
After last week's blog entry about pickles, reader Connie wrote in with a few questions about pickles. I went in search of her answers and here's what I discovered:
Q: Isn't there such a thing as refrigerator pickles? I don't want to can five quarts of pickles, just make one jar.
A: Yes, there is a such thing as refrigerator pickles. A quick Google search turned up an array of different recipes, including both dill and sweet versions. Many of the recipes look a lot like the sliced cucumbers with vinegar and sugar that many Southerners like to prepare as a salad/side dish in the summertime. But with enough vinegar, I guess you can let them keep in jars in the refrigerator for a long period of time. I will paste a few of the recipes I found below the jump.
Q: Also, what is the difference between dill and Polish dill pickles? And why are the Polish dills so hard to find?
A: This is a good question. It was a lot harder to find an answer for this one than the previous question. In fact, I'm still not sure I know the difference. One source says the only difference is that the Polish dill pickles are made in Poland. Another says the Polish dills are spicier than Kosher dills because they have garlic and other seasonings in them. Yet another source says Polish dills are made without vinegar. Instead they are made using natural fermentation and a special brine.
My guess is that it's a combination of all three. Probably, this pickle recipe originated in Poland. And the authentic ones are probably not made with vinegar but with some kind of salt brine. And perhaps they are even a little more flavorful than your average dill pickle. Most interesting to me, however, is that when I Googled "Polish dill pickle," I got all of these recipes for a Polish dill pickle soup. Apparently, it's quite the experience. I'll paste one of those recipes below the jump.
Q: Wonder why you can't buy bread and butter pickle relish. B and B pickles are much better in tuna salad, egg salad, and ham salad.
A: I always thought bread and butter relish was basically the same thing as sweet pickle relish, but now I think bread and butter relish is a little sweeter. I have not been able to find a recipe for bread and butter relish. Have you tried mincing bread and butter pickles for your salads? I know that's a bit of a pain when you could just spoon it out of a jar.
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