If you opened a jar of pickles more than two months ago, the brine smells strange or there is mold on its surface, say goodbye to it. However, if the brine is clear and aromatic, then you have a product in your hands that can be actively used in cooking.
Prepare a Marinade for Other Vegetables
Slice carrots, cauliflower, red onion, bell pepper, and boiled beets into thin slices or small pieces. Place them in a scalded jar and fill it to the top with cucumber brine.
To enhance the flavor of the pickled vegetables, also add a teaspoon of sugar and a couple of garlic cloves to the jar. Seal the jar tightly and place it in the refrigerator for a day — this time is enough for the vegetables to absorb the brine. The snack can be stored for up to 7 days.
Marinate Meat or Chicken
Since cucumber brine is quite salty and sour, it is perfect for making a marinade. Place pieces of chicken or pork in a deep pot and pour the brine over them. For 1 kg of meat, 500 ml of liquid is sufficient.
To make the meat not only tender but also aromatic, you can add a couple of bay leaves, black peppercorns, and a clove of garlic to the brine. The marinade should be placed in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. After that, the meat can be fried, baked, or grilled.
Prepare a Base for Salad Dressing
Cucumber brine can easily replace vinegar or lemon juice. To make a salad dressing, mix 3 tablespoons of brine, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard in a bowl. Whisk the mixture, add a pinch of sugar, freshly ground pepper, and chopped herbs.
This simple and aromatic dressing is perfect for vegetable and potato salads. It can also be drizzled over orzo pasta with shrimp.
Add Cucumber Brine to Okroshka
To prepare a light and unusual version of okroshka, mix 500 ml of brine and 300 ml of chilled boiled water. Add 3 diced potatoes, 3 eggs, 200 g of boiled sausage or boiled chicken, a couple of fresh cucumbers, green onions, and dill.
You can also enhance the taste of the okroshka with sour cream or mustard. If you like to experiment, add a teaspoon of sugar to the dish.
Cook Aromatic Borscht or Rassolnik
Brine is perfect for these dishes — it gives them a rich sourness and depth of flavor. In classic borscht, you can add 100–150 ml of brine 5–10 minutes before it’s done.
If you want to make rassolnik, sauté onions, carrots, and pickles in a deep pot with a thick bottom, then add a liter of broth and a glass of brine. Cook for 20 minutes, then add pearl barley and potatoes. The dish will turn out thick, rich, and aromatic.
Prepare Garlic Dip
A thick garlic sauce perfectly complements tartar, baked potatoes, homemade burgers, or fish. It can also be used to enhance the flavor of pasta with eggplants and tomato sauce.
Making the dip is simple: mix 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of sour cream, a teaspoon of mustard, and a couple of teaspoons of brine. Add minced garlic, herbs, and paprika to taste.
Bake Bread
Cucumber brine can also be used instead of milk or water when kneading dough for homemade bread. The addition will give the baked goods a light aroma and pleasant saltiness.
To make simple bread, mix 500 g of flour, a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of dry yeast, 2 tablespoons of oil, and about 250 ml of brine in a bowl. Knead the dough and let it rise for an hour. After that, place it in a mold and bake at 180 °C for about 40 minutes.
Prepare an Alcoholic Cocktail
The most famous cocktail with cucumber brine is called Pickleback. It doesn’t need to be prepared: just drink a shot of whiskey first, then the brine. Its sour-salty taste softens the aftertaste of strong alcohol.
You can also make a Bloody Mary based on brine. For this, mix 150 ml of tomato juice, 30 ml of vodka, a tablespoon of brine, a few drops of Tabasco sauce, and a bit of ground pepper. Stir the cocktail thoroughly and serve it with ice.
Add Brine to Homemade Mayonnaise
In a blender, pour 50 ml of cold brine, a tablespoon of mustard, a pinch of sugar, and salt. While blending the mixture, slowly add 150 ml of vegetable oil. Gradually, the mixture will begin to thicken and turn into a creamy sauce. At the end, you can add a bit of lemon juice or vinegar, then blend again.
You will get a light yet very tasty dressing that doesn’t even require eggs. Store the mayonnaise in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
Marinate Eggs in Brine
To prepare a tasty and hearty snack for a vegetable salad or beer, boil 6–8 eggs hard and cool them in cold water. Place the peeled eggs in a clean jar and fill it to the top with brine. Optionally, you can add a piece of beet and garlic.
Seal the jar with a lid and place it in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. If you want the eggs to be spicier, also add a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the brine.
Bake Pancakes with Cucumber Brine
In a bowl, mix 250 ml of room temperature cucumber brine, 150 ml of water or milk, 2 eggs, a tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and 260 g of flour. Mix the batter thoroughly with a whisk to eliminate lumps.
Cook the pancakes on both sides until golden brown in a well-heated and oiled skillet. Serve with meat or cheese filling.
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