The small cucumbers, which look like watermelons about three centimeters in size, are suitable for snacking between meals or for summer salads. But you don't have to eat all the fruits immediately, because you can preserve Melothria Scabra by pickling them. You can find a great recipe in the article below.
How do I pickle Mexican mini cucumbers?
To pickle Mexican mini cucumbers (Melothria scabra), you need 1 kg of mini cucumbers, 500 ml water, 500 ml vinegar, onions, honey or sugar, s alt, spice mix and preserving jars. Prepare the cucumbers, sterilize the jars and fill the cucumbers and their broth into jars and close them.
What does pickling mean?
In this preservation method, an acidic vinegar broth is poured over the vegetables. This prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms.
When are the cucumbers ripe?
If the fruits have reached a size of three centimeters and can be easily removed from the bush, they are ready to harvest. You can also pickle cucumbers that have already fallen off, as long as they are still in perfect condition. The shell is then harder, but this is corrected by inserting it.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg mini cucumbers
- 500 ml water
- 500 ml 5% vinegar or 4 cl vinegar essence
- 2 onions cut into rings
- 150 g honey (alternatively 100 g sugar)
- 1 tbsp s alt (Not iodized s alt, as the vegetables lose their bite due to the iodine.)
- 25 g cucumber spice mixture consisting of dill, pepper, mustard seeds, coriander, allspice, bay leaf
- Sufficient number of preserving jars.
Preparation:
Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and remove the brown stems. You should pierce hard-shelled fruits lengthwise with a roulade needle. This way the brew can penetrate better.
Boil hot water in a pot and sterilize the jars for at least ten minutes.
Preparation:
- Boil the vinegar with the water and the spices.
- Let the cucumbers steep in the stock for five minutes.
- Add the onion at the last minute.
- Fill the cucumbers into the preserving jars up to just below the rim.
- Pour in the broth.
- Clean the edges of the glass with a kitchen paper towel and close immediately.
Tip
You can replace the red onions with small pearl onions. These give Melothria Scabra a fine touch. If you like it spicy, you can also add a chili pepper to each glass.
