Cooking lightly salted cucumbers according to the classic recipe
What could be tastier than crispy lightly salted cucumbers served with hot, crumbly potatoes? This appetizer has a special place on our national table. But the problem is that the cucumbers that you lovingly rolled into jars for the winter can swell and turn sour. In this case, there is only one thing left: cook lightly salted cucumbers.
Calorie content of the dish
If we assume that one instant cucumber weighs an average of 120 g, then we can say that the calorie content of lightly salted cucumbers practically does not differ significantly from fresh ones. In this regard, they are often included even in the menu of people who need a special diet.
At the same time, we must not forget about the content of a decent amount of salt. Although the calorie content will remain low: 13 kcal per 100 gr. finished product.
In addition to other substances, salted cucumbers contain a lot of ascorbic acid, other nutrients that have a positive effect on the body as a whole. Housewives usually do not add vinegar to such cucumbers, so even small children love them.
Magnesium, potassium, which are many in the composition, help get rid of leg cramps, relieve spasms of a different nature.And who does not know about such a wonderful and saving remedy after long holidays as cucumber pickle? It should be noted that salted cucumbers are an excellent prophylactic against atherosclerosis.
It’s a pity, but a lightly salted vegetable can also cause harm, and very serious. Cucumbers should not be consumed if you have:
- problems with the level of stomach acid;
- suspected gastritis;
- stomach ulcer;
- kidney disease of various etiologies;
- edema of unknown origin;
- allergic reaction to bay leaf, dill, spices.
The approximate ratio of BJU: proteins -17%, carbohydrates -8, fats -75%.
Preparation of ingredients
So, in order to cook delicious, crispy cucumbers, you first need to choose the right ones. All fruits must be juicy, firm, freshly harvested. If the cucumbers are sluggish, soft, they will not crunch.
In general, there are a huge number of classic recipes for the preparation of lightly salted cucumbers. But for any of them, the ingredients must be prepared. Namely: cucumbers are washed, poured with cool water and kept in it for about 2 hours.
All additional leaves are washed, salt is measured strictly in accordance with the chosen recipe, sugar is similar. Peel the garlic cloves, cut them into 2 parts.
If you will lay cucumbers in a jar, make the first layer vertical and lay the vegetables tightly. If you cook in an enameled pan, do the laying horizontally.
Place the horseradish on top, divide the spices and garlic in half. One part will go to the bottom of the container, the second will be placed on top of the vegetables. For dill and horseradish, use all parts, do not cut anything. The level of crunch will largely depend on this.
Salting stages
And now let's move on to talking about the cooking process and recipes. In theory, any recipe can be simplified and adapted to the ingredients that you have at a particular moment. But in practice, every subtlety is important, and if you distort the recipe, it’s not a fact that the result will please you.
In the package
So, let's start with how to pickle cucumbers in a bag. Immediately make a reservation that this is a fast, effective, simple technique. During the cooking process, you will not need to make a brine, but you can’t pickle large volumes for the winter either. Ideally, this dish is eaten immediately, the maximum shelf life in the refrigerator is no more than three days.
You will need:
- the right amount of cucumbers;
- 1 st. l. rock salt;
- 1 tsp granulated sugar;
- coriander seeds;
- peppercorns.
Cucumbers are cut, placed in a bag, the remaining components are added. Knead the bag with your hands to distribute the spices and salt. The package is tied, after 10 hours the dish is ready. Similarly, you can salt cucumbers by adding horseradish root, garlic cloves and bay leaf.
hot method
Salting in a hot way has one significant plus: speed. On the other hand, the green hue of the skin of cucumbers is lost, but if taste is a priority for you, then this option will fit perfectly. It is important that the composition of spices can be changed at your discretion and taste preferences.
Take 1 kg of cucumbers, water, salt. Water is boiled with salt, greens are rinsed, cucumbers are scalded. Add tarragon, hot pepper, chopped garlic. Greens are laid at the bottom of the selected container, cucumbers scalded with boiling water on top of it. Pour everything with brine, place a load on top. You can eat immediately as soon as the dish has cooled down.
in a saucepan
Next, we'll figure out how to lightly salt cucumbers in a saucepan.On average, only 3-4 hours pass from salting to full readiness. Cooking process:
Cucumbers are washed with cold water and cut off their tips. Transfer the vegetables to the correct size pot. Peel the garlic, wash the dill, chop everything coarsely. On top of the stacked cucumbers, lay the garlic along with the dill.
