Whether it’s for quick pickled vegetables or long-term canning projects, there’s no limit to the vegetables that can be pickled with this basic homemade pickling spice recipe.
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The pucker! The crunch! Ever since I can remember, I’ve been an avid pickle eater. Whether it’s a spicy garlic kosher dill, tangy French-style baby gherkins, or sweet bread and butters, pickles have topped just about every sandwich I’ve eaten and been a staple snack eaten straight out of the jar for as long as I can remember. It still drives my mom nuts whenever I fish pickles out of the jar with my fingers instead of a fork.
As I grew older and my taste buds broadened, and so did my pickle obsession, expanding from classic pickled cucumbers to pickled asparagus, onions, green beans, beets, cauliflower, and so much more. Pickled veggies are the perfect foil to cut through the richness of any cheese or charcuterie board or make a perfect topping for buddha bowls or meatball sandwiches. Oh man, I can taste them now.
Depending on what type of pickled deliciousness you’re looking for, crafting a customizable homemade pickling spice gives the freedom to mix and match flavors to compliment any pickled veg you’re craving.
What is Pickling Spice and What Is It Made Of?
So what is pickling spice? Most basic pickling spices always include mustard seed, peppercorns, and bay leaves, and depending on what’s being pickled, more aromatics can be added. As a blend, these spices add tang and flavor to vinegar and water brines, holding up well over long pickling period, but are also flavorful enough to infuse their magic in quick pickling situations ,too.
These are the ingredients I start with for my basic homemade pickling spice:
- Whole black peppercorns
- Mustard seed
- Coriander seed
- Dill seed
- Allspice berries
- Red chili flakes
- Bay leaves
Other Pickling Spices to Add to Your Blend
One of the best things about pickling spice blends is there is no one way to make them. Be creative! Be flexible! Play with your food! Take notes of what spices fit your taste, then mix and match with different flavor combinations to create your own signature bite.
- Star anise
- Cardamom seeds
- Celery seeds
- Cinnamon sticks
- Dill seeds
- Whole cloves
- Dried ginger
- Fennel seeds
- Juniper berries
How to Use Pickling Spice
Once you’ve concocted your spice blend, it’s time to start pickling.
Start with equal parts vinegar and water. I prefer a strong pucker power so my ratio of vinegar and water is equal at 1:1 with 2 tablespoons of kosher or pickling salt per cup of liquid.
Use a combination of vinegar for best flavor. For a more balanced flavor, I use both white and apple cider vinegar.
Add the pickling spice to jars, then the liquid brine. Bring the vinegar and water (equal parts) to a boil with the salt and cook until dissolved. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the pickling spice to a 32 ounce glass jar with lid, add the vegetables, then pour over brine. Place lid on top and let the brine cool completely before refrigerating. Let sit for 1-3 days before eating.
See my recipe for killer spicy garlic dill pickles for more info on pickling.
Vegetables Made for Pickling
Pickled cucumbers are a natural, but there’s so many other veggies that love a pickling spice brine too, like:
- Beets
- Jalapeños
- Asparagus
- Green beans
- Onions
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Okra
- Cabbage
- Tomatoes
- Radishes
- Zucchini
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a 
star rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Homemade Pickling Spice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoons mustard seed
- 2 tablespoons coriander seed
- 2 tablespoons dill seed
- 1 tablespoon allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 10-12 dried bay leaves , crumbled
Instructions
- Add of the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to mix.
Nutrition
More Favorite Pickle Recipes
- Killer Spicy Garlic Dill Pickles
- Sweet And Sour Asian Pickled Cucumbers
- Zesty Bread And Butter Pickles
- Burr Trail Grill Pickled Beets
- Dilly Bean Recipe
- Pickle Infused Vodka
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My husband wants to take the leftover honey baked ham and put it in a pot with cabbage and potatoes and green beans. Which pickling spices would you use?
Hi Linda! We think this recipe should work great with that!
I would try this. I think the nutritional values are off though.
Made fabulous pickled onions!
Hi Heidi,
Your pickling spices & dill pickle recipe are delicious. The only thing that kept me from rating them a #5 is that it was WAY TOO Salty for my taste! Next time, I will cut the salt back considerably–otherwise I am really enjoying these homemade pickles. I did add a little celery seed & some fresh dill weed to the brine, too. Thank you & HAPPY Cooking!!! <3
I love to cook and love to try new recipes.
Those pickles look so delicious. It makes my mouth water. I am a real pickle fan, can’t eat a sandwich without a great pickle.
thank you, so many interesting pickling options and so many potential pickling vegetables