Spicy Cucumber Pickles

Name: Spicy Cucumber Pickles
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 265 min
Ingredients: 400 g baby/pickling cucumbers (See Note 1); 1 1/2 tbsp coarse salt (See Note 2 and 3); 1 small red onion; 1 cup (250 ml) rice wine vinegar (See Note 4); 1 cup (225 g) sugar; 1 star anise; 1 tbsp chilli/red pepper flakes (See Note 3); 1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated (See Note 3)

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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These Spicy Cucumber Pickles are simple to prepare and elevate the flavour of many dishes through hints of chilli and ginger! They make a fantastic edible gift also – that is, if you can resist eating them all!

Up close shot of round black bowl full of spicy pickles.

Why we love this recipe:

When fresh produce is in abundance, make the most of the season by making some Spicy Pickled Cucumbers. These delicious pickles are perfect to serve with your favourite burger or grilled meats, crispy fried chicken or just to enhance a salad!

Homemade Pickles are quick to prepare, vibrant in flavour – and best of all? You know exactly what is going in them, and can adjust the flavours to your liking!

Recipes like our Spicy Pickled Cucumbers are great to have in your repertoire – they make a great edible gift, too!

Round black bowl of spicy pickles, on a white marble background. Two star anise to the left of the bowl.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Cucumbers – use the freshest you can find, and ensure they are free from blemishes. Pickling or baby cucumbers are ideal for this recipe.

Red Onion – enhances the flavour of the pickles, and is delicious to enjoy with them.

Salt – ensure you use cooking salt or sea salt, as regular table salt may contain caking agents and is much stronger. We use the salt in this recipe to draw out the excess moisture from the cucumbers and soften the red onions.

Rice Wine Vinegar – a delicately flavoured, slightly sweet vinegar, perfect for pickling, especially with the spices we use in this recipe.

Sugar – regular granulated sugar works fine. It helps to preserve the pickles and balances the flavour. Caster/Superfine sugar is also fine to use.

Star Anise – a spice that is warming, slightly sweet with a hint of licorice.

Chilli Flakes – these Spicy Pickled Cucumbers get their heat from delicious dried chilli/red pepper flakes. Add more to your liking if you wish!

Ginger – fresh ginger is perfect for this recipe.

Step by Step Instructions:

Start by sterilising your jar or jars (see how to do this below).

first four steps to prepare this recipe.

Wash and dry the cucumbers. Remove the top and end. Cut thinly – approximately ½ cm thick. Thinly slice the red onion.
In a large bowl, add the cucumbers, onion and salt. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for 4 hours.
Tip the cucumbers and onions into a colander and drain the excess liquid.
In a non-reactive pan, place the vinegar, sugar, chilli flakes, star anise and ginger. On a medium heat, stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 3 minutes once the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.
Add the cucumbers and onions to the pickling liquid, and allow them to sit in the saucepan for 5 minutes.
Pour the pickles and liquid into your sterilised jars, and cool on your kitchen bench before refrigerating.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

When making your own pickles and preserves, always ensure you are sterilising the jars you will store them in. This is very simple to do:

Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well.
Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts.
Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F) and leave the jars in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Use the best quality produce when preserving – make sure the cucumbers are fresh and blemish-free.

What are the best cucumbers to use?

Some cucumbers are specifically grown to be made into pickles. These smaller cucumbers are firm, meaning they retain good shape when pickled. For my pickles, I have used homegrown mini Lebanese Cucumbers. They are sweet and have a great crunch.

How long will the pickles last?

Stored in the fridge, the pickles will last for about 3-4 months. They are best consumed within the first three months for the best texture and taste. The longer you keep the pickles, the softer they will become.

Can I leave the chilli out if my kids don’t like it?

Absolutely, or you could try one of our other pickled cucumber recipes, which are milder: Bread and Butter Pickles or Dill Pickled Cucumbers.

Up close shot of round black bowl full of spicy pickles, on a white background.

More recipes for you to try:

Once you start making your own preserves and pickles, it is hard to go back to store-bought!

Try these recipes also for more inspiration:

I hope you’ll give these delicious Spicy Cucumber Pickles a try – I would love to know what you think!

Alex xx