Lacto-Fermented Dill Pickles Recipe (2024)

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pickling salt or other pure salt (3 3/4 ounces/105g), divided

• 10 pickling cucumbers (number-one or number-two-size; see note)

• 3 tablespoonswhole mustard seeds, divided

• 1 tablespoon wholeallspice

• 1 tablespoon wholejuniper berries

• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric

• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds

• 5 whole cloves

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 bay leaves, crushed

• 1 small (2-inch) cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

• 1 whole star anise, broken into pieces (optional)

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced white onion (from about 1/4 medium onion)

• 2 cloves peeled garlic

• 1 stem of whole, mature dill weed, including flower, or a medium-size tuft of young feather-like dill

• 1 quart water(1 liter), preferably distilled (see note)

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 quart (1 liter) cold water with the 1/4 cup salt, stirring to dissolve the salt. Meanwhile, wash cucumbers, then trim off the flower-end (opposite of the stem) using a paring knife. Place cucumbers in cold saltwater bath. Let stand while you prepare the spice mixture.

2. In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons mustard seeds with the allspice, juniper, turmeric, coriander, cloves, ground ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon, and star anise, if using. Measure out 1 tablespoon pickling spice blend and reserve the rest for a future batch.

3. Wash 1 (1-quart) glass canning jar with warm soapy water and rinse well. Pack the sliced onion, garlic, dill, 1 tablespoon pickling spice, and remaining 1 tablespoon mustard seeds into the jar, pressing firmly into the bottom.

4. In a medium bowl, stir together remaining 2 tablespoons salt with 1 quart cold water until salt is dissolved. Drain cucumbers and pack into the jar. Pour saltwater brine over cucumbers until covered. Close jar, fitting it with a Pickle Pipe or other airlock system for canning jars.

5. Place fermenting vessel in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to ferment. Ideal fermentation temperature is 60°F (16°C) to 70°F (21°C). Dry basem*nts are ideal as they maintain a relatively consistent temperature. Check on your fermenting vessel every few days, looking for any evidence of spoilage or rot. You may notice some whitish growth; this is yeast and can be skimmed (or, if you're like me, you can toss the batch if you see yeast, as it can affect the flavor of the pickles). Your crock should develop a sour aroma; if it smells of mold or rot and the cucumbers are gray, soft, or otherwise discolored, your batch has been contaminated and must be discarded.

6. The exact fermentation time is hard to predict, but generally it takes about 3 weeks to reach the half-sour stage and 6 weeks to reach the full-sour stage. When your pickles reach your desired sourness level, transfer to the refrigerator. The finished pickles can be refrigerated for up to 2 months.

7. Variation: To make a Polish-style vinegar-fermented hybrid pickle, follow the recipe as written, adding 1 cup of white vinegar for every quart of water. This method comes directly from my husband’s family.

Special Equipment

1-quart glass canning jar, Pickle Pipe or other airlock system for canning jars

Notes

Pickling cucumbers are rated by size using numbers. "Number one" cucumbers are smaller than "number two" cucumbers; either will work here, though larger ones may not all fit into the jar. This recipe can be increased by keeping the salt-to-water-to-cucumber ratios intact. The recipe calls for distilled water; in areas where water quality is good, this isn't necessary, but if you are unsure, or if you have poor water quality, distilled water will help ensure a good fermentation.

Read More

• Pickle Science: How to Master the Preserving Power of Acids
• The Science of Lactic Acid Fermentation
• The Essential Tools You Need for Fermentation at Home
• Homemade Sauerkraut
• Fermented Radish Slices
• Garlic Dill Pickles