Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (2024)

This is the best GARLIC DILL PICKLES RECIPE, you’ll see!

This GARLIC DILL PICKLES RECIPE yields a favourite treat, and we expect this recipe to become one of your most treasured. That said, don’t forget to BOOKMARK this page and save the PIN attached to this story to one of your favourite PINTEREST boards.

This recipe, in particular, has made the rounds amongst friends and loved ones and been the subject of many a conversation. The pickles deliver such memorable flavours while holding their shape and stellar appearance. Yes, they are crispy and crunchy too! Prepare to feel really proud of the accomplishment of making something so delicious!

Here’s what to expect and consider when preparing them:

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (1)

CANNING

The process of canning vegetables is always a rewarding endeavour. We suggest you headHEREto read our post about canning. You can also click HERE to watch the video of us making another fabulous recipe, our . Oh, and this pic, just to give you a sense – for sure buy the BIG JARS!

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (2)

CUCUMBERS

We’ve said it before – every great pickle recipe begins with great cucumbers. We used #2 Kirby’s for this recipe and they’re perfect. Kirby cucumbers are known for their crunchiness and the number 2 refers to their size, about 2-inches in length. Since this pickle recipe yields whole pickles as opposed to slices or spears, we think this the ideal size.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (3)

Look for #2 Kirby’s at a local farmstand or farmer’s market, but you may even find them occasionally in a larger supermarket during the late summer pickling season.

Regarding quantity, we purchased a half-bushel of cucumbers and ended up with 15, 1-quart jars. That represents some serious good eats for a bit of hard work.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (4)

SIZING

This was the first time that Carol and I made DILL PICKLES together. She was busy working on preparing the dill weed and garlic while I washed the cucumbers (BTW, it’s essential that your cucumbers are thoroughly washed before you begin the recipe). She was particularly interested in why I took the extra time to organize the cucumbers by size.

Although I’d purchased #2s, the cucumbers still varied a bit in size. Sorting them into tiny, medium and full size helps when you go to stuff them into the sterilized jars. Stuffing the jars is kind of like a pickling puzzle where you need the perfect sized cucumber to fit somewhere. Having them sized in advance helps.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (5)

THE BRINE

We always suggest using pickling vinegar instead of white vinegar for canning recipes; the higher percentage of acetic acid is essential for shelf-stable canning. We also used pickling salt for this recipe and I did take my sister Dana’s advice and added just a smidge of sugar – old family secret, apparently! The sugar doesn’t make the brine sweet, but I do think it takes some of the edge off the vinegar.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (6)

Please note, you’ll need twice the amount of pickling brine for this recipe to fill all of the jars. Instead of doubling the recipe, we did it in two sessions to prevent too much water from evaporating during the ladling process.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (7)

DILL, GARLIC AND PEPPERCORNS

Using conventionally grown fresh dill found in the herb section of a supermarket won’t cut it. Look for dill weed at the market when you purchase your cucumbers. It’s important to work with the head of the dill plant, and also add in a few bits of the dill stalk for an added flavour boost.

I’ve learned not to be bashful when adding the sliced garlic to the jars, they are garlic dills after all. The peppercorns also add a subtle spiciness to the pickles.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (8)

BIRD’S EYE CHILI PEPPERS

On a whim, I decided to add whole bird’s eye chili peppers to some of the jars, and in retrospect, I’m glad I did. It’s always fascinating to experiment and try new things whenever we’re testing a recipe.

I was thinking the added heat of the peppers may create an entirely new taste sensation and was I ever right. The pickles made with the peppers are awesome and I suggest you follow my lead and add a pepper into a few of your jars. Let us know what you think in the comment section at the bottom of this post.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (9)

THE WAIT

Here’s the tough part – as all expert home canners will tell you, wait three weeks before you open a jar and try the fruits of your pickling labour. It gives the pickles a chance to mature in their salty brine but also gives you a chance to work on your list of who’ll you’ll be giving a jar of your very own GARLIC DILL PICKLES too.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (10)

Enjoy these pickles alongside our PEACHES AND CREAM PANINI, ourCLASSIC DAGWOOD SANDWICH or our SIRLOIN ROAST. They’ll be perfect with each and all.

GARLIC DILL PICKLES RECIPE– it’s crunch time for this beloved condiment!

PIN ME!

Click the Icon to pin this recipe to your board.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (11)

YouTube

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe

  • Email this recipe!
  • Print this recipe!

Cook Mode
Use cook mode to keep your screen on while cooking.

Ingredients

  • ½ bushel #2 Kirby cucumbers (about 24 pounds), washed and sorted by size
  • 3 garlic bulbs, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup whole black peppercorns
  • 3 bunches dill weed, heads and stalks trimmed
  • 7 bird’s eye chili peppers (optional)
  • For the pickling brine:
  • 12 cups water
  • 4 cups pickling vinegar
  • ¾ cup pickling salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Directions

  1. Sterilize jars and equipment: Place jar lids and rings into a medium-sized bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for at least 10 minutes. Sterilize 16, 1-quart canning jars either in a dishwasher run full cycle without soap or by washing them, then letting them simmering in boiling water for 10 minutes. Sterilize canning funnel and ladle in the same manner.
  2. Make the brine: Place all of the ingredients for the brine into a medium-sized stainless steel pot and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Bring the brine to a boil. (see note in story regarding the quantity of brine required)
  3. Fill the jars: Place one head from the dill weed and few bits of the stalk into each sterilized jar. Add about a tablespoon of garlic and 8 to 10 peppercorns. Add the peppers if using.
  4. Pack cucumbers tightly, positioned upright, into the jars. Stuff the jars to ½ inch from the top.
  5. Canning - here are my guidelines to seal properly:
  6. Place sterilized funnel on top of the first jar. Carefully ladle the hot brine into the jar leaving ¼-inch of space at the top. Wipe with a wet paper towel to remove any ingredients from the rim of the jar. Tap jars gently on work surface to remove air bubbles.
  7. Place sterilized lid on top using magnet wand or tongs. Place ring on top and turn just until finger tight. Repeat process until all jars are filled.
  8. Transfer filled jars to boiling water and process for 10 minutes. Carefully remove jars from pot while the colour of the cucumbers is still slightly mottled. Place onto work surface and leave undisturbed for 24 hours. Check that the centre area of each lid has compressed or, popped. Wipe jars clean and store in a cool, dark and dry place, or gift to someone special.

