, a little more than a month passes - 35-38 days. Then the plant is stable and bears fruit well.
The fruits of "Lilliput" correspond to its name. They are small, neat, conveniently fit into jars for salting. The thorns easily lag behind the pimples when processing the fruit. Through the places where the spikes broke off, the components of the brine penetrate into the fruit. The pulp is quickly and evenly saturated with water, salt and spices.
This little one thrives in a variety of soil types and is not afraid of diseases such as mildew, spotting and rot.
Variety "Mother-in-law"
The breeders approached the name of this variety with humor. Like a real heroine of jokes, the Mother-in-Law variety is wayward and invincible. It is absolutely resistant to all pests and cold. It bears fruit in any conditions and nothing prevents it from germinating and giving a rich harvest. Cucumbers are tasty, with rounded barrels, only up to 12 cm in length. Conveniently fit into different containers, evenly and quickly saturated with brine.
"Mother-in-law" lingers in the garden for a long time. She gives the harvest gradually and smoothly, starting from 45-48 days.
Variety "Faithful Comrade" (sometimes called "Faithful Friends")
The plant begins to please the harvest after 35-39 days. It bears fruit for a long time and abundantly. Once a week, a large container of bright green fruits with white stripes on the "ribs" is collected. Fruit size is about 8-10 cm. It has a pleasant taste both fresh and lightly salted.
"Faithful comrade" needs pollination. Pollinator seeds are sold with hybrid cucumber seeds. They need to be sown in a ratio of 1 to 10, that is, 10%.
Variety "Grasshopper"
Early maturing plant with beautifully shaped fruits. Each cucumber grows small, rich green, elongated, with a slightly tapered tip. After 38 days, you can harvest the first crop.
The plant is tolerant to various diseases. It does not require the support of chemical means of protection, so cucumbers are the cleanest, farm product.
Variety "Buyan"
Hybrid plant for open ground. Grows actively, powerfully. In adverse weather, growth stops, then continues with renewed vigor.Thanks to this resistance to bad weather, the crop can be harvested until the first frost, starting from the 38th day.
Throughout the summer season "Buyan" will supply juicy and fragrant fruits that are ideal for lightly salted snacks and preservation.
Variety "Vasilisa"
Versatile hybrid. It is good for salting, and fresh, and in a salad, and in a marinade for the winter.
The plant adapts to different weather conditions and soil features. Successfully resists pests and diseases. Begins to bear fruit at 50-54 days.
Variety "Zubrenok"
Among plants that bear fruit in early to mid-summer, this variety is considered mid-season. The first harvest can be taken on 48-52 days. Equally prolific in the open field and in the greenhouse. Not resistant to all diseases, mainly to powdery mildew.
The fruits of "Zubrenka" are juicy, with a thin light green skin, fragrant. Rows of pimples are evenly distributed over the surface of the skin. After cleaning the spikes, the brine quickly penetrates into the fruit.
Variety "Dasha"
A mid-season variety that combines two important qualities - excellent taste and high yield. Starting from the 48th day, you can remove 2-3 fruits from one node and lightly salt or eat fresh.
On fresh fruits, the skin has a whitish coating. After getting into the solution, it does not fade, and remains the same spectacular, dark green in appearance. It turns out an appetizing snack, which is served to the table without cutting.
Variety "Perseus"
Versatile mid-early hybrid. It begins to bear fruit after a month and a half, at 44-45 days, and continues to bear fruit until the frost.
"Perseus" is suitable for salads, salting without canning and pickling for the winter. Due to the small size of 8-12 cm, it is convenient to roll it into jars.
All listed varieties are F1. Breeders recommend them as salted ones.
There are also popular varieties among amateur gardeners. Among them are the famous "Nezhinskie", "April", "A boy with a finger", "Masha", "Swallowtail".
Spices and additives
Not a single ingredient gets into the brine for lightly salted cucumbers just like that. Everyone has their own task: water nourishes the fruit, herbs give it their aroma and beneficial properties, mustard protects from fermentation, spices and seasonings add a touch of piquancy.
Water
The liquid is both the medium in which lightly salted cucumbers ripen and the main ingredient of the brine. Saturating the fruit, it makes it elastic and crunchy, helps other ingredients to dissolve and penetrate into the cucumber pulp.
The quality of water affects the taste of cucumbers, so it should be soft, without impurities.
Pure spring water is best. If it is not possible to collect it in a spring, drinking bottled water will do. In extreme cases, you can filter the tap water, but you can't use it without filtering. Especially if the pipes in the house are old. They will give the appetizer an unpleasant copper aftertaste.
Water is an ingredient in a classic recipe. In some recipes, it is proposed to replace it with mineral water, vodka, or even lightly salt cucumbers without liquid.
Salt
It is better to forget about fine, iodized and sea salt. From it, the fruits will become soft, acquire a clear taste of iodine and an unpleasant odor. In addition, it is easy to overdo it with fine-grained salt.
Coarse rock salt is much better. It dissolves evenly and gives the cucumber pulp its taste, and with coarse grinding it is easier to maintain the correct proportions.
