6 amazing and delicious recipes for cucumbers in tomato sauce for the winter

If you're looking for an unusual cucumber appetizer for the winter, there's a fantastic recipe that everyone in the family will appreciate. Cucumbers in tomato sauce combine savory notes with sweetness.

This appetizer can be served at a festive table or for an everyday lunch; it will harmoniously complement the main course.

Recommendations

The preparation takes no more than an hour. You'll need to take some time to prepare the vegetables and other ingredients that will be included in the finished product. Before you begin, there are a few things to consider:

1. Gherkins up to 10 centimeters in size and oblong in shape are ideal for pickling. They fit even in a small jar and are easy to handle.
2. Since the recipes call for tomato juice or paste, it's made from fresh tomatoes. They should be sweet and plump, and easily crushed. The skins are removed beforehand.
3. Clean containers. Jars must be sterilized several hours before packaging. Sterilization is carried out using steam. You can also heat the jars in a microwave or oven.

Store the finished product in a cool place: a cellar, pantry, basement, or pantry. You can store the product at home, but be sure to keep it in a closed cabinet away from heat and light.

Recipes for cucumbers in tomato sauce for the winter

The recipes are clear and don't contain complicated ingredients. All the ingredients listed are either grown at home or readily available. There's no need to go to the store to stock up on seasonings and other vegetables. You can start cooking immediately.

In tomato sauce

The sauce is slightly thick and can be enjoyed either on its own or with the gherkins. If desired, you can thin it by adding boiled water. Dilute the sauce with half the amount of water, making it more like tomato juice.

Compound:

• cucumbers – 1 kg;
• tomatoes – 1 kg;
• salt – 2 tbsp.
• sugar – 1 tbsp.
• pepper to taste;
• starch – 1 tsp

Peel the tomatoes and put them through a juicer or blender until smooth. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Stir granulated sugar and salt into the heated liquid and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Once the time is up, add a spoonful of starch and continue heating for 5 minutes, then remove the pan from the stove and cover with a lid.

Place the cucumbers in neat rows in a clean container. Once the vegetables are arranged, pour the hot sauce over them and cover with a lid.

Place the jar containing the mixture in a pot of water and sterilize for 15 minutes. Then, seal the lids, turn the jars upside down, and cover them with a blanket.

Allow the container to cool, then store it in a designated area. The snack will be ready to eat in at least 1.5-2 months. The longer it sits in cool conditions, the sweeter and richer its flavor will be.

In tomato paste for the winter

The beautiful orange-red color of this appetizer immediately catches the eye, and its flavor profile will dazzle even the most discerning gourmet. Before serving, drizzle the gherkins with a little of the liquid paste and sprinkle with chopped herbs.

Ingredients:

• 1-1.5 kg of cucumbers;
• 1-1.2 kg of fleshy tomatoes;
• 2-3 cloves of garlic;
• 2 tbsp. salt;
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar;
• 1 tsp vinegar 6%.

Peel the tomatoes and puree them in a blender. Strain through cheesecloth to remove the seeds and pulp. Pour the resulting juice into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally and skim off any foam. Add the spices and vinegar.

Trim the ends of the cucumbers and pack them into the jar. Cut the garlic cloves into 2-3 pieces and place them in the container. Pour the hot tomato mixture over the vegetables.

Before rolling up, jars must be sterilized in boiling water for 10-15 minutes, after which they need to be allowed to cool slightly and then stored in a basement or cellar.

Without sterilization

To save precious time sterilizing, you can add more vinegar and salt to the recipe. These natural preservatives will prevent the snack from spoiling and ensure a long shelf life.

Ingredients:

• tomatoes 5-6 pcs.;
• small cucumbers – 1-1.5 kg;
• 1 tbsp. vinegar 9%;
• 2.5 tbsp salt;
• 1 tbsp sugar;
• black peppercorns;
• 3-4 garlic cloves.

Place cucumbers with the ends cut off in a clean, dry container. Continue filling the jar until it's almost full. Place peppers and garlic cloves between the cucumber rows.

