Pickling and preservation have been having a moment, but how many pickle plates can a person enjoy? If you’ve pickled your summer bounty and are now looking for new ways to use your rainbow of pickles beyond the savory snack plate, we have a few tasty and creative ways to make the most of your pickles. They’re full of flavor, can provide probiotics if they’re naturally fermented and unpasteurized, and can help punch up some of your favorite recipes.
Make pickle relish
Pickle relish is a fantastic condiment that’s even better when homemade. Use pickled cucumbers or whatever pickles you like:
- Dice them and toss the pickles in a bowl with seeds for crunch—mustard seeds, celery seeds, and poppy seeds all work.
- Mix with a pinch of sugar and, if needed, a splash of pickling liquid to incorporate everything. You can also add red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chile for some spice.
Serve pickles with melty cheese
Fondue and raclette are winter’s go-to melted cheeses to go with pickles, but summertime pickles deserve their own gooey meal. Add pickles to grilled cheese, quesadillas, or even a cheese omelet for more punch.
Sandwich your pickles
Pickles are a perfect sandwich ingredient, whether they’re the main focus or a condiment. Add pickles to a sandwich built on a baguette with a sharp cheese or butter, or build your favorite sandwich on traditional slices and load up on pickles between the layers.
Make pickle dip
Pickle dip is a fun way to enjoy crudités, crackers, or pretzels. Mix your favorite base, whether it’s sour cream, mayo, Greek yogurt, or a combo, with chopped pickles, a splash of brine, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs for an excellent dip that is fun for hosting or just snacking the afternoon away.
Put a pickle in your wine
This viral pickle hack is popular for a reason. A pickle’s briny, salty flavor can complement the bright acidity of a crisp wine, like Sauvignon Blanc. Plus, a cold pickle can help keep the contents of your glass chilled and add a fun decorative element.
Fry sliced pickles
What isn’t better deep fried? Pickles are great with fried food, and of course, excellent breaded and fried:
- Pat your sliced pickles dry, and then coat them with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
- Heat enough oil in a pan to submerge the breaded pickles, then fry until golden.
- Remove from the hot oil and enjoy with ranch dressing or the dipping sauce of your choice.
Cut pickles into garnishes
Pickled vegetables come in a slew of colors, which can add beautiful adornment to family-style plated dishes, such as pasta salads, potato salads, noodle dishes, and more. Try chopping pickles into a fine dice or cutting them into thin spears.
Add pickles to salads
Pickles are vegetables, and vegetables belong in salads. Plus, salads are better with salt, crunch, and acid—all of which pickles offer. Chop up pickled beets, green beans, fennel, or the sturdy pickle of your choice to toss into a green salad for an extra punch.
Change the flavor profile
Ready to update your pickles? If you’ve been snacking on the same refrigerated pickles for a while, change it up by adding a few slices of chiles to the brine and letting them marinate to spice them up.
Prefer something more savory? Try adding assertive herbs, like a tarragon sprig, to infuse your pickles with new flavor, or throw in a beet or some red cabbage to naturally dye those pickles hot pink.
Gift your pickles
There’s nothing like a good homemade gift. If your pickles were properly canned using a tested recipe, dress up the sealed jar with a ribbon, tie a fancy bow, and they’re ready to gift. You can also make your own labels with washi tape or sticker paper.
For refrigerator pickles, keep them chilled and let the recipient know they need to stay refrigerated.
For either kind, it’s a thoughtful homemade gift that can also be plant-based and gluten-free, depending on the recipe.
Make the most of your pickle juice
Don’t toss that pickling liquid! Leftover pickle juice has so many culinary uses, including in marinades, in cocktails, and, of course, as a ready-made brine to pickle more vegetables!
