Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (2024)

Previous | Next

  • by CFH Admin
  • August 18, 2022
  • 3 min read

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (1)


Rated 3.6 stars by 139 users

These fermented pickles are not necessarily kosher in the sense that they complies with Jewish food laws. This fermented pickle recipe is called kosher because of its flavor profile made popular by New York’s Jewish pickle makers, known for their natural salt-brined pickles heavily seasoned with dill and garlic. So any pickle that is seasoned in the same fashion is referred to as a kosher dill.

Fermented pickleshave been around for hundreds of years and we have the best fermented pickle recipe for you to follow to start making your own pickles.


Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (2)

15 minutes

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (3)

672 hours

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (4)

1/2-gallon jar

INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT CULTURES FOR HEALTH

Pickle Kit

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (5)

Pickle Making Kit

$40.99

As seen on Insider.com

Make crunchy, tasty pickles at home with our DIY Pickle Kit!

This kit is also great for making kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables! Equipment in the kit may appear different than pictured.

Celtic Sea Salt Light Grey (Course) 1/4 lb

Real fermented pickles are a wonderful culinary journey, different from the world of quick pickling where people simply soak cucumbers in vinegar. A good, lacto fermented pickle recipe harnesses the natural bacteria in the environment to create an acidic environment perfect for fermenting dill pickles.

After trying a variety of techniques, we've crafted our very own fermented pickle recipe we're thrilled to share with you. And, since this uses the natural bacteria in your environment, your fermented pickles will possess a distinct flavor unique to your location. You'll be crafting your very own unique fermented pickles recipe.

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (6)

Download our Lacto-Fermentation Recipe book today and embark on the journey of making your fermented pickles at home. In addition to enjoying the scrumptious flavor, you'll benefit from the healthful probiotics, enzymes, and vitamins created during the fermentation process.

WHAT EXACTLY IS LACTO-FERMENTATION FOR PICKLES?

Lacto-fermentation, the process at the heart of our fermented pickle recipe, is a type of fermentation that utilizes lactic-acid-producing bacteria to break down the sugar in foods. The easiest way to lacto-ferment pickles is by adding brine to food that naturally contains lactic acid bacteria, such as cucumbers. This lactic acid bacteria creates an acidic brine, giving you deliciously fermented pickles.

INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE FERMENTED PICKLES:

  • 4-6 grape, oak, horseradish, or bay leaves
  • 6-9 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2 large heads of dill
  • Spices to taste: black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, etc. (Secret ingredient: for an extra bite, add a few strips of fresh horseradish to the spice mix!) we recommendpickling spices
  • Enough pickling cucumbers to fill a ½-gallon jar

INGREDIENTS FOR LACTO FERMENTED PICKLE BRINE

  • 1 ½ cups distilled white vinegar (you can also use apple cider vinegar)
  • 2 cups of chlorine-free water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 4 tsp of kosher salt

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (7)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FERMENTED PICKLE RECIPE:

  1. Make a brine by dissolving 4 tablespoons sea salt in 2 cups of chlorine-free water. (Note: this recipe might make more brine than what is needed, you can save the extra brine for future ferments.)
  2. In ahalf-gallon jar add a couple of the tannin-containing leaves, a few cloves of garlic, the heads of dill, and ⅓ of the spices.
  3. Learning how to ferment pickles is an exciting process. To start, pack half of the cucumbers tightly on top of the spices. (The longest ones work best at the bottom.)
  4. Repeat a layer of leaves, garlic, and spices. Then, add another tightly packed layer of cucumbers and top them off with more garlic and spices.
  5. Pour the pickling brine over the pickles, leaving 1-2 inches of headspace. Place another tannin-containing leaf on top of the pickles as a cover between the pickles and the surface of the brine. Use a fermentation weight to keep the pickles under the liquid, if necessary. Cover the jar with a tight lid, airlock lid, or coffee filter secured with a rubber band.
  6. Ferment at room temperature (60-70°F is preferred) until your desired flavor and texture are achieved. If using a tight lid, burp daily to release excess pressure. The brine should turn cloudy and bubbly, and the pickles should taste sour when done.
  7. You can consume your lacto fermented pickles right away, or store in a refrigerator or root cellar to enjoy them throughout winter.

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (8)

HOW TO START FERMENTING PICKLES AT HOME WITH CULTURES FOR HEALTH

Cultures for Health offers the best resources for you to begin your journey of making your own fermented pickles at home. From all of the tools to pickle kits, fermentation kits and culture packs, we provide everything you need to effortlessly start making your own food at home.

The best place to start is ourPickle Kit. This kit includes everything you need to successfully start fermenting pickles including:

  • Half-GallonFermentation Jar
  • Airlock Lid fitted with rubber grommets
  • Ceramic Fermentation Weights
  • Celtic Sea Salt
  • Recipe cards

These fermentation supplies are versatile and perfect not only for pickles but also for making sauerkraut and a range of other fermented vegetables, including kimchi, celebrated for its myriad of health benefits.

Click here to explore our Pickle Kit now!

Our Lacto-Fermentation Guide and Recipe Book will show you how easy it is to start making your Fermented Pickles. Download it today!

Ready to Learn More?

