Middle Eastern brined cucumbers (mekhallel khiar)

Middle Eastern brined cucumbers (mekhallel khiar)

Sauces

Homemade cucumber pickles: small cucumbers that have been pierced, coated with a brine of 6-7% salt, a little sugar, and calcium chloride, and fermented f…

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To make successful homemade cucumber pickles, the key is the brine: 6-7% salt, 1% sugar, and a little calcium chloride to help keep the cucumbers firm.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time20 min
  • Cook time—
  • Resting168 hr
  • Total168 hr 20 min
  • DifficultyEasy
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodno cooking required
  • Estimated cost$4.89 $0.49 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan

Ingredients

10 people
  • $3.95
  • $0.51
  • $0.01
  • $0.42

Prices from US supermarkets for 3 of 4 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Dissolve the salt, sugar, and calcium chloride in the water. ≈ 3 min
  2. Wash the cucumbers and pierce them with a knife to prevent gas from forming inside. ≈ 2 min
  3. Place them in clean jars and completely cover them with brine. ≈ 3 min
  4. Pour a thin layer of oil on the brine: without air exposure, it will not become damp on the surface. ≈ 3 min
  5. Seal and allow to ferment for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature. ≈ 3 min

The bill

Middle Eastern brined cucumbers (mekhallel khiar)

  • 1 kg of small cucumbers$3.95
  • 65 g of salt (4 tablespoons)$0.51
  • 10 g of sugar (2 teaspoons)$0.01
  • a little bit of oil$0.42

Total$4.89

that's $0.49 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 1 kg of small cucumbers
  • 1 liter of water
  • 65 g of salt (4 tablespoons)
  • 10 g of sugar (2 teaspoons)
  • 5 g of calcium chloride (1 teaspoon, optional)
  • a little bit of oil

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