Related by Recipe Type

  • Side Dishes

Related by Ingredient

  • Bird's Eye Pepper
  • Black Peppercorns
  • Dill Weed
  • Garlic
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Kirby Cucumbers
  • Pickling Salt
  • Pickling Vinegar
  • Water

For More Great Ideas Visit:

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage (2024)

FAQs

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe - Weekend at the Cottage? ›

Use Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride (CaCl2), sometimes known as “pickle crisp”, is a type of salt that helps preserve the crunchiness of food.

What keeps cucumbers crisp when pickling? ›

Use Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride (CaCl2), sometimes known as “pickle crisp”, is a type of salt that helps preserve the crunchiness of food.

What is the best vinegar to use for dill pickles? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Are garlic dill pickles good for you? ›

Garlic has antibacterial and antioxidant properties which can boost the human immune system. Including a small amount of garlic pickle in your can protect your body against the common cold and flu.

Is it healthy to eat pickled garlic? ›

Good for heart health: Garlic pickle helps to reduce cholesterol levels and triglycerides. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which prevent atherosclerosis and blood circulation problems. Garlic protects heart health by preventing blood clots and blocks, which cause heart attack. 2.

Why do you soak cucumbers in salt water before making pickles? ›

This salt treatment draws water out of the cucumbers and flavors them, so it's critically important. After layering or mixing in plenty of sea salt, I cover the salted cukes with ice cubes and a tea towel and forget about them for a few hours.

What is the trick to crispy pickles? ›

5 Secrets for Crispy and Crunchy Pickles
  1. Use small, firm cucumbers.
  2. Jar them immediately after picking, or as soon as possible.
  3. Soak cucumbers in an ice water bath for a couple hours.
  4. Cut off the blossom end of cucumber.
  5. Add tannins to the jar.
Jul 28, 2020

What is the 321 method of pickling? ›

An easy pickling recipe to follow is the 3-2-1 method; three parts water, two parts vinegar, and one part sugar. This 3-2-1 pickle brine is on the sweeter side, making it great for bread and butter pickles or spicy pickled beets. For a more savory pickle, use less sugar.

Is white vinegar better than apple cider vinegar for pickles? ›

Because apple cider vinegar is made from apples rather than barley, corn rice or wine, it gives pickles a mellower taste. Using a white distilled vinegar, for example, will create a harsher flavour. But as well as being gentler on your palate, using apple cider vinegar also adds health benefits to pickles.

Do I have to boil vinegar for pickling? ›

Vinegar-based pickling is a much faster process than fermentation pickling. In its quickest form, you'll just boil a vinegar solution, pour it over the the object of your pickling desire, let it all cool and stash it in the fridge.

Does pickled garlic lower blood pressure? ›

Vinegar and garlic, while healthy foods, do not help control your blood pressure. During ancient times, both vinegar and garlic acquired reputations as curatives, able to allow people to live longer, healthier lives. These reputations have continued to modern times.

Is it OK to eat dill pickles every day? ›

Daily pickle consumption depends on what the rest of your diet is like. “If you're someone who doesn't eat a lot of processed foods, fast foods or store-bought foods, or if you're mostly eating a very low-salt diet, then eating pickles daily might be fine,” Peart says.

Do dill pickles burn belly fat? ›

Weight loss is about burning more calories than you eat, so simply eating pickles won't melt away the pounds. But pickles are low in calories — so they can fit into a weight loss, calorie-controlled diet — and have some properties that might help with fat loss.

What happens if I eat too much pickled garlic? ›

Eating one to two pickled garlic cloves a day has been shown to have many health benefits. We suggestion not consuming more than 2-3 cloves a day to avoid garlic-breath! Eating too many can thin the blood.

What does raw garlic do to your gut? ›

Improves Digestion

Digestive problems improve with the inclusion of raw garlic in the diet. It benefits the intestines and reduces inflammation. Eating raw garlic helps to clear out intestinal worms. The good thing is that it destroys the bad bacteria and protects the good bacteria in the gut.

Does pickled garlic make you gassy? ›

Garlic is high in fructans, so it may trigger digestive symptoms like gas and bloating for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

How do you keep cucumbers crisp until pickling? ›

Once you've washed and wrapped them, the best way to store cucumbers is in the crisper drawer (a.k.a. produce drawer) of your fridge, set on high humidity with the fan closed. High humidity helps the ethylene-sensitive fruit retain moisture and keeps it from wilting.

What is the crisping agent for pickles? ›

In addition to crisping up pickles, calcium chloride can also give a bit of a salty taste, while not adding any sodium to your food. Home brewers who mistakenly add too much calcium chloride to their brewing mash complain that it tastes like sea water.

How to make cucumbers extra crunchy? ›

Just place the slices or chunks in a colander over a bowl or sink. Sprinkle them with a couple of pinches of salt, toss to coat, and let them rest for about 30 minutes. Pat them dry with a paper towel and proceed with the recipe.

What powder keeps pickles crisp? ›

Ball Pickle Crisp Granules are easy to use for crispier homemade pickles. Just measure and add to the jar, replacing pickling lime and the need for time-consuming pre-soak.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6518

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.