Marybelle's Polish Dill Pickles

Submitted by dianegrapegrower

"My mother begged this recipe from a neighbor almost 40 years ago. I'm making it still every summer, because it's so good. This is pretty much the original recipe, though I've updated the brine based on current recommendations for better food safety."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 1 pint

ingredients

• 1 pint small pickling cucumber
• 1 teaspoon dill seed
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 sprig dill weed, pretty (optional)
• 4 coriander seeds
• 1⁄2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1⁄8 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
• 1⁄2 cup white vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pickling salt

directions

1. Wash and scrub cucumbers. Trim stem and blossom end. Leave small cucumbers whole, or slice into spears or sandwich slices as desired. All cucumbers in a jar should be similar in size and thickness.
2. Add seasonings, except salt, to 1 pint wide mouthed jar. Pack firmly with cucumbers, leaving a 1/2" headspace.
3. Combine vinegar, water, and salt in a small sauce pan. Heat until boiling. Ladle into jar to cover cucumbers - again, leave a 1/2" headspace.
4. Seal jar with sterilized two piece cap, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (15 minutes for quarts).
5. Wait 4-6 weeks before tasting to allow pickles to cure. Refrigerate after opening.
6. (I laid out the recipe for a single pint of pickles to make the spices easier to list - you will want to scale this up to make a canner full).

Reviews

[mail_for_iris]

My husband is polish and says this is REALLY close to authentic. Its a stronger vinegar flavor. We like our pickles a little more sweet. We cut the vinegar to a 1/3 ratio with water and added 1 teaspoon of sugar per jar. It is excellent. If your going to pickle your cucumbers, take the time to make is authentic and leave the usual predicable flavor packets at the store!! This is worth it!!

 

[nudelzuppe]

I absolutely LOVE these pickles. We waited patiently for six weeks and then dove in. It IS normal to sit and eat a whole jar of pickles, isn't it? The flavor is fresh, nothing too "in your face" and the pickles are crisp. This will be my only dill pickle recipe for my pickling cucumbers next year. Fabulous in all forms; spears, slices and those long slices I refer to as "stackers."

 

[naglelauren007]

Just canned 5 pints of this today! Recipe was simple and easy to follow, I will update once curring process is completed and can actually taste them!

 

[Kimberly C.]

Can these be made as refrigerator pickles instead of water bathing? Also does the water bath break down the pectin and make these soft?

 

[Debbie F.]

The best ever dill pickle spears! I LOVE that the recipe is broken down per jar. Makes for easy conversion.