The best recipes for Czech-style pickled cucumbers for the winter, for a 1-3 liter jar

Summer isn't just a time for relaxation, the sea, and beaches. Housewives know that with the arrival of the hot July days, it's time to start preserving fruits and vegetables for the winter. Every family has its own preferences, but everyone loves pickled cucumbers. In winter, crisp cucumbers are equally delicious served for both everyday dinners and festive feasts. Today, we'll tell you about Czech-style cucumbers, one of the most popular varieties.

How to prepare Czech-style cucumbers for the winter

Czech cuisine isn't for those who favor diets and healthy eating. It's replete with canned goods, smoked meats, fatty, and salty foods. Pickled cucumbers fit perfectly into this concept. So what sets them apart from the plethora of other interesting cucumber recipes?

First of all, only small cucumbers are used for this preserve, whether they're gherkins or simply small cucumbers. The key flavor characteristic of Czech cucumbers is sugar. It gives the preserve a piquant, slightly sweet taste and a pleasant crunch.

By the way, due to its presence in the snack, the jars need to be sterilized a little longer than with other recipes – at least 40 minutes.

You can add other ingredients you prefer to see in preserves to the cucumbers: onions, carrots, lemon, blackcurrant leaves, tarragon leaves, and other aromatic spices. This will only enhance the flavor.

Which cucumbers are suitable for pickling?

To ensure your cucumbers are not only delicious but also crisp, choose only small varieties. Gherkins are ideal. They absorb spices perfectly and have a delicious crunch. If you can't find gherkins, you can choose another variety suitable for pickling (easy to find: these cucumbers have pimples).

Carefully inspect the vegetables for spoilage. Check for wilted fruit, dents, yellow sides, or defects. Remember, any mistake could cause the jar to explode. The cucumbers should be perfect. Try to choose vegetables that are approximately the same size to ensure uniform penetration of the marinade.

Methods for pickling cucumbers in the Czech style

There are many ways to prepare Czech-style pickled cucumbers. We can't say for sure whether they all originated in the Czech Republic, but that's no longer important. They're all delicious and crispy.

The easiest way to pickle cucumbers is in a 1-liter jar. This is enough to delight guests at the holiday table, and it's also enough for a delicious dinner for several days (unless your family is five or more people). Here's a simple recipe for Czech-style cucumbers for one liter jar.

Ingredients:

1. Cucumbers – 0.5 kilograms.
2. Carrots – 13 pieces.
3. Horseradish root – 13 pieces.
4. Dill – 1 branch.

For the marinade you will need:

1. Water – 0.25 liters.
2. Table vinegar (9%) – 0.07 milliliters.
3. Sugar – 2 tablespoons.
4. Salt (sea) – 1 tablespoon.
5. Allspice peas – to taste.
6. Mustard (peas) – to taste.

Before cooking, soak the cucumbers in water for several hours. Cut the carrots into rounds and divide the horseradish into small pieces. Now let's prepare the jars with lids, then make the brine. To do this, place all the ingredients in a container and bring to a boil. Open the lid and let it simmer for 5-6 minutes. Meanwhile, add the carrots (3 per jar), one piece of horseradish, and one sprig of dill.

Next, place the cucumbers vertically in the jars, tightly but not too tightly. Pour in the brine, which has already boiled for 5 minutes. Place the jars filled with cucumbers in a large iron container filled with boiling water (be sure to place a towel or other cloth on the bottom). Place over low heat and wait for 15-20 minutes for the container to sterilize. Roll them upside down, cover with a blanket. Wait 24 hours and then move them to the basement.

With added sugar

Having tried countless cucumbers, you're craving something new, unusual, and no less interesting. We present you with a recipe for Czech-style cucumbers with added sugar. It doesn't take much time to prepare and is easy to make.

Prepare the ingredients:

1. Cucumbers (young) – 2 kilograms.
2. Filtered water – 1 liter.
3. Carrots – 0.1 kilogram.
4. Dill – 1 bunch.
5. Horseradish root – 1 piece.
6. Acetic acid – 1 liter.
7. Sugar – 10 tablespoons.
8. Table salt – 3 tablespoons.
9. Bay leaf – 1-2 pieces.
10. Black peppercorns – to taste.
11. Mustard (seeds) – to taste.

First, let's take care of the carrots and horseradish. They need to be prepared: wash, peel, and cut into medium-sized strips. Thoroughly wash the cucumbers under running water, trimming the ends on both ends. Place the mustard, black pepper, and bay leaves in a jar. Next, place the cucumbers vertically in the prepared jar. Place the carrots and horseradish root between the cucumbers. Once all the vegetables are in the jar, pour in the boiling brine. Follow the standard sterilization and sealing procedure for the jars.

Important! The container must be sterilized for at least half an hour.

Place the rolled-up containers upside down and cover with a blanket. Keep them this way for about a day, then you can safely transfer them to their main storage location—the refrigerator or basement.

With onions

Ingredients:

1. Cucumbers – 0.5 kilograms.
2. Water – 1 liter.
3. Carrots – 3 pieces.
4. Onions – 2 pieces.
5. Table vinegar (9%) – 110 milliliters.
6. Table salt – 50 grams.
7. Sugar – 0.1 kilogram.
8. Bay leaf – 2-3 pieces.
9. Black peppercorns – to taste.
10. An umbrella of dill – to taste.
11. Currant leaves – optional.
12. A sprig of tarragon – optional.

Let's prepare the ingredients. Peel and slice the onion into rings. Wash, peel, and chop the carrots into large strips. Wash the cucumbers and cut off the stems. Place the onion, bay leaf, dill, and peppercorns in the bottom of the jars. Next, stand the cucumbers and carrots upright and pour the prepared brine over them. Sterilize the jars for half an hour and seal.

With lemon

Lovers of the unusual will appreciate this recipe for Czech-style lemon cucumbers. Citrus adds an interesting twist to this beloved dish.

So, for one liter jar we will need the following ingredients:

1. Cucumbers – 1 kilogram.
2. Lemon – 1 piece.
3. Garlic – 1 head.
4. Dill (can be replaced with parsley) – 1 bunch.
5. Black peppercorns – to taste.

Marinade:

1. Water – 1 liter.
2. Table salt – 55 grams.
3. Sugar – 155 grams.
4. Citric acid – 15 grams.

Pre-wash the cucumbers and soak them in cold water for several hours. Cut off the stems. Peel the garlic, rinse the lemon, and cut into large pieces.

Place the dill, garlic, and lemon into the jar from the bottom up. Next, add the cucumbers. First, pour in hot water and drain. Then pour in the boiling marinade, prepared in advance. Sterilize the jars using the traditional method, seal, and turn them upside down for 24 hours. Store.

How and how long are cucumbers stored?

Czech-style pickled cucumbers require storage at low temperatures, from 0 to 7 degrees Celsius. Storing them at room temperature in an apartment increases the risk of the jars exploding. In a private home or summer cottage, store the pickled cucumbers in a basement or cellar. Remember to keep the room dry and well-ventilated. If you live in an apartment, a refrigerator is the best option.

Important! Even if you follow all storage conditions, if you haven't sterilized your jars properly, haven't sealed the lids tightly, or haven't washed your vegetables thoroughly enough, all your efforts will be in vain. A jar contaminated with bacteria will inevitably explode.