Pickled Green Beans (Aka Dilly Beans)

Submitted by dicentra

"adapted from So Easy to Preserve"

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 2 pounds

ingredients

• 2 lbs green beans, trimmed to fit your jars
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 teaspoons dill seeds (not dill weed)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 1⁄2 cups white vinegar
• 2 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄4 cup pickling salt

directions

1. Prep your canning pot by inserting a rack to keep your jars off the bottom of the pot, place pint jars in and fill it with water. Bring to a boil to sterilize while you prepare the rest of your ingredients.
2. Wash and trim your beans so that they fit in your jar. If you have particularly long beans, your best bet is to cut them in half, although by doing so, you do lose the visual appeal of having all the beans standing at attending.
3. Combine vinegar, water and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. While it’s heating up, pack your beans into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace (distance between the tops of the beans and the rim of the jar).
4. To each jar, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 clove of garlic and 1 teaspoon dill seeds.
5. Pour the boiling brine over the beans, making sure to leave that 1/2 inch headspace.
6. Use a plastic knife to remove air bubbles from jar by running it around the interior of the jar. Wipe the rims and apply the lids and rings.
7. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling water bath (remember that you don’t start timing until the pot has come to a roiling boil).
8. These beans want to hang out for a least two weeks before eating, to thoroughly develop their flavor.