Water is boiled in a separate container, in which sugar and salt should be dissolved. Pour this brine into a saucepan with cucumbers, cover with a lid. Wait for the dish to cool down and serve it on the table.
with mustard
If you want to surprise guests and relatives, use the following recipe: salted cucumbers with mustard. This is a kind of salad, but it can also be combined with potatoes, meat. Only take mustard dry and fine. The cooking procedure looks like this:
- rinse celery, parsley, dill and chop them;
- wash the jar, put some greenery on the bottom;
- then lay cucumbers and herbs in layers;
- close the last row with mustard seeds;
- make a regular brine that you like and pour cucumbers into it;
- can be served to the table after 24 hours.
With sugar and salt
There is another option - to make salted cucumbers with sugar and salt. A huge plus is that they are amazingly crunchy and look like they were published in a photo in a cooking magazine. This appetizer is infused for 12 hours, and it is prepared like this:
- put garlic, cucumbers, oak leaves and allspice in a bucket;
- prepare a hot brine with the addition of sugar and salt;
- pour cucumbers with brine;
- put the load and withstand 12 hours;
- transfer the cucumbers to a jar and store in the refrigerator.
The next classic cooking method includes vinegar, so young children should be given such cucumbers with caution, and children under 3 years old should not be given at all.
Snack
This appetizer has a delicate aftertaste, the most common spices are taken or they are not used at all. Consider a step-by-step recipe for cooking a dish.
- Warm the vinegar in a saucepan, but do not let it boil.
- Prick each cucumber washed in advance on a fork, dip in vinegar for 1 minute.
- Move all cucumbers to prepared jars. It is better to take them in a small size, do not forget about sterilization.
- Add laurel, cherry leaves and grated horseradish root.
- Prepare the usual brine, boil it, pour it into jars.
- Once everything has cooled down, you can serve it to the table.
You can use a recipe in which you do not need to sterilize jars. Take two-liter jars, wash them well with soda, put dill and finely chopped garlic cloves on the bottom.
Lay cucumbers and dill umbrellas on top. From above, you fall asleep with rock salt, do not take iodized salt, the vegetables will turn sour. Fill everything with boiling water, and use polyethylene lids.
Carefully take the jar and twist it to dissolve the salt. First, let the jars cool, only then put them in a cold place. The method is simple and does not require much time, but it turns out very tasty.
Quick Method
It is worth talking about another quick cold cooking method. Some time ago, it was shown in one of the culinary programs on TV. Since then, the hostesses have taken note of it.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of medium-sized cucumbers;
- 1.5 liters of medium or highly carbonated mineral water;
- 2 tablespoons of salt without additives;
- 3 cloves of garlic;
- 1 bunch of green dill.
Wash and dry cucumbers.You do not need to clean them, just remove the tips. Garlic is cut across, namely slices. Take it to your taste, put 6-7 cloves if you like it spicier.
Rinse the dill and shake off excess moisture. Place dill on the bottom of the selected container, it is possible with parsley. Cucumbers will fit tightly on the greens.
Garlic and herbs are placed on the first layer of cucumbers, so shifting each layer. For 1 kg of vegetables, an average of 2 levels is obtained.
For filling, salt is dissolved in mineral water. Hold the mineral water in the room first so that it is not icy. Add salt to your taste, you do not need to strictly follow the recipe here.
Pour cucumbers with a mixture of salt and mineral water. The brine should completely hide them. The dishes are closed tightly, you can additionally tighten it with a film.
To try the dish, you will have to be patient, you need to insist vegetables for 12-14 hours, no less. But believe me, it's worth it, cucumbers crunch just amazing!
Helpful Hints
Consider some tips and tricks from modern housewives.
- For the brine, use rock salt, otherwise the cucumbers can get an unpleasant, sour aftertaste.
- If you want to use dill, currant leaf, horseradish and other spices, they must be washed thoroughly.
- When glass jars are used as containers, they must be sterilized. Ovens are ideal for this.
- In order for the vegetable to have a natural taste and crunch, you can add a small piece of oak bark during salting.
- For quick impregnation of cucumbers with brine, it is better to cut off the tails, and slightly pierce the flesh with a fork.
Lightly salted cucumbers are easy to prepare, everyone understands this.But, on the other hand, if you wish, you can make a real culinary masterpiece and please not only yourself, but also friends and relatives, and even share the recipe with someone. You just have to choose a recipe: sharper, softer, and maybe all together.
For information on how to quickly cook lightly salted cucumbers, see the video below.