Pickling gherkins

Primrose

I've got a packet of gherkin (Cornichon) seeds and plan to grow my own and pickle them this year but am looking for a dill flavoured pickling liquid rather than a spicey one . Does anybody who pickles their own with this flavour have a recipe/method they can share please?

cutestkids

I just adapt the spices according to what I am making so the recipe I use is a basic 1 pint white vinegar to 6 oz of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of mustard seed . I also add about a quarter of a teaspoon of tumeric which is for colour more than anything else.
That is the base then if I was doing dill pickles I would add 2 teaspoon of dill seed to the mix.
You can add dried red pepper flakes, peppercorns or celery seed as well, it is often a matter of experimenting with different combos till you get it just right.
Some people prefer to use cider vinegar but to be honest there is not much difference in the end result

Primrose

Thank you. That sounds fairly straightforward. I look forward to giving it a try as soon as I have got a crop to pickle!

D&DD

Primrose I'm growing those too this year we'll have to compare notes lol.
I use near enough the same sweet vinegar as cutestkids and if they're for me I use dried chilli strips,I always do some for my dad plain though.


If you are planning to do them whole you need to really watch what size you pick them as it's very deceiving between picking them and getting them squeezed into the jars!


I got some straight sided pint jars from the states ready for mine this year so no need to squeeze them round the bends bliss..

Seakay

This is a really good recipe. For gherkins (also known as cornichons) use the same amounts but don't cut the cucumbers.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/vegetarian-food/sour-dill-pickles.html