The tomatoes are minced, then a sieve is used to separate out only the liquid mass. This is then placed on the stove and boiled for 10 minutes. Finally, sugar, salt, and vinegar are added.

Pour hot tomato juice into the jars and immediately seal the lids. Turn the jars upside down and leave them there until they cool completely.

You can replace vinegar with citric acid. When canning, add ½ teaspoon of the powder. The citric acid kills pathogenic microflora and will preserve the snack for many months.

With bell pepper

You can add some variety to the appetizer by adding other vegetables, such as bell pepper. It's edible and soft and flavorful. The appetizer is similar to a vegetable stew and can be served as a standalone dish.

Ingredients:

• gherkins - 1.1-2 kg;
• tomatoes – 5-6 pcs.;
• 2 pcs. sweet pepper;
• 2 tbsp. salt;
• 2 tbsp sugar;
• ½ tsp ground pepper.

Tomato juice is prepared and heated to a boil on the stove. Granulated sugar, salt, and pepper are stirred into the hot mixture.

Cut the stems off the cucumbers and place them in a jar. Add the pepper, cut into small slices, and fill the jar with juice until it reaches the top. The jar is sealed with a lid.

The mixture is sterilized for 10-15 minutes in boiling water, then covered and cooled. It can be sampled after 6-8 weeks of storage in cool conditions.

With onions and garlic

Another vegetable interpretation, this one features spicy notes and a distinctive piquant flavor. The onion can be sweet or bitter, depending on the cook's preference. The amount of garlic in the recipe can be adjusted according to taste.

Compound:

• 1-1.5 kg of cucumbers;
• 1 kg of tomatoes;
• 2 heads of onions;
• 5-6 cloves of garlic;
• sugar -1 tbsp;
• salt – 1 tbsp;
• vinegar 1 tbsp.

Squeeze the tomatoes to extract the juice and bring it to a boil over low heat. Add granulated sugar and salt, stir, and cover with a lid. Continue heating for another 15-20 minutes and then add vinegar.

Prepare the vegetables: slice the onion into half rings, and cut the garlic cloves into several large pieces. Trim the ends of the cucumbers, and arrange the cucumbers in a container. When distributing the gherkins in the jar, place garlic cloves and onion half rings between them.

When the jar's contents are ready, boiling juice is poured into it. The jar is sterilized in boiling water for 20 minutes, and then the lids are sealed.

To adjust the spiciness, you can add 2 tablespoons of sugar, and soak the onion in vinegar or hot water for a couple of minutes before using. This will remove any excess bitterness, and the onion will taste pleasant.

Classic recipe

This recipe was used for pickling cucumbers many years ago and continues to be prepared this way to this day. The cucumbers are sweet and salty, crisp, easy to cut, and don't soften over time.

Compound:

• 1 kg of cucumbers;
• 1-1.5 kg of tomatoes;
• 2-3 garlic cloves;
• 1 onion;
• 3-4 cloves;
• 3-4 peppercorns;
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil;
• 1 tbsp sugar;
• 1 tbsp salt;
• 2-3 dill umbrellas.

Sauté finely chopped onion in a frying pan until translucent. Allow the contents to cool slightly.

Peel the tomatoes and dice them. Grind the vegetables in a meat grinder, along with the garlic. Strain the pulp, seeds, and skins through a sieve, reserving only the liquid portion.

Add the onion to the resulting liquid and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer the juice for 20-30 minutes until it begins to thicken. Season with salt, pepper, and oil.

Wash the cucumbers and dry them on a towel. Trim the ends and pack them tightly into the container. Add dill, garlic, pepper, and cloves between the cucumbers. Pour hot juice over the contents.

Sterilize the jars and then seal them tightly with lids. Once cooled, the snack can be refrigerated and will be ready in a couple of months.

Regardless of the cooking method chosen, the resulting pickle is sure to be delicious and have an attractive, appetizing appearance. Before serving, you can cut the cucumbers into several pieces for easier eating. This pickle pairs perfectly with boiled new potatoes or fried mushrooms.