Preserving cucumbers for winter without sugar
Here is a selection of products I prepared to preserve cucumbers for winter without sugar.
Here is a selection of products I prepared to preserve cucumbers for winter without sugar.
I soak the cucumbers in cold water for 3 or 4 hours. I know some people soak them, while others skip this step if they're freshly picked. Today I'm packing cucumbers with seeds. They aren't always firm enough; in our region, we sometimes find wilted cucumbers with sand in them. So, for me, soaking them is also a precautionary measure.
While the cucumbers are soaking, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Wash the horseradish leaves and dill sprigs thoroughly, and peel the garlic. Wash and slice the chili pepper. Adjust the amount of chili to your liking; I add just a little to give the cucumbers a slightly spicy kick.
I sterilize the jars beforehand in the oven at 90 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes. I boil the lids and leave them in hot water on the stove during boiling to keep them sterile.
Once everything is ready, start filling the jars. Place a horseradish leaf, a sprig of dill, a couple of garlic cloves, a chili pepper, and a bay leaf at the bottom of each jar.
Next, pack the cucumbers as tightly as possible.
Pour boiling water over the cucumbers and let them sit for 10-15 minutes.
While the cucumbers are heating up, prepare the marinade. You can use the marinade water you drained, but I prefer to make it separately. For 1 liter of water, you'll need 25g of salt, a few pinches of black pepper, a bay leaf, and 50ml of vinegar. Bring the marinade to a boil and then simmer for 2-3 minutes.
I prepared the marinade with 2 liters of water.
Drain the water from the jars of cucumbers and immediately pour the hot marinade over them. Seal the jars with their lids, turn them upside down, wrap them tightly, and let them cool completely.
Once the jars have cooled completely, store them. After 2 to 3 weeks, the cucumbers will be well infused with the marinade and spices, developing a rich flavor and remaining crisp.
The preparation of sugar-free cucumbers for winter is now complete.
