RETHINK THE BRINE
30 ways to make that pickle juice work overtime.
Finished the pickles? You’re not finished with the brine. Turn leftover NBC pickle juice into drinks, marinades, sauces, sides and a whole lot more.
WHAT ARE YOU FEELING?
Shake it. Stir it. Sip it. Marinate it. Mix it. Cook with it. Or do something completely unexpected.
DRINKS
Shake it. Stir it. Sip it.
THE CLASSIC PICKLEBACK
YOU NEED: 1½ oz whiskey; 1–2 oz NBC pickle brine; Ice
MAKE IT: Pour whiskey into a shot glass and chilled brine into another. Take the whiskey, then chase with the brine.
NBC TIP: Try it with Frey Ranch Boozy Pickle brine.
NBC BLOODY MARY
YOU NEED: 2 oz vodka; 4 oz tomato juice; 1 oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz lemon juice; Worcestershire; hot sauce; black pepper; celery salt
MAKE IT: Shake or stir with ice and pour over fresh ice.
NBC TIP: Garnish with pickle, celery, olives or pepperoncini.
THE DIRTY PICKLE MARTINI
YOU NEED: 2½ oz vodka or gin; ½ oz dry vermouth; ½–1 oz NBC pickle brine; Ice
MAKE IT: Stir with ice until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
NBC TIP: Garnish with a pickle spear. Add more brine for extra dirty.
PICKLE LEMONADE
YOU NEED: 6 oz lemonade; 1 oz NBC pickle brine; Ice; Fresh lemon
MAKE IT: Pour over ice and stir.
NBC TIP: Optional adult version: add 1½ oz vodka.
THE PICKLE RANCH WATER
YOU NEED: 1½ oz tequila; ½ oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz fresh lime juice; Sparkling water; Ice
MAKE IT: Build over ice and top with sparkling water.
NBC TIP: Garnish with lime and a pickle spear.
PICKLE MICHELADA
YOU NEED: 1 Mexican lager; 1 oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz lime juice; Worcestershire; Hot sauce; Tajín or chili salt
MAKE IT: Rim glass with lime and chili salt. Add ice, brine, lime, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Pour in beer.
NBC TIP: Garnish with pickle and lime.
PICKLE MULE
YOU NEED: 2 oz vodka; ½ oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz lime juice; Ginger beer; Ice
MAKE IT: Build over ice and top with ginger beer.
NBC TIP: Garnish with lime and pickle.
PICKLE PALOMA
YOU NEED: 2 oz tequila; ½ oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz lime juice; Grapefruit soda; Ice
MAKE IT: Build over ice and top with grapefruit soda.
NBC TIP: Garnish with grapefruit and pickle.
PICKLE APPLE SPRITZER
YOU NEED: 4 oz apple juice; 1 oz NBC pickle brine; 2 oz sparkling water; Ice; Apple slices
MAKE IT: Pour everything over ice and stir.
NBC TIP: Optional: add bourbon. Especially good with garlic & dill brine.
THE PICKLE PEOPLE
YOU NEED: 1½ oz bourbon; ½ oz NBC pickle brine; ½ oz lemon juice; ½ oz simple syrup; Ice
MAKE IT: Shake hard with ice. Strain over fresh ice.
NBC TIP: Garnish with lemon and pickle. Sweet. Sour. Salty. Definitely not boring.
FOOD
Marinate it. Mix it. Cook with it.
PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN
YOU NEED: Chicken; NBC pickle brine; Buttermilk; Flour; Salt & pepper; Fried chicken seasoning
MAKE IT: Marinate chicken in pickle brine for 4–12 hours. Drain, then soak in buttermilk before breading and frying.
NBC TIP: The brine seasons the chicken from the inside out.
PICKLE-BRINED CHICKEN SANDWICH
YOU NEED: Chicken breast or thighs; NBC pickle brine; Brioche bun; Lettuce; Mayo; Pickles
MAKE IT: Brine chicken for several hours. Grill or fry. Build with mayo, lettuce and NBC pickles.
RETHINK THE POTATO SALAD
YOU NEED: 2 lb potatoes; ¾ cup mayo; 2 tbsp mustard; ¼ cup NBC pickle brine; Chopped NBC pickles; Green onion; Salt & pepper
MAKE IT: Cook potatoes until tender. While warm, toss with pickle brine. Cool, then mix with remaining ingredients.
NBC TIP: Warm potatoes soak up the brine like crazy.
PICKLE-BRINE DEVILED EGGS
YOU NEED: 6 hard-boiled eggs; ¼ cup mayo; 1 tbsp mustard; 1–2 tbsp NBC pickle brine; Paprika; Chopped pickles
MAKE IT: Mix yolks with everything except paprika. Spoon or pipe back into whites.
NBC TIP: Finish with pickle pieces and paprika.
PICKLE VINAIGRETTE
YOU NEED: ¼ cup NBC pickle brine; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 tsp Dijon; 1 tsp honey; Black pepper
MAKE IT: Shake everything in a jar.
