London Salt Beef Bagel Shop Pickles
Crisp, garlicky fermented dill cucumbers cured in seasoned brine, iconic in London East End salt beef delis and beigel shops.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 25 kcal
Equipment
- •Large sterilised 2-litre glass jar
- •Small saucepan
- •Measuring jug
- •Chef's knife
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 25 kcal
- fat
- 0.3 g
- carbs
- 4 g
- fibre
- 1.5 g
- protein
- 1 g
- calories
- 25 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Dissolve the sea salt in 200 ml of hot water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- 2
Remove the pan from the hob and stir in the remaining 1000 ml of cold filtered water.
- 3
Wash the pickling cucumbers thoroughly in ice-cold water and trim 2 mm off both ends.
- 4
Place half of the dill, garlic, peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and bay leaves into the jar.
- 5
Pack the cucumbers tightly upright into the jar, fitting as many in as possible.
- 6
Tuck the remaining dill, garlic, spices, and chilli flakes over the top of the cucumbers.
- 7
Pour the cooled brine over the cucumbers, ensuring they are completely submerged.
- 8
Cover the jar loosely with a lid to allow fermentation gases to escape.
- 9
Leave at room temperature for three to five days until pleasantly sour, then refrigerate.
Chef's tips
Always use filtered water, as chlorinated tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria needed for fermentation. Trimming the blossom end of each cucumber removes enzymes that cause softening.
Ingredient substitutions
- small pickling cucumbers → firm ridge cucumbers
- fresh dill → 1 tbsp dried dill seeds
Storage
Keep submerged in brine in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to one month.
Reheating
Serve chilled or at room temperature directly from the brine; do not reheat.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Using table salt with anti-caking agents, which can cloud the brine and inhibit fermentation.
- •Failing to keep the cucumbers completely submerged under the liquid, which encourages mould.
Serving suggestions
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