Portalos News

Pickles, A Healthy Snack With Snap

Pickles are a popular snack, side dish, and condiment. But did you know that pickles are also a healthy part of your diet? There are many different pickle recipes out there, but each version has its own healthy benefits depending on the ingredients that went into the pickle and the method used for pickling, whether fermented or packed with vinegar. Pickles are great for most diets because not only are they low in calories, and low in fat or fat-free, many versions are also low in sugar.

Pickles are also a healthy edition to your diet for other reasons. Pickles, being made from cucumbers or other vegetables, are high in fiber which is necessary for digestive health and fighting cancer. The spices with which pickles are made are also healthy. Fermented pickles also have good bacteria that can control harmful intestinal microbes. When pickles are fermented, lactic acid is created. This acid helps to lower fat in the bloodstream, improve circulation, and lower high blood pressure. Many pickles are made with vinegars. Vinegar is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. So if you ever needed a reason to eat more pickles, now you have it.

Canning Homemade Banana Pickles
executive summary about homemade banana pickles by Tina Schwartz-Miller

For those of you that do not know what a banana pickle is, they are normally cut in spears rather than a round shape and they are a bright yellow color. This, I am sure is where the name comes in. They are a sweet, and if made right very crunchy pickle.

The first thing you should do when getting ready to can these pickles is to get your ingredients ready before hand. Here is a list of the ingredients you will need.

1 cup vinegar
2 cups water
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Once your pickles are all pealed and deseeded, cut them into strips about 2 inches long. If you like a different size of pickles you may cut them to the desired length. Pack them into your jars. In a small saucepan bring your vinegar, water, sugar, salt, turmeric, and dry mustard to boil and then pour over the pickles in the jars. Then clean the tops of the jars and put the lids and rings tightly onto the jars.

Cold pack your pickles for about 5 minutes. If your brine for the pickles does not quite fill your jars simply add a little water to fill the jar.