NBC TIP: Use on salads, roasted vegetables, sandwiches or grilled chicken.
PICKLE-BRINED PULLED PORK
YOU NEED: Pork shoulder; NBC pickle brine; BBQ rub; BBQ sauce
MAKE IT: Inject or marinate pork with pickle brine. Season and cook low and slow.
NBC TIP: Finish with a splash of brine in the pulled pork.
PICKLE-BRINE COLESLAW
YOU NEED: Shredded cabbage; Carrot; ½ cup mayo; 2 tbsp NBC pickle brine; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp sugar; Black pepper
MAKE IT: Mix dressing. Toss with vegetables. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
NBC TIP: Perfect with BBQ, burgers and fried chicken.
PICKLE-BRINED GRILLED CHEESE
YOU NEED: Bread; Cheese; Butter; NBC pickle brine; NBC pickles
MAKE IT: Make grilled cheese normally. Brush a tiny amount of brine onto the bread or mix a teaspoon into softened butter.
NBC TIP: Finish with chopped pickles inside.
PICKLE-BRINE BBQ SAUCE
YOU NEED: 1 cup BBQ sauce; ¼ cup NBC pickle brine; 1 tbsp honey; 1 tsp Worcestershire; Hot sauce
MAKE IT: Combine and simmer 5–10 minutes.
NBC TIP: Use on ribs, chicken, pulled pork, burgers or fries.
PICKLE-BRINED TACO MEAT
YOU NEED: 1 lb ground beef; Taco seasoning; 2–3 tbsp NBC pickle brine; ¼ cup water
MAKE IT: Brown beef. Add seasoning, brine and water. Simmer until reduced.
NBC TIP: Try it with NBC Taco Seasoning and chopped pickles.
DIFFERENT
For people who don’t follow recipes.
PICKLE-BRINE ICE CUBES
YOU NEED: NBC pickle brine
MAKE IT: Freeze brine in an ice cube tray.
NBC TIP: Use in Bloody Marys, Picklebacks, Micheladas, Caesars or drinking water.
PICKLE-BRINE PICKLED RED ONIONS
YOU NEED: Thinly sliced red onion; NBC pickle brine
MAKE IT: Put onions in a jar and completely cover with brine. Refrigerate.
NBC TIP: Use on tacos, burgers, sandwiches, salads, eggs and BBQ.
PICKLE BUTTER
YOU NEED: 1 stick softened butter; 1 tbsp NBC pickle brine; 1 tbsp chopped NBC pickles; Black pepper; Fresh dill
MAKE IT: Mix everything together.
NBC TIP: Use on corn, steak, potatoes, vegetables, bread or grilled cheese.
PICKLE-BRINE MARINADE
YOU NEED: ½ cup NBC pickle brine; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 tbsp Dijon; Garlic; Black pepper
MAKE IT: Whisk together.
NBC TIP: Use for chicken, pork, steak, vegetables or mushrooms.
PICKLE-BRINE PASTA
YOU NEED: Pasta; Pasta water; NBC pickle brine; Parmesan; Butter
MAKE IT: Cook pasta and reserve water. Toss hot pasta with butter, Parmesan and 1–2 tbsp brine. Add pasta water as needed.
NBC TIP: A salty, tangy pasta sauce.
PICKLE-BRINE FRENCH FRIES
YOU NEED: French fries; NBC pickle brine; Salt; NBC Ranch or favorite seasoning
MAKE IT: Lightly toss hot fries with a small amount of brine immediately after cooking.
NBC TIP: Finish with ranch seasoning and chopped pickles. A little brine goes a long way.
PICKLE-BRINE BLOODY MARY ICE POPS
YOU NEED: 1 cup tomato juice; ¼ cup NBC pickle brine; Lime juice; Worcestershire; Hot sauce
MAKE IT: Mix and freeze in popsicle molds.
NBC TIP: Adult version: add vodka only after thawing/serving, not before freezing.
PICKLE-BRINE BBQ SPRITZ
YOU NEED: 1 cup NBC pickle brine; 1 cup apple juice; ½ cup water; 1 tbsp Worcestershire
MAKE IT: Combine in a spray bottle.
NBC TIP: Spritz ribs, pork shoulder or brisket during a long cook.
PICKLE-BRINE VEGETABLE MARINADE
YOU NEED: NBC pickle brine; Olive oil; Garlic; Black pepper; Vegetables
MAKE IT: Marinate vegetables 30–60 minutes, then grill or roast.
NBC TIP: Great with mushrooms, zucchini, onions, peppers and asparagus.
THE RETHINK THE BRINE BLOODY RIM
YOU NEED: NBC pickle brine; Coarse salt; Chili powder; Black pepper; Your favorite cocktail
MAKE IT: Dip glass rim into pickle brine, then into seasoning mixture.
NBC TIP: Use on Bloody Marys, Micheladas, margaritas, palomas or beer. Try pickle salt + chili powder + Tajín.
DON’T THROW THAT JUICE AWAY.
The jar isn’t finished when the pickles are gone. Put the brine to work.