Dill pickles are a healthy survival food that lasts forever. They can easily substitute for a vegetable in your diet if food is scarce, as might be the case in certain man-made or natural disasters. Dill pickles are most popular type of pickle and the easiest to make of all of the pickles. They are also very popular.
Whole dill pickles are often crunchy, with a strong taste of garlic and a slightly sour dill weed bite. Sliced dill pickles are commonly placed on hamburgers and sandwiches and used to add flavour.
Recipes for small dill pickles called gherkins may be a little sweeter and served as snacks or condiments. Once preserved, dill pickles may also be chopped up into relish so you can see how they could become a very versatile food.
Here is a great quick, easy and universal Dill Pickle Recipe that will keep –
Quick Dill Pickles
Makes about 8 pints (8 mason jars of pickles)
8 lbs. of 3- to 5-inch pickling cucumbers
2 gallons water
1-1/4 cups pickling salt
1-1/2 quarts vinegar (5 percent acidity preferred)
1/4 cup sugar
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons whole mixed pickling spice
3 tablespoons whole mustard seed
1 tablespoon whole red and black peppercorns
14 heads of fresh dill
4 – 20 peeled cloves of garlic (to your taste)
1. Wash cucumbers and garlic. Cut a slice off blossom end and discard, but leave just a bit of stem attached. Dissolve 3/4 cup salt in 2 gallons of water. Pour over cucumbers and garlic and let stand 12 hours. Drain.
2. Combine vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, sugar, and 2 quarts water in a big pot. Add mixed pickling spices tied in a clean, white cloth. Heat to boiling.
3. Fill jars with cucumbers. Add 1 tsp. mustard seed and 1-1/2 heads fresh dill per pint. Cover with boiling pickling solution, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in boiling water bath.
Bottling pints should take about 15 minutes. Bottling quarts should take about 20 minutes.
Do you want a pickle that is just a little bit spicier?
If so sprinkle a few chilli pepper flakes in the jar. For a big spicy bite drop a tiny jalapeno pepper into the jar and let it flavour the condiment.