Cornichon Pickles

About
Cornichon pickles are great with salami or sausage. They are the perfect addition to a sandwich or even better eaten on their own!

Ingredients
1/2 lb baby cucumbers, 1-1.5” each 1 tsp brown mustard seeds 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds 2 cloves garlic or small shallots 2 small dried red chili 2-4 inch sprigs fresh tarragon 1 1/2 cups water 1 cup white wine vinegar 1 tbs kosher salt

Directions
Rinse the cucumbers well. If you plan to make these jars shelf stable, fill a pot large enough to submerge your jars with water and bring to a boil. Sterilize 2 pint canning jars and their lid rings by boiling them for 10 minutes. Let the water simmer with the lids while you prepare the pickles. If you just want refrigerator pickles, you can skip the sterilizing and hot water bath, and just put them right into the fridge.

Into two hot pint jars, add 1/2 tsp each type of mustard seed, 1 garlic or shallot clove, 1 red chili and 1 sprig of tarragon. Pack the cucumbers into the jars, leaving 1/2” head space. Make a brine by combining water, vinegar and salt, and bringing it to a boil. Pour the boiling brine over the cucumbers, leaving 1/2” head space at the top.

Wipe the tops of the jar with a clean towel dipped in the boiling water. Add the hot lids and tighten the lid rings. Process the pint jars in the boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool. Do not try to adjust the lids after they are out of the bath. Once completely cooled the lids should vacuum seal shut. These keep for about 1 year. If any of the jars do not seal, put them in the refrigerator where they will last a month or more.

Source: One Tomato Two Tomato