Half Sour Pickles
Living in NYC has its pros and cons. One of the biggest advantages of living here is the New York deli. Until you go to a “delicatessen” outside of the city, you really can’t appreciate just how amazing a pastrami sandwich really is. One of my favorite places to hit up is actually in New Jersey. Harold’s Deli does everything over the top and larger than life. Sandwiches and cake slices tower over the table. The matzo balls are softball-sized and protrude from the broth. The turkey platter can make your Thanksgiving offering look weak. You get the picture.
But, my favorite part is the self-serve pickle bar. It’s straightforward and nothing fancy. Just some bread (so you can make normal-sized sandwiches from the mountain of meat being served) and some pickled things for topping. My go-to is the half sour pickle. Their vibrant green color makes them stand out from the rest of the spread. Plus, you know, they’re tasty AF. If you’re not familiar with this variation, it’s because you won’t find them in the pickle aisle at the supermarket, but rather the refrigerated section, probably near the cole slaw.
Because they are in a salt brine and not fully “soured” with vinegar, the shelf life is shorter, but they’ll last a good couple of weeks in the fridge. I add the slightest bit of sugar for a hint of sweetness, but if you’re looking to avoid excess sugar, you can omit it.
Half Sour Pickles
Ingredients
- 2 cups distilled water, divided, cold
- 2 tbsp. kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, with peel, smashed
- 2 large sprigs fresh dill
- 3 allspice pods
- ½ teaspoon coriander seed
- ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ¼ cup yellow mustard seeds
- 1 fresh bay leaf
- 4 thick kirby cucumbers, tips removed, cut into quarters to make spears
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup of the water and the salt and sugar .
- Cook over medium heat until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved.
- Pour the warm salt water into a pitcher and add the remaining cold water; stir to combine.
- Place the garlic, dill, spices and bay leaf in a sanitized quart-sized mason jar.
- Add the cucumber spears; jamming them in as necessary.
- Pour the brine into the mason jar, filling almost to the top, being sure to cover the cucumbers completely; there may be some leftover brine.
- Secure the lid onto the mason jar and refrigerate.
- The pickles will be ready to eat in as soon as 5 days. They should be consumed within 2 weeks afterwards. (The longer they stay in the brine, the more their flavor will intensify.)
Recipe says ¼ cup yellow mustard seeds for the 1/2 sour pickles. Is that correct. Seems like an awful lot! Wondering if you meant 1/4 teaspoon like the other ingredients. Thank you.
Best regards,
Jeff Goldstein
Nope – it’s correct!
I also grew up in NY and NJ and remember Harold’s fondly. I also went to Carnegie Deli the day they closed. Now I don’t live in an area with good deli unless you know someplace near Chapel Hill, NC.
I am growing cukes this year and I’m going to try your half sour recipe. None of the others I saw included sugar so I’m curious about that. Your’s also include allspice which I didn’t see in any other recipe. What flavor does this add? Thank you! Laura
It’s so hard to find a good deli outside of the NYC area! The sugar adds just the slightest bit of sweetness and the allspice adds a VERY subtle warm spice note which I find to balance the fermentation. Let me know how it turns out!!
1/4 cup yellow mustard ?
Seemed like an awful lot is it a misprint?
It’s correct – but make sure you’re using seeds and not actual mustard in a bottle!