The rhythm of today's life dictates its own rules and changes the familiar ways of cooking.
So, not long ago, it was difficult to imagine any other method of souring cucumbers, except in a can or barrel. But today, thanks to the invention of plastic bags, we can make salted cucumbers just in a bag, without using large containers.
This method of salting is called dry and does not require the use of brine or marinade. It is unique because it is impossible to spoil the cucumbers. Thus prepared cucumbers remain the same green as when buying and crispy, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with conventional methods of salting.
Cucumbers are prepared by this method very quickly. It takes literally 5-6 hours and you can feast on salted cucumbers.
Since as a result of this type of pickling fermentation does not occur, such cucumbers can be eaten even by people with gastrointestinal problems.
General principles of harvesting salted cucumbers in a package
Fresh cucumbers of any kind are suitable for this type of pickling, and preferably not more than 10 cm in length.
1. Cucumbers need to be well cleaned of dirt and cut on both sides.
2. If you use fresh greens, then it must also be washed, shaking off excess water, blotting with a regular or paper towel. Greens can be put whole or broken into not too small parts. You can cut the greens, but very large, if the greens are cut too small, then it can produce juice, and when dry salting it is contraindicated.
3. Garlic must be cleaned and put as whole slices, so coarsely or finely chopped, or chopped with garlic squash or grater, in this case there will be more garlic flavor.
4. The package needs to be taken new and strong, put cucumbers, salt and seasonings in it. Then, the contents of the package must be thoroughly mixed (cucumbers with spices), shaking the package for some time, in the process of salting, you can also shake it periodically.
5. Pack tightly tied, but you need to try to remove from it before that all the air. 6. We remove the bag in the refrigerator for at least several hours, the duration depends on the size of the cucumbers.
The main spices with this method of pickling are garlic and dill, but you can use everything that your heart desires. As spices, flavoring or spice is usually added, depending on which cucumbers you want to make as a result.
Basic recipe for salting salted cucumbers in a package
Products
- 1 kg of cucumbers of the same size
- 1 tbsp. l fine salt
- 1 tsp. regular sugar
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- 1 fresh dill (medium bunch)
Method of preparation
Wash cucumbers, cut off both edges and put in a bag, add salt with sugar and washed (dried, without moisture from washing) dill and garlic cloves cut in half. All put in the package.
Shake the bag for a short time to mix everything up, remove the air, set and leave, preferably overnight or at least for several hours. We try. The finished product is removed in the refrigerator.
Low-salted cucumbers in the “Country-style” package
Products
- 1 kg of cucumbers
- A few sprigs of dill
- Several green leaves from horseradish
- Some currant and cherry leaves
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp. l any salt
- 1 tsp. cumin grains
Method of preparation
We pack all ingredients in a package:
• thoroughly washed cucumbers (both tips must be cut off);
• salt;
• washed greens and dill sprigs, from which all excess moisture is removed (with a towel or paper towel), they must be torn off with their hands;
• finely chop the garlic or skip through the garlic press;
• Cumin minced in a mortar or rolling pin.
We shake the package well, so that all the ingredients are mixed with cucumbers, we remove the air, we set and send it on the shelf in the refrigerator for 5-8 hours (time depends on the size of the cucumbers).
Cucumbers “Gentle”
Products
- 1 kg of small gherkins up to 5 cm
- a bunch of flavored dill
- 2 sprigs of basil (green)
- 4 sprigs of lemon grass (if any), if not, then you can do without it or sprinkle cucumbers with freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1 tbsp. l fine salt
- 0.5 tsp. sugar
Method of preparation
1. My cucumber, cut off the tails on one side only and put in the package;
2. All my greens, cut large or tear, remove excess moisture and also send in the package. If you do not have lemon grass, simply squeeze out fresh lemon juice;
3. Cut the garlic clove into several pieces and add to the cucumbers;
4. Put the salt in the bag;
5. The package is well shaken to mix everything, but do not be very zealous, small gherkins are quite tender and easy to break;
6. Remove the air from the bag, tie it up and send it in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
Cucumber Recipe “Spark”
Products:
- 1 kg of gherkins or small cucumbers
- 1 fresh dill (bunch)
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- pods of hot red pepper (fresh) or a few tablespoons of dry ground
- 1 tbsp. l salt
- 1 tsp sugar
Method of preparation
1. My cucumbers, we cut off only the tails of the gherkins, if these are more cucumbers, then we cut off both tips and put them in a bag;
2. My dill, removing excess moisture, cut into large pieces and send to the cucumbers.
3. Chop the garlic in a garlic press or grate and add to the cucumbers;
4. If you use fresh hot pepper, then it should be cut into thin ringlets, and if ground, then just pour the seasoning into cucumbers. The amount depends on the level of acuity you want to get. For example, if you put 1 small red pepper or half a tablespoon of milled, then the cucumbers will turn out a little spicy, if you put more, then, accordingly, they will be sharper. Therefore, the first time it is better to put a minimum amount and, if this is not enough, then increase the amount of pepper and leave the cucumbers for salting for several hours. So experiment with the amount of pepper to get the perfect spice for you. 5. Put the sugar and salt in the bag;
6. Shake the bag well (if you add salt to the gherkins, then shake it gently so as not to break them), remove the air from it and fasten it;