Sugar
An optional component of the brine, but sometimes added in small amounts to contrast with the salty taste.
Herbs
Classic set: dill, tarragon (or tarragon), parsley leaves, horseradish, garlic. Garlic uses both leaves and heads.
Dill and dill water have almost identical composition and properties as fresh cucumbers. These products enhance each other's action. In addition, dill can relieve headaches and help with insomnia. It is useful for people with problematic kidneys, cystitis, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal diseases. Harmless and even useful for nursing mothers.
The only reason not to add dill to your brine is because you don't like its peculiar taste and smell. Usually kids don't like it.
Also add the following herbs.
- Tarragon (often called tarragon, as a carbonated drink of a characteristic green color) is a type of wormwood. In addition to vitamins and microelements necessary for the body, it contains vegetable protein and oils. Calorie content of tarragon - 25 kcal per 100 grams. Tarragon is known as a tonic, tonic, anti-inflammatory effect. It stimulates appetite and normalizes digestion. Unlike dill, this is an undesirable component in the diet of pregnant and lactating mothers.
- Parsley - the leader among greens in the content of vitamin C, A and B. In 100 grams of the plant there is more ascorbic acid than in lemon, and more vitamin A than in carrots. Parsley juice is good for women. Parsley leaves relieve swelling, help with kidney disease, ulcers, gastritis, and any inflammatory processes. The spicy taste of the leaves goes well with fresh cucumber in brine.
- Horseradish is a traditional Russian spice. It was added to many dishes and pickles, and for a reason.This useful plant has a beneficial effect on all body systems. It activates the work of the intestines and digestive enzymes, as a result, food is better and faster processed. It stimulates the appetite and improves the production of gastric juice. In its pure form, horseradish is harmful in large quantities, but in the composition of the brine for salted cucumbers - what you need. Horseradish tinctures are good for joints, liver, kidneys, immune system. Helps fight inflammation and viral diseases.
- Garlic rich in vitamins, minerals, essential oils. Contains vegetable protein and carbohydrates. It has bactericidal properties, improves the strength of contractions of the heart muscle, eliminates inflammation, activates immune cells, helps in the production of digestive enzymes, controls the level of bile, and has an anthelmintic effect. Those who consume garlic are not afraid of beriberi, scurvy, senile dementia.
- Basil It is a natural antibiotic, antioxidant, sedative and even an aphrodisiac. It enhances the beneficial properties of other herbs and helps to open up their flavor palette.
- Mint in brine gives cucumbers an unusual fresh taste and aroma. It is called menthol, after the name of the essential oil contained in the leaves of the plant. The menthol taste is especially pronounced if the jar of snacks is stored in the refrigerator. But the plant is added to the brine not only because of the taste. Mint is good for health and body tone. It relieves pain and spasms, calms the nervous system. Due to the ability to eliminate heartburn and nausea, small amounts of mint cucumbers are indicated for pregnant women suffering from toxicosis. An already low-calorie snack becomes doubly useful when mint is added.These two green ingredients are the basis of the famous "Sassi water", which helps to lose weight and normalize metabolism.
- Thyme or thyme - a fragrant plant that gives a cucumber appetizer a pronounced taste and aroma.
Leaves
According to old Russian recipes, salted cucumbers are prepared with blackcurrant, cherry and oak leaves. Each type of leaf has its own important function, except that they add flavor to the brine.
- currant leaves - bactericidal agent. Their disinfecting abilities ensure the preservation of snacks for a long time. They eliminate all types of harmful bacteria, including E. coli. Another advantage of currant leaves is the presence of tannins in the composition. These substances keep the fruits elastic and crispy. Finally, the high content of vitamin C makes blackcurrant leaves a strong antioxidant.
- cherry leaves are also responsible for the "crunchiness", aroma and preservation of cucumbers. They also help to preserve the beautiful color and appearance of the fruit in brine.
- oak leaves contain the substance tannin, which makes the fruits of vegetables in pickles strong and resilient.
- bay leaves add to taste instead of or together with oak.
Spices
When cucumbers are lightly salted, spices are added in a small amount, 3-4 types. Their purpose is to add flavor to the brine and appetizer. Some of them also disinfect water. So, mustard and grated horseradish root are added if there are no currant and oak leaves. They kill mold and bacteria that can cause pain, nausea, poisoning, and even botulism in the most advanced case.
Classic recipes use fresh or dried dill umbels, allspice and black peppercorns, sometimes cinnamon.You can diversify the usual snack with the help of cloves, coriander, hot pepper, juniper.
Some recipes contain completely unexpected ingredients. For example, rye crackers, white bread, apples, ginger, celery, vinegar, olive oil, honey, radishes.
They give a familiar dish variety and zest, but you need to choose them with care. Some foods are perishable and cannot be stored in brine for a long time.
Recipes
There are many ways to prepare salted cucumbers, but the technology is one. Cucumbers are harvested from the garden, processed and pickled in different types of brine. Differences in recipes appear just at the stage of preparing the brine, the same secrets work at all other stages.