  • Lacto-fermented Kohlrabi Pickles with Dill and Mustard
  • Lacto-fermented Carrot and Parsnip Pickles
  • Lacto-fermented Watermelon Rind Pickles
  • Tips for Making Crunchy Lacto-fermented Pickles
  • A Basic Formula for Fermenting Vegetables

RELATED BLOG POSTS

Recipe: Sourdough Irish Soda Bread

How To Make Yogurt Salad Dressing At Home

How To Make Dry Cottage Cheese At Home

Fermented Pickles | Our Easiest Fermented Dill Pickle Recipe - Cultures For Health (2024)

FAQs

Which pickles have the most probiotics? ›

So, what you want to look for are unpasteurized fermented pickles, which can be found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores, often in the cheese section. It is always good to double-check the label as well. If vinegar or pasteurized is indicated on the label, chances are probiotics are absent.

Are fermented dill pickles healthy? ›

"[Fermented] pickles are a low-calorie food and rich in probiotics, which support a healthy balance of gut bacteria—a healthy gut microbiome is associated with improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and enhanced immune response," says Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN.

What is the difference between dill pickles and fermented pickles? ›

An easy way to remember the difference between the two despite their overlap is that pickling involves putting food into an acidic brine to produce a sour flavor, whereas fermenting gives food a sour flavor without any added acid. Pickling is often the least healthy choice in terms of these two foods.

What improves pickle firmness for fermented pickles? ›

Lime is a source of calcium. Calcium improves pickle firmness. Food-grade lime may be used as a lime-water solution for soaking fresh cucumbers 12 to 24 hours before pickling them.

What is the healthiest pickle? ›

Fermented dill pickles are made with salt and not vinegar, so by comparison they are milder than vinegar pickles which contain acetic acid. These are the gut healthy, microbiome-boosting superfood pickles that you should be consuming everyday, three times a day.

Are MT olive simply pickles fermented? ›

Description. At Mt. Olive, we are proud to say that we have been making our delicious, and very popular, traditional dill pickle for over 90 years. We have been making pickles for a long time using the same great pickle recipe and fermentation process.

How many fermented pickles should I eat a day? ›

For those that are used to fermented or probiotic foods and consume a good amount of fiber, the right amount is three times a day. The amount you consume doesn't have to be a lot. Serving sizes are quite reasonable, for example, a half a pickle, or a quarter cup of sauerkraut.

Is it better to pickle or ferment? ›

The best choice depends on your desired flavor profile, shelf stability, and nutritional benefits. If you're craving a crunchy and tangy snack, go for pickling (and can the food for a longer shelf life). If it's the umami sourness and gut benefits you're after, opt for fermenting.

How long do home fermented pickles last? ›

Fermented vegetables, like these fermented pickles, can last six months or more in the refrigerator, IF you can go that long without eating them all up.

Are all store bought pickles fermented? ›

Quick pickles, the most common type of pickle found in grocery stores, are not fermented because they use an acid, such as vinegar, in their pickling brine. However, Lacto-fermented pickles are fermented because they follow the lactic acid fermentation method, which only uses water and salt in its brine.

Are Claussen dill pickles fermented? ›

No. The popular claussen pickles are not fermented, they are pickled. These are two different preservation methods; fermenting is pickling, but pickling is not fermenting.

Does Trader Joe's carry fermented pickles? ›

FOOD FIND: Fermented Pickles at Trader Joe's and they taste great.

Why is alum no longer recommended for pickles? ›

Alum is no longer recommended because the aluminum in this product may be unsafe to consume. stored too long will not make a quality product. harbor bacteria that may cause softening in pickles. that cause softening are concentrated in the blossom end, and discarding a thin slice will help to keep pickles firm.

Why did my fermented pickles turn mushy? ›

It may be a normal reaction during fermentation caused by bacteria. If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature.

How do you keep pickles crisp when fermenting? ›

Add a Source of Tannin

Tannins work against softening enzymes and help keep pickles crunchier. They can be found in various sources, such as grape leaves, oak leaves, raspberry leaves, black tea, etc. Add some directly to your jars!

Do kosher dill pickles have probiotics? ›

While Bubbies' Kosher Dill pickles are raw, lacto-fermented and probiotic, it's worth knowing that these and the Baby Kosher Dill Pickles are the only variations which contain probiotics. Bubbies' Spicy Kosher Dill Pickles and all variations of the bread & butter pickles are made with vinegar!

Are Vlasic dill pickles fermented? ›

Most store-bought pickles are not fermented. Claussen pickles, Kosher pickles, Vlasic pickles, etc. are made using vinegar, heat processed to make them shelf stable, and usually contain preservatives (sodium benzoate), and other unwanted ingredients (natural flavor, polysorbate 80).

Does all pickle juice have probiotics? ›

When you eat fermented pickles or drink pickle juice, you're also consuming the colonies of bacteria formed during fermentation. Not all pickle juice is made the same way. Pickles made from a mixture of vinegar and salt would not contain probiotics because no fermentation occurs.

Are best maid pickles fermented? ›

Processed Pickles are fresh cucumbers that have been harvested from the field, and placed into large storage tanks and covered with a salt brine solution. This solution effectively begins a fermentation process that cures the cucumber into a pickle.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 6350

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.