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Lemon-Chile Green Bean Pickles

Cooks' note

Also try it with...Cucumbers, fennel, okra, cauliflower

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 2 quarts

Ingredients

For the brine:

1 cup distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons spices (e.g., peppercorns, coriander seeds, and/or mustard seeds)
2 cups water

For the pickles:

1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed
1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed
4 chiles de árbol (if desired)
4 smashed garlic cloves

Special equipment:

Two 1 quart canning jars with lids

Preparation

  1. For the brine:

    Step 1

    Bring 1 cup distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, up to 2 tablespoons spices (e.g., peppercorns, coriander seeds, and/or mustard seeds), and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Pour over vegetables in jars.

  2. For the pickles:

    Step 2

    Divide 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed, 1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed, 4 chiles de árbol (if desired), and 4 smashed garlic cloves between jars.

    Step 3

    Dividing evenly, pour hot brine (see formula, left)—using 1 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes for the spice—into jars and cover. Let cool, then chill.

  3. Do Ahead

    Step 4

    Green beans can be pickled 2 months ahead. Keep chilled.

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