Last Updated on June 13, 2024
Dilly Beans, also known as pickled green beans, are a delightful and tasty addition to any pantry or plate.
This old-fashioned preserving process transforms fresh and vibrant green beans into a flavorful and slightly crunchy treat that can be enjoyed the whole year.
Whether you’re an avid gardener looking for ways to make the most of your bountiful bean harvest.
Or simply seeking something to elevate your mealtime game, knowing how to pickle beans is a rewarding and easy culinary adventure.
In this guide, we will explore the process of how to pickle these beans, from selecting the freshest produce to creating the perfect brine, all the way to savoring the mouthwatering results.
So, prepare your mason jars because we’re about to embark on a journey into the world of homemade pickled green beans.
Refrigerator Dilly Beans (Pickled Green Beans) – Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s easy to make dilly beans at home. You just need a few things and you’ll have a snack or side that packs flavor and will elevate your mealtimes.
- Ingredients are simple and easy to find. Some of these may even be at home already. And all of them can be found in your nearest grocery or supermarket.
- It’s a nutritious condiment, side, or snack.
- It can be paired with many other recipes, even with cocktails.
- It’s highly customizable. You can substitute some of the ingredients to suit your taste. Use whatever is convenient and available to you.
Ingredients For Pickled Beans (Pickled Dilly Beans)
This recipe is really easy to make and only takes a few minutes. The crisp and sweet taste of the beans is preserved in this canning recipe. The hot brine over the beans also adds a tangy-sweet taste which complements this dish very well.
The dill flavor is a refreshing and citrusy addition that awakens this dish’s taste as a whole. This recipe will make 3 x 16 fl. oz (480ml) jars.
- 1 lb Green Beans (450g), String beans, or Snap beans, aka French green beans.
- 2 cups White Vinegar (Distilled preferred)
- 2 cups Filtered Water
- 2 tablespoons Kosher Salt
- 1/4 cup Cane Sugar
- 4 cloves of Garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Dill (Stems removed)
- 1 ea Red Chili
How To Make Dilly Beans
- Wash the fresh green beans and allow them to dry. Prepare 4 jars that can handle high temperatures with a lid and a funnel, make sure they’re cleaned with soapy water and dried. Then trim the fresh beans to fit the jar (You can use the trimmings or discard them). How long or short is up to preference. Pack the beans tightly in each jar.
- Add the fresh or dried dill and insert sliced garlic into each jar. Chop the chili into small pieces and place in the jar with the other ingredients.
- In a small saucepan, add the vinegar, cane sugar, and water. and bring to a boil over high heat. Allow to boil for 2 to 3 minutes to blend the flavors. Turn the heat off.
- Pour the boiling water bath into the jar until the beans are submerged. Allow the contents of the jar to cool until it reaches room temperature. Pop the lid on the jars and put them in a cool place like a pantry or shelf. Can even be stored in the fridge. Allow the pickled beans to soak for at least 2 hours or a few days for maximum flavor.
Tips, Variations, And Substitutions
Other herbs – You can add rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, parsley, or whatever herb is available to you. These leafy aromatics are a great addition to your pickles as they add a different dynamic in taste and smell.
1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes – a teaspoon of this divided into each pint jar of pickles will give them a kick of heat. You may add more or less according to your taste.
Dill seeds – are the fruit of the dill plant. while dill weed has a slightly mellower herb-like flavor this one has a clean, pungent taste and is reminiscent of caraway. You may sprinkle these into your jar of dilly beans.
Make sure there are no air bubbles in your pint jar before popping the lid on. These will ensure the freshness of the dilly bean. Tap your jars on a counter gently to pop the bubbles.
You can use the mentioned variations of beans above. They offer a different taste and texture.
Some of them may need to be blanched first before pouring in the brine to soften them up a little.
What To Serve Dilly Beans With
If you’re wondering what to serve with dilly beans then you are in luck. I have a couple of recipes here that pair well with our fantastic jarred recipe. Let’s take a look.
BBQ pulled jackfruit burgers and Vegan black bean burgers – these hearty, meaty burgers are great for weeknight dinners or backyard parties.
Crispy panko tofu steak – If you want to indulge in a comforting vegan steak then this recipe is for you. It’s a tender tofu steak that’s coated with a crispy panko crust.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can use both. Just remember that dried herbs have a stronger flavor so adjust the amount accordingly. If fresh is available to you always choose fresh.
Yes, you can do that. Typically fresh green beans are tender and crisp so you can skip this step.
But if they tend to be on the tougher side or you are using a different variant you can blanch them for 2 minutes then shock them in cold water first before putting them in the jar.
Absolutely. Dilly seeds have a slightly different taste but will still be compatible with this dish.
You can serve the dilly beans when they have been pickled for a minimum of 2 hours. But I recommend that you let them soak for a day before you serve them up.
Dilly Beans Recipe (Pickled Green Beans)
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans
- 2 cups white Vinegar
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped, stems removed
- 1 pc red chili
Instructions
- Wash the fresh green beans and allow them to dry. Prepare 4 jars that can handle high temperatures with a lid and a funnel, make sure they're cleaned with soapy water and dried. Then trim the fresh beans to fit the jar (You can use the trimmings or discard them). How long or short is up to preference. Pack the beans tightly in each jar.
- Add the fresh or dried dill and insert sliced garlic into each jar. Chop the chili into small pieces and place in the jar with the other ingredients.
- In a small saucepan, add the vinegar, cane sugar, and water. and bring to a boil over high heat. Allow to boil for 2 to 3 minutes to blend the flavors. Turn the heat off.
- Pour the boiling water bath into the jar until the beans are submerged. Allow the contents of the jar to cool until it reaches room temperature. Pop the lid on the jars and put them in a cool place like a pantry or shelf. Can even be stored in the fridge. Allow the pickled beans to soak for at least 2 hours or a few days for maximum flavor.