Delicious sweet, crispy pickled cucumbers: a winter recipe for liter jars

You can preserve the freshness and beneficial properties of cucumbers by pickling these vegetables. The method is distinguished by its simplicity and variety of recipes, which allow you to choose a preservation option to suit every taste. Compliance with technology pickling will preserve the juiciness of vegetables, make them crispy and sweet.

In this article we will tell you the secrets of preservation and offer recipes for crispy and sweet pickled cucumbers for the winter per 1 liter.

Features of pickling cucumbers

This cooking method allows you to preserve a large number of vegetables at once, which is convenient for busy housewives. Pickled vegetables are added to pickles, put on sandwiches, and used as a complement to familiar dishes such as spaghetti, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs or omelettes.

The main feature of this pickling is the soaking of the main product before putting it in jars, which allows you to preserve the freshness of the vegetable.

Selection of cucumbers for pickling:

• It is optimal to choose small-sized fruits with medium-thick skin;
• the vegetable must not be overripe, without bruises or any traces of staleness;
• large fruits can only be used in chopped form - circles, pieces with peel.

It is most convenient to use fruits of the same size - it is much easier to place them in a container and compact them.

How to make them crispy

To make the fruits even more juicy and crunchy, it is recommended to place 1-2 oak leaves on the bottom of the container during pickling.This ingredient will prevent the vegetables from becoming soft.

Reference. A horseradish leaf will make the brine transparent, so it is often used in preparing vegetables for the winter for aesthetic purposes.

How to make them sweet

The sweetness of the marinade is added by adding a small amount of sugar, but the more important factor is the sweetness of the cucumber itself. Fruits with a bitter taste will make the preparation bitter and unflavoured.

Important! Before adding granulated sugar to the container, it must be completely dissolved in the brine.

Preparing to cook

Proper preparation of ingredients and containers will avoid the proliferation of microorganisms inside closed containers and prevent damage to the products. The method of preparing containers depends on recipes.

Selection and preparation of cans

The optimal container size for pickling vegetables is a 1 liter glass jar. Such a container will fit in the refrigerator, on a shelf in the cellar and in a cool pantry. When using a small container, the housewife will be able to prepare several types of pickling at once and place them in different containers.

Preparation includes:

• washing with soda;
• drying;
• scalding, sterilization.

To sterilize the container, place it in a preheated oven for a few minutes or treat it with steam.

Important! Glass containers and lids must not have any damage, cracks, chips or breaks. Therefore, before washing, each container is carefully inspected in the light.

Preparing Ingredients

All components of future preservation must be fresh and healthy. It is not allowed to use overripe or spoiled fruits with traces of rot or damage.

Preparation:

• washing vegetables;
• drying;
• cutting off the ends.

If necessary, the fruits are cut into pieces or bars. But most often whole cucumbers are put into pickling.

Advice. It is advisable to wash vegetables before starting cooking.

Recipes for sweet pickled crispy cucumbers in liter jars for the winter

When preparing this preparation, additional components are used that add new taste, sharpness and piquancy. Most often they use fresh aromatic herbs, spices, and some vegetables that can be pickled along with cucumbers.

Sweet tender cucumbers with onions and dill

This preparation has a herbaceous aroma thanks to fragrant dill and onions.

Required ingredients:

• fresh cucumbers – 300 g;
• small onion;
• dill umbrella;
• table salt – 1 tsp;
• sunflower oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
• table vinegar - 1.5 tsp;
• bay or raspberry leaf, parsley, thyme, basil - 1 pc.

Cooking method:

1. Pierce the pre-soaked cucumbers in several places with a fork.
2. Chop the onion and dill.
3. Mix vegetables and herbs and leave for 10 minutes.
4. In a saucepan, mix acetic acid with sugar and salt. Heat and boil until sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
5. Add vegetables to the saucepan and blanch for 10 minutes.
6. Transfer the resulting mass into a container along with the released juice and roll up.

In sweet ketchup without sterilization

Preparation with ketchup without sterilization It can be mild, with a tomato aroma, or spicy, depending on the ketchup used.

Ingredients:

• fresh cucumbers – 350 g;
• ketchup – 3 tbsp. l.;
• clean water – 0.5 l;
• acetic acid – 1 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 0.5 tbsp. l.;
• sugar – 1 tsp.

Preparation:

1. Mix water with vinegar, ketchup, salt and sugar, and bring to a boil.
2. Place vegetables in a container.
3. Pour hot brine and roll up.

The most suitable ketchups for pickling are “Maheev” and “Torchin”. Chili sauce will appeal to lovers of spicy dishes.

In a sweet marinade with carrots

Carrots add sweetness and vegetable flavor to the snack. It is better to combine this salting with fish dishes.

Grocery list:

• fresh cucumbers – 300 g;
• water – 0.5 l;
• medium-sized sweet carrot – 1 pc.;
• garlic cloves – 2-3 pcs.;
• black peppercorns – 2 pcs.;
• dill, parsley or lemon balm - two sprigs each;
• salt and sugar - 0.5 tbsp. l.;
• acetic acid – 1 tbsp. l.

