A good half-sour dill is the answer to many of life’s questions, not to mention to dishes that need a little something extra. Usually sandwiches. Pickles come in a handful of shapes—whole, spears, chips, and flats—so you can find the one that is the best fit for your meal. And while there’s no wrong way to enjoy pickles, there is a better way to optimize your pickle to ensure the best sandwich experience. You need to shave it.
Yes, there’s are sandwich-sliced pickles, cut lengthwise so the cucumber can sit flat on a piece of bread. While that works, shaved pickles sit even better. But that’s not even why I started shaving my pickles in the first place. I did so because for once, I just wanted a little bit of pickle.
I was making myself an egg salad sandwich and decided a tiny bit of pickle would be nice. I only buy whole pickles, because then I can change their shape as needed. I tried using a knife to cut the thinnest possible slices, since I was already predicting the slippery minxes might slide out of my sandwich. Frustrated that I wasn’t getting thin enough results, I reached for my vegetable peeler.
The resulting pickle shavings were perfect—thin, delicate, and ribbon-like. I only wanted a taste of pickle in my sandwich, so I was able to use just a few shaves of the cuke, which you can’t do easily with pre-cut slices. The ribbons allowed for good coverage so every bite had a little briny kick, and they didn’t slide out as I ate.
For the most leverage, grip one end of the pickle, pressing the other down into your cutting board, then use your other hand to run a vegetable peeler down its length with your other hand. Repeat for as many slices as you want, and return any leftover hunk to the brine. For this task I prefer a speed peeler, or a y-peeler, because I find the angle is better.
The real boon of shaving pickles is flexibility. Pickle lovers can put an obscene amount of pickle onto their sandwiches and burgers, and the thin shape can be twisted, folded, and manipulated to sit securely without sliding off the edge. (I've put two pickles worth of shavings onto a sandwich that would normally only hold one.) For folks that aren’t quite so in love with pickles, shavings are a great way to add just a touch of flavor: You can add only two or three ribbons to your burger but still get a little pickle in every bite. Furthermore, this shape is really helpful for anyone who can’t easily bite through thick, crunchy foods.
And yes, you do lose some crunch by shaving your pickles, and the thin shape isn’t the right choice for every dish. But it’s a great pickle shape to be aware of, especially if you’ve always wanted to get two or three times the advisable amount of pickles to sit securely on your hoagie.
