A few weeks ago, we received the tastiest green beans ever from our Two Small Farms veggie box, but somehow I ended up with a double portion of the beans, and we were going to be gone, so I decided to preserve them for future use.
And as I cruised through my garden, I discovered that I had a little dill plant hidden under a tomato, so Dilly Beans were born. I am pleased to have this as my entry for Grow Your Own, hosted this time by Amy of Playing House.
I followed a recipe from my favorite preserving book, Freezing & Canning Cookbook, by the Food Editors of Farm Journal (published 1963). The biggest tip I have to share is to measure one bean to the right size for your pint jar, then use that as the ruler to cut the rest of the beans. I was not that precise with my measurements, but I think attention to this detail leads to a better final dilly bean.
dilly-beans
Dilly Beans
- 2 pounds small tender green beans
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 large heads dill
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup pickling salt (very fine salt, without iodine)
- 1 pint vinegar (5% acidity)
Stem green beans and pack uniformly into hot, sterilized jars.
To each pint, ad 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, one clove garlic, and one head dill.
Heat together water, salt and vinegar. Bring to a boil, pour over beans. Seal at once with two piece lid. Process in boiling water bath 5 minutes. Makes 4 pints.
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4 Comments
My grandmother used to make these! They are so good in about February, when green food is just a memory.
Twitter: kitchengirl
I am sure my grandmother did too, although I cannot recall eating them at her house! And yes, in February, when greens are few and far between, I am sure my family will be hankering for these.
Do you use any of your grandmother’s canning recipes?
So great to turn around and meet you in person at BlogHer! I’ll have to try these beans, too. Yum!
Twitter: kitchengirl
I thought it was fabulous that we met in person! I loved doing that V-Day exchange with you in 2008. Hard to believe it was so long ago. I still have the one of a kind buttons you sent, as well as the scrap book stuff for travel. I just have never found the right time to use either!
Great to finally meet in person, gives me good perspective when I read your blog!