How to cook:

1. Place herbs, garlic and pepper at the bottom of the container.
2. Peel the carrots and cut into slices. Place in a container.
3. Add cucumbers and pour boiling water over everything.
4. After 10 minutes, pour the liquid into a saucepan and dilute salt, sugar and vinegar in it. Boil and pour the brine into the container again.
5. Roll up and cool.

In sweet and sour sauce

The sweet and sour preparation is used in the preparation of sandwiches and as an additive to soups.

Ingredients:

• small cucumbers – 3 pcs.;
• water – 0.5 l;
• sugar – 1.5 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 0.5 tbsp. l.;
• vinegar - 2 tbsp. l.;
• dill and parsley - two branches each;
• black peppercorns – 3 pcs.

Preparation:

1. Place the vegetables in a container along with herbs and pepper.
2. Prepare the marinade. Dissolve salt, sugar and acetic acid in water. Boil and pour the liquid into a container.
3. Close the lid.

With mustard and celery

This type of pickling will appeal to lovers of unusual dishes and interesting flavor combinations.

What you will need:

• small cucumbers – 300-400 g;
• water – 1 l;
• dry mustard – 1 tsp;
• celery – 1/4 stalk;
• bay leaf – 1 pc.;
• cloves - a pinch;
• any greens - to taste;
• salt – 0.5 tsp;
• sugar – 1 tsp;
• vinegar - 1.5 tsp.

How to cook:

1. Place the herbs, bay leaf, cloves and mustard into a glass container.
2. Next add chopped celery and cucumbers.
3. Fill the container with boiling water.After 5-7 minutes, pour the water into a saucepan and mix with vinegar, salt and granulated sugar. Boil and pour into a container.
4. Cover with a lid and cool.

Spicy-sweet with chili and sweet ketchup

The presence of chili pepper in the preparation will make the dish piquant and spicy.

List of ingredients:

• medium-sized cucumbers – 3 pcs.;
• “Tomato” ketchup – 2 tbsp. l.;
• hot chili pepper, finely chopped – 1-2 pieces;
• water – 0.5 l;
• vinegar - 2 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 1 tsp;
• oak, cherry and raspberry leaves - 1 pc.

Preparation:

1. Place the berries and oak leaf into the container. Then add chili pepper.
2. Heat the water. Add ketchup, salt and sugar. Boil for 3 minutes until the salt and sugar crystals dissolve. Add vinegar.
3. Place the vegetables in a container and pour hot brine over them.
4. Roll up the lid.

With sterilization

The sterilization process takes a little time, but this procedure will increase the shelf life of the workpiece.

Products:

• small cucumbers – 4 pcs.;
• clean water – 1 l;
• salt – 1 tsp;
• sugar – 2 tbsp. l.;
• acetic acid – 1 tbsp. l.;
• black pepper – 2-3 peas;
• an umbrella of dill and a sprig of parsley.

Cooking method:

1. Wash the container thoroughly and place in the oven to bake for 10-15 minutes.
2. Fill the container with cucumbers, then add dill, parsley and pepper.
3. Add sugar and salt to boiling water and stir. Then add vinegar and pour the liquid into a jar of preserves.
4. Sterilize jars, covered with lids, in a large saucepan. The water should reach the “hangers”.
5. Roll up the lid and cool.

The sterilization time is determined by the volume of the container. Liter jars are sterilized for about ten minutes.

With garlic

Garlic will give the preparation a spicy taste, pungency and make the brine fragrant.

List of ingredients:

• cucumbers – 350 g;
• water – 0.5 l;
• salt – 1 tbsp. l.;
• garlic – 5 cloves;
• sugar – 0.5 tsp;
• vinegar - 1.5 tbsp. l.;
• tarragon, basil, parsley, dill - one sprig each.

Preparation:

1. Pierce the vegetables with a fork in several places and cut off the ends. This way the cucumbers will be better saturated with brine.
2. Place herbs and vegetables in the bottle.
3. Cut the garlic into small slices and distribute among the cucumbers.
4. Dissolve salt and sugar in boiling water. Pour in vinegar.
5. Fill the container with hot marinade and roll up the lid.

Tips for making sweet pickled cucumbers

Here are some recommendations for preparing pickled cucumbers that will make the process easier and improve the taste of the snack:

1. Use coarse salt, preferring regular table salt. Marine and iodized ones are not suitable.
2. Before salting, clean the water with a home filter.
3. Wash vegetables with a stiff brush.
4. Sterilize containers in the oven - this way you can heat several small jars at once.
5. Sterilize the lids by dipping them in boiling water.
6. Dry food and containers on a paper or regular towel.

Storage recommendations

By following storage rules, you don’t have to worry about the product deteriorating, the lid swelling, or the jar exploding.

You can store the container with the workpiece in any cool, dark place - for example, in a cellar or refrigerator. The product should be protected from direct sunlight and freezing.

For the first two days after seaming, it is advisable to keep the container at room temperature and only then store it in a cool basement or refrigerator.

Conclusion

Pickled cucumbers with a pleasant sweet and sour flavor are a favorite snack at many family holidays. This pickling, despite the simplicity of preparation, has a rich taste and amazing aroma.

The preparation is suitable for any occasion: from everyday snacks and hot lunches to special holiday events with family and friends.