Description
Spicy Mexican cucamelon quick pickles showcase tangy, zesty flavors from central Mexico. Crisp, miniature vegetables offer a refreshing bite for adventurous palates you’ll enjoy as a delightful snack or condiment.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 oz / 115 g cucamelons
- 1 tbsp / 12 g granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup / 80 g cider vinegar
- 2 tbsps filtered water
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 5 allspice berries
- 5 whole black peppercorns
- 1 pod star anise
- 2 1-inch strips fresh ginger
Instructions
- Preparation: Rinse cucamelons under cool water, trimming blossom ends with kitchen shears to create uniform, pickle-ready miniature vegetables.
- Flavor Layering: Arrange cucamelons in a clean half-pint canning jar, strategically distributing red pepper flakes, allspice berries, peppercorns, star anise, and ginger throughout for a robust aromatic profile.
- Pickling Solution: Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan, heating until sugar dissolves completely and the mixture reaches a gentle simmer, creating a harmonious brining liquid.
- Jarring and Infusion: Pour the hot pickling solution over the seasoned cucamelons, ensuring complete coverage and leaving a quarter-inch headspace at the top of the jar for optimal preservation.
- Chilling and Marinating: Seal the jar tightly and refrigerate for a minimum of 24 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, transforming the cucamelons into a tangy, crisp delicacy that will maintain its vibrant character for up to two weeks.
Notes
- Prep with Precision: Thoroughly wash cucamelons and trim blossom ends to ensure clean, crisp pickles that look and taste professional.
- Spice Strategy: Layer aromatic spices like red pepper flakes, allspice, and star anise strategically to create a depth of flavor that elevates these tiny pickles from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Liquid Harmony: Dissolve sugar and salt completely in the vinegar mixture to guarantee a balanced brine that penetrates every cucamelon with tangy, sweet notes.
- Refrigeration Rhythm: Allow pickles to rest for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator, giving spices time to infuse and develop a complex flavor profile that will make your taste buds dance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 20
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg