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Zucchini Pickles

Zucchini pickles are a great way to preserve the bounty of summer!
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound zucchini
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 1 cup sugar I prefer less sugar then this, so add to your taste
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed yellow and/or brown mustard seeds
  • Scant 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Instructions

  • Wash and trim the zucchini, then slice them one-sixteenth-inch thick. Slice the onion very thin as well. Combine the zucchini and onions in a large but shallow nonreactive bowl, add the salt and toss to distribute. Add a few ice cubes and cold water to cover, then stir to dissolve the salt. .
  • After about 1 hour, taste and feel a piece of zucchini — it should be slightly softened. Drain and pat dry.
  • Combine the vinegar, sugar ( you can add less or more to your taste), dry mustard, mustard seeds and turmeric in a small saucepan and simmer for 3 minutes. Set aside until just warm to the touch. (If the brine is too hot, it will cook the vegetables and make the pickles soft instead of crisp.)
  • Return the zucchini to a dry bowl and pour over the cooled brine. Stir to distribute the spices. Transfer the pickle to jars, preferably ones that have “shoulders” to hold the zucchini and onions beneath the surface of the brine. Seal tightly and refrigerate for at least a day before serving to allow the flavors to mellow and permeate the zucchini, turning them a brilliant chartreuse color. You can also process in a boiling water canner for longer storage. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.