Chef John's Bread and Butter Pickles

Crunchy bread and butter pickles made with pickling cucumbers, vinegar, sugar, spices, and jalapeño for just the right amount of heat and sweet.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Calories: 38 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon mustard seed
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• 2 pounds pickling cucumbers, sliced
• 2 red jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced into rings
• 0.5 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.125 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.5 yellow onion, sliced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine cucumbers, onion, and peppers in a bowl; pour kosher salt over the top and stir to coat completely. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 hours. Rinse cucumber mixture in a colander under cold water until all salt is washed away, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Stir vinegar, sugar, water, garlic, mustard seed, celery seed, peppercorns, turmeric, and ground cloves together in a saucepan; bring to a simmer and cook until brine flavors combine, about 2 minutes. Add cucumber mixture to brine; heat until almost boiling, remove from heat, and cool completely. Transfer to jars and store in the refrigerator.