I distinctly remember always being confounded at how most of my friends would remove the pickles from their burgers every time we ate out. To me, pickles were the perfect treat – they’re basically vegetables that barely taste as such at all! In fact, I used to keep a whole jar (big one too!) of pickles in the kitchen, snacking on them whenever I got the munchies at night. While they may have been store-bought, there’s nothing stopping me from making my own with Karin Reiter’s recipe for homemade pickles!

Ingredients

• 1 large glass jar
• 10-15 small cucumbers washed
• 1 head of garlic cloves separated
• 1 large bunch of dill -washed
• 1-2 red chillies
• Salt
• White vinegar used for pickling
• Filtered water

Directions:

1. Wash the dill and cucumber.
2. Line a jar with dill, garlic and chilli and pour 2 tbsp of vinegar on top.
3. Place the cucumbers inside the jar, tightly next to each other. In between the cucumbers place a couple of crushed/smashed garlic , dill and chilli.
4. Dissolve 2 flat tbsp of salt in 1/3 cup hot water water. Pour the salty water into ¾ cup of regular filtered water (you now have 1 cup of water all together).
5. Pour the water on the cucumbers. Add in some more filtered water if needed; the cucumbers need to be covered in water.
6. Close the lid, turn upside down once or twice and let it mix.
7. Place the pickles outside (half sun, half shade) for about 5 days (if you’re currently experiencing winter, you might need 7 days).
8. Taste the pickles when you think they are ready. You can then place them in your fridge for another 2-3 days till they are really ready and voilà – homemade pickles!

Pickles are an excellent addition to just about any meal, not just burgers! They add a certain zest and flavour that’s bound to turn even the blandest of foods around, so try adding them to dishes like salads, bread and even rice if you’re looking for a little pick-me-up. Being a fermented food, pickles are also a good source of probiotics, making them a good addition to the menu for people who tend to experience bloating or irregular bowel movements. Personally, I find them a great way to up my veggie intake without turning green in the face!