7. Leave in the refrigerator for 2-7 hours, the time depends on the size of the cucumbers.
Lightly salted cucumbers in the “Russian” package
Products
- 1 kg of cucumbers
- 1-2 garlic (cloves)
- 2-4 tbsp. l horseradish root chopped
- 1 tbsp. l salt
Method of preparation
• Cucumbers need to be washed, remove excess moisture, remove both ends and put in a bag;
• Chop the garlic on a grated or knife;
• The root of horseradish is well washed, cleaned of the skin and any dirt and grind in a meat grinder or in a blender. Store hell of the jars is not suitable, because in the composition there is vinegar;
• Add salt;
• Shake the bag to mix the ingredients, remove the air, tie it up and put it in the fridge for at least 5 hours.
Lightly-salted cucumbers in the “Super-Express” package
Products
- 0.5 kg cucumbers
- 2 tsp. salt
- 0.5 tsp. sugar without a hill
- several garlic cloves
- 1 bunch of flavored dill.
This method of super-fast pickling of cucumbers requires a couple of minutes, but here you need to use not a bag, but a plastic container and cucumbers to be cut.
Method of preparation
1. My cucumbers, remove excess moisture, cut into slices and put in a plastic container;
2. Rub the garlic cloves on a fine grater and put in the cucumbers;
3. My dill, also remove moisture, not very large cut and put in a container;
4. Add salt and sugar;
5. When all the ingredients are placed in a container, then close it tightly and begin to shake it, it must be done within 1-2 minutes, well, or until your hands get tired.
All cucumbers are ready. If you want to get a more salted taste, then leave the cucumbers just to lie in the container for some time (no more than an hour).
Salted cucumbers “Savory”
Products
- 1 kg of cucumbers
- several garlic cloves
- 2 tsp. allspice
- 1 tsp. mustard powder
- 2-3 bay leaf dill (bunch)
- 1 bunch of Italian parsley
- 1 tbsp. l fine salt
- 1 tsp. brown sugar (can be replaced by white)
Method of preparation
1. Cucumbers must be washed, remove excess moisture, cut off both tips and put in a plastic bag;
2. Crushed garlic cloves with a knife and lightly chopped, add to the bag;
3. All my greens, cut into large pieces and put to the cucumbers;
4. Add to cucumbers sweet peas, dry mustard, salt, bay leaf and sugar;
5. Shake the package so that everything is mixed up, we try to remove the air from it, we tie it up and send it in the fridge for the night.
Salted cucumbers “In a Caucasian way”
Products
- 1 kg of cucumbers
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup shredded celery root
- 1 tsp. coriander (ground) fresh cilantro or parsley (if you dislike cilantro)
- 1 bunch of purple basil
- 1 tbsp. l salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
Method of preparation
1. Cucumbers carefully wash, remove excess moisture, cut off both tips and put in the bag;
2. Slices of garlic can be crushed with a knife, cut into several pieces each and put to the cucumbers;
3. Carefully rinse all greens, tear or cut into large pieces and send them to the package;
4. Wash celery root, peel it off and rub it on a large or medium grater, mix it with salt and sugar and send it in a bag;
5. Add ground coriander to the bag;
6. The package is well shaken, but not for long, squeeze the air out of it, firmly fasten it and send it in the refrigerator for 5-7 hours.
Tips and useful tips on cooking salted cucumbers in a package:
- Before salting, lower cucumbers into cold water for a short time, this will make them even more crunchy and remove bitterness, if there is one.
- For a more uniform pickling of cucumbers, you need to try to remove all the air from the package, for this, just drop the package in a bowl of water and then add the cucumbers and spices into it. Water, as if squeeze the package around the cucumbers and squeeze all the air out of the package.
- To get the cucumbers salt quicker, you need to periodically shake the bag again, or at least turn it 4-5 times.
- If suddenly your cucumbers are too salty, just add a few tablespoons of sugar and shake the bag again, then put it back in the fridge for a while.
- The smaller the cucumbers, the faster they sabotage, so if you take the gherkins, they will be ready in just a few hours.
- Cucumbers should preferably be chosen for salting the same size so that they are salted more evenly.
- To speed up the salting process, you can pierce the cucumbers with a fork in several places.
- To make the process of cooking cucumbers as fast as possible, you need to cut them into circles. In this form, cucumbers are salted almost instantly and are ready in literally 10 minutes.
- To remove excess salt from cucumbers before serving, you can wipe them with a paper towel.
- To avoid cucumber leaking in the refrigerator, it is better to put a bag with them on a plate or in some container.
Unfortunately, cucumbers salted with this method cannot be stored for a long time, therefore it is better to salt them in small portions in order to eat them at one time.
