The BEST pickles on earth! Half Sours!

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I dig pickles!

The village where I grew up back in Upstate NY had a flea market. That flea market had a vendor everyone just called “The Pickle Guy”.

Despite the fact that no one knew his real name, he was one of the most popular people at the market.

He had giant blue or black plastic barrels FULL of pickles. His biggest sellers were the Half Sour pickles. Never heard of them? Not surprised. Most people outside of the Northeast have no idea what they are. Well… they just happen to be the absolute best pickles ever made. A little sour, without being vinegary, and the best kind of salty there is. Crispy and snappy as you can get in a pickle. Just some of the best things you’ll ever eat. Sold on them yet? Good…

Here’s how to make them…

• About 2 lbs pickling cucumbers (aka kirbys)

• 4 cups water

• ¼ cup kosher or canning salt

• 6 cloves garlic, crushed or minced

• 2 tablespoons pickling spice

• 1 pinch chili flake

• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns

• 1 teaspoons dried dill

1. Wash cucumbers well and slice off the stem and blossom ends.

2. Wash 1 wide-mouth half gallon mason jar in hot soapy water; rinse.

3. Place garlic, dill, red pepper black peppercorns, and pickling spice into the jar.

4. Pack cucumbers into the jar. Pack them as tightly as you can.

5. If cucumbers are thick, you may have to slice them in half lengthwise or even quarters/spears.

6. Mix the water and salt in a large non-reactive (ceramic, plastic, or stainless steel) bowl and stir until salt is completely dissolved.

7. Pour enough salt water into each jar to cover cucumbers.

8. Seal and let sit on the counter for 3 days with a loose lid. Place the jar on a folded paper towel as the brine will bubble up a little and leak out. After 3 days on the counter they will be a little cloudy. Now you can seal the jar tight and place in the fridge. They will sour a little more as they age.

It’s too easy not to try. No vinegar, water baths for canning, or any crazy steps. Just cucumbers, spices, salt, water.

You need to make these!

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