- Proper cucumbers. Small, fragrant, pimply, with black spikes. Ideally - only from the garden. Purchased cucumbers from the market should be dense and hard, without yellowness on the sides.
- Treatment. Freshly picked greens need to cut off the tips and remove the thorns. So salt, aroma of herbs and spices will quickly penetrate into the pulp.
- Soak. You need to lightly salt fresh and strong fruits, then they turn out crispy and tasty. If they managed to wilt or received little moisture in the garden, they need to be soaked for 2-3 hours in cold drinking water. During this time, they will restore the supply of moisture, the elasticity and freshness of the fetus will return.
- Required Ingredients. In addition to salt, pepper and dill, you need to add products with a bactericidal effect to the brine - mustard, horseradish or currant leaves.
- Laying method. Fruits in a container, whether it be a jar, a bag or a barrel, it is advisable to put it vertically. The bottom of the container is pre-lined with leaves with spices. Do not tamp the cucumbers close, so as not to deprive them of the crunch.If the container is large, greens and spices should be laid out in layers with fruits.
- Brine. It is better to pour cucumbers with hot brine - it strengthens the tissue of the fruit. But if the proportions of the ingredients are observed, the appetizer succeeds in cold water, and without any liquid at all. Cold water must be boiled. You need to add salt to spring or bottled water, then boil it and cool it. It is better to take water with a margin: 2 liters of liquid per 1.5 liters of brine, 2.5 per 3 liters.
- Storage. Freshly salted vegetables remain so only in the cold. At room temperature, they turn into salty and sour. It will not work to save them for the winter without marinade and sterilization.
Classic variant
A classic of the culinary genre is a quick summer snack with a minimum amount of ingredients.
Three methods are considered classic in which it is easy to cook lightly salted cucumbers at home. A rich culinary experience is optional, even a novice hostess will cope with the recipes.
The first method is hot salting. Many housewives choose it because boiling water helps to reveal the aroma of all spices and seasonings, salt dissolves better in it, and cucumbers remain strong after hot processing. It turns out quickly and tasty - the appetizer is ready in 8 hours.
Ingredients for a three-liter container:
- 1.5 kg of cucumbers;
- 1.5 liters of water (for 1 liter of water 1 kg of vegetables);
- 4-5 tablespoons of coarse or medium-ground rock salt (the amount of salt can be adjusted, 50-60 grams per liter is enough);
- 2-3 heads of garlic;
- 5-7 branches and umbrellas of dill;
- 5-8 sheets of blackcurrant;
- 5-8 sheets of cherries;
- black peppercorns to taste.
Consider a step-by-step cooking method.
- Sort freshly picked cucumbers by size.
- Cut off the ends, remove the spikes.If necessary, soak in cold water for 2-3 hours.
- Disinfect the container with boiling water and fill it with vegetables (it is most convenient to do it in a jar), layering them with herbs and spices. Garlic and peppercorns need to be pressed a little on top with a tablespoon. They will crack and give more flavor and flavor to the brine.
- Boil clean water, dissolve salt in it and immediately pour into a container. You can add a teaspoon of sugar.
- Close the container tightly with a lid. After it has completely cooled, put it in the refrigerator.
It is recommended to make such cucumbers in the evening. In the morning, after 8 hours, a snack can be served on the table.
In the bank
The second method is cold salting. When there are fears that hot pickling will not succeed, you can pickle cucumbers in cold brine. The ingredients for a three-liter container are the same as for hot pickling. If there are no currant and cherry leaves, powdered mustard is needed so that mold does not appear in the jar.
The cooking method is also almost the same.
- Rinse greens and cucumbers, if necessary, soak the fruits.
- Boil water, dissolve salt in it and leave to cool completely.
- Put the leaves, chopped garlic, spices in a container. Place cucumbers vertically. Greens and seasonings should be distributed evenly. Put dill on top of the cucumbers.
- Pour in water so that it completely covers the vegetables and herbs.
- Cover with a lid and put in a dark place for a day. Then the snack must be placed in the cold.
With garlic and herbs
Method three - "dry" salting. It means cucumbers in their own juice, without brine, so cooking them is even easier. Cooking time - 6 hours.
Ingredients: cucumbers, dill, garlic, salt, herbs and spices to taste. Any number of ingredients. It is only important to observe the proportions - 50 grams of salt per 1 kg of vegetables.
Cooking method:
- prepare cucumbers as in previous recipes and put them in a tight bag;
- finely chop the garlic, chop the dill, crush a few peppercorns;
- add to the bag with vegetables;
- tie the bag and shake it well;
- place in a second bag for tightness and put in the refrigerator.
Cucumbers in their own juice are best done in the morning, not at night, because the bag needs to be shaken periodically.
The traditional recipe for cucumbers in a bag with garlic and herbs can be varied with other ingredients. Excellent with vinegar, olive oil, apples, radishes, hot peppers.
If you prepare several different small packages, there will always be cucumbers at home for a snack, lunch, okroshka or salad.
See the next video for the recipe for salted crispy cucumbers.