Prepare the cucumbers following the instructions for
Brined Cucumbers.
Rinse the dill and divide in half. Scrub and rinse the
horseradish and slice thinly. Peel and halve the
garlic. Wash the various leaves.
Fold half of the dill into a ring and place in the
bottom of the jar. Strew half the horseradish and
garlic and 1/3 of leaves on top. Arrange half of
pickles upright, packing them tightly. Place 1/3 of
the leaves on top, then pack in the rest of the
cucumbers in the same manner. Top with layers of the
remaining horseradish, dill, garlic, and leaves.
Combine the salt and water, stirring until the salt
dissolves (the percenteage of salt in this brine is
2.8-3.0 percent). Pour the brine into the jar. The
contents should be fully covered. Place the saucer
inside the jar with a weight (small rock?). Cover the
mouth of the jar with 2 layers of cheesecloth and
secure with string.
Leave for 3-4 days in cool, airy room whose
temperature is about 64-68 degrees.
Remove the scum as it appears and wash the mouth of
the jar daily. After 3-4 days, when most active
fermentation has subsided a little, remove weight and
lid. cover jar with its own lid and refrigerate. In 1
2 days the malossol cucumbers will be ready to eat.
Because there is less salt in the brine than Brined
Cucumbers, malossol cucumbers should be eaten sooner.
Store the pickles on the lowest shelf of the
refrigerator for 4-5 days, after which they will
become either too salty (and turn into regular brined
cucumbers) or, more likely, too soft and almost mushy.
