Cucumber pickles

Pile these pickles on your favourite burger to add a tangy bite.

Equipment

• You'll need to start this recipe a week in advance. You'll need a 2 1/2 cup-capacity jar with lid, washed in hot water and dried (see notes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup cider vinegar
• 1 small eschalot, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• Pinch of ground turmeric
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 1/2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 1 green cucumber
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill leaves

1. Step 1

   Place vinegar, eschalot, mustard seeds, peppercorns, turmeric, bay leaf, fennel seeds, sugar and 1¼ cups cold water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Meanwhile, carefully run a fork lengthways down cucumber to create a line pattern in skin. Slice cucumber thinly. Combine cucumber and dill in a bowl. Transfer mixture to a 2 1/2 cup-capacity jar.

3. Step 3

   Carefully pour enough hot vinegar mixture into jar to cover cucumber. Seal jar. Set aside to cool. Store in cool place for at least 1 week to allow flavours to develop (see notes). Once opened, refrigerate for up to 2 months.

Double-decker cheeseburgers

Turn over the pickles jar every day to distribute ingredients around and allow flavours to develop.

It is important to sterilize jars to prevent mould forming. Jars can be sterilized in a number of ways. Firstly, choose glass jars with an airtight lid. Remove any old labels and ensure they are free from cracks or chips. Wash in hot soapy water and rinse, then sterilize using one of the following methods:
Oven: Preheat the oven to 120C. Place jars (upright) and lids (separately) on an oven tray and heat in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and fill immediately with jam or other preserves.
Stovetop: Place jars and lids in a deep saucepan. Cover with cold water. Bring water to the boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium and boil for 10 minutes. Line a baking tray with paper towel. Remove the jars using metal tongs and allow to air dry or dry with a clean paper towel.
Dishwasher: Place jars, lids and rubber seals in the dishwasher on the hottest cycle. Remove and place onto a paper towel-lined tray; the heat will dry them naturally or you can dry them with paper towel.