Learn how to ferment cucumbers at home and discover the benefits of probiotic pickles to improve your digestive health and microbiota.
Course Fermented Foods, Salad
Cuisine homemade
Keyword fermentation, fermented vegetables
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Fermenting time 5 daysdays
Total Time 5 daysdays15 minutesminutes
Servings 4portions
Calories 144kcal
Author missblasco
Equipment
Glass jars
Ingredients
4CucumbersMedium size, preferably organic
4cupsFiltered Water(1 liter)
1tbspSea Salt
Fresh dill(optional)
Black peppercorns(optional)
Garlic cloves(optional)
Cumin(optional)
Instructions
Wash the cucumbers and remove the ends. I recommend making longitudinal cuts (lengthwise), leaving the four parts joined at one end. Do not remove the skin. The skin provides the essential microorganisms needed to kickstart the fermentation.
For these cucumbers, I use a 2% brine. This means adding 1 tbsp of sea salt for every 4 cups of water. Ensure the salt is completely dissolved before pouring it over the vegetables.
Place the cucumbers vertically in the jar. Try to fill all the space so they stay tight, this prevents them from floating. At this stage, you can add aromatics: Fresh dill, black peppercorns or coriander seeds, garlic cloves or cumin. (If it's your first time, I recommend fermenting them plain or with just a few peppercorns to learn the base flavor).
Keeping them Submerged: This is an anaerobic process. If the cucumbers are not packed tightly enough to stay down, you must use a weight. You can use a glass fermentation weight, a small glass filled with brine, or even a piece of carrot wedged into the mouth of the jar as a "beam" to keep everything under the liquid.
Storage: Cover the jar. If you use a hermetic seal, open it once a day to let the CO2 escape. Store your jar in a cool, dry, and dark place, away from direct sunlight.