Sweet Sriracha Pickles

I was inspired by pickled dirt.

Truly.   I pickled some chard stems a while back and my mother assessed that they tasted like “pickled dirt.”

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OK, so the pickled chard was an acquired taste but that pickling liquid was da’ bomb!   I made up some of this sweet-hot brine and threw in some cukes to make a refrigerated version.   We hearted them mightily.   The next logical step was to make some canned pickles so we could enjoy them after the growing season was over.

Sweet Sriracha Pickles

2 lbs. cucumbers
8 c. water
1/2 c. pickling/canning salt
2  c. sugar
2 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 t. celery seed
1/2 c. Sriracha (less if you desire a less spicy pickle)

Scrub cucumbers with a vegetable brush to remove any spiny bits.   Cut off ends and then slice into 1 1/2 inch slices.   Cut each slice in half, making chunks.

Place in a large glass or stainless steel bowl.   Dissolve pickling salt in water and pour over cucumbers.   Let stand in cool place for three hours.   Drain cucumbers and discard liquid.  Rinse under cool water and drain thoroughly.

Place sugar, vinegar, celery seed, and Srircha in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Pack cucumber chunks in sterilized jars.   Carefully pour hot liquid over pickles leaving 1/2 inch from top of jar.  Remove any air bubbles and adjust headspace if necessary.   Wipe rims and center lid on jar.  Screw down band, fingertip-tight.

Place jars in canner with one inch of water covering tops.   Bring canner to a boil and process for 10 minutes.   Remove canner lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars.

Makes 3-4 pint jars.

This recipe can be adapted to make refrigerator pickles, too.  Just half the recipe and place cucumbers and liquid in the refrigerator and munch away.

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The sriracha will separate a bit after canning, but just shake the jars up before serving.

Do you love sriracha as much as we do?

If not, please check out this great article, “You’re Pronouncing Sriracha Wrong.”   If these pickles don’t convert you, maybe this article will.

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