July 26, 2007
What's the dilly, yo?
When the bounty of the garden is pouring in and you've got more green beans than you can handle, canning is always a smart option. There's nothing like a nice big pot of green beans seasoned with a ham hock or some bacon and onions in the middle of winter.
My mother always canned a big mess of green beans every summer, but once she learned how to make dilly beans, part of our harvest went into a batch of those, too.
If you've never had a dilly bean, you're missing out on a delicious snack. Essentially, they are pickled green beans. Mom's have a hint of heat from cayenne pepper and a nice little garlic tone, as well. Unlike canned green beans or wax beans, dilly beans stay crisp like a dill pickle. They can be served cold or at room temperature and they make a delicious, unusual addition to a relish tray.
My brother-in-law, Jeff, can blow through a jar of dilly beans like a tornado. The best part? They are a low-calorie, low-fat snack.
I've included the recipe for Mom's dilly beans. Now, if I could just get Jeff's sister-in-law to give me the recipe for her sauerkraut balls...
Dilly Beans
One large mess of fresh green beans, washed well and with ends snapped off (do not snap in half; leave long)
2/3 cup salt
4 heads of fresh dill
4 large garlic cloves
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
5 cups vinegar
5 cups water
4 clean quart-sized canning jars with lids
Pack green beans into each jar lengthwise until jar is about half full. Shove in a whole clove of garlic and a head of dill. Then finish filling the jar with green beans until they are packed tightly and as full as possible (they will shrink when cooked).
Add 1/4 tsp. cayenne to each jar.
Combine water, vinegar and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour boiling liquid over beans, filling each jar to within 1/4-inch of the top. Remove bubbles and cap tightly with clean lids. The lids do not have to be sterilized.
Place jars in a canning pot filled with boiling water. Pot should have a canning rack on the bottom so jars do not bang around. As soon as water comes back to a boil, start timing and leave jars for 10 minutes. When finished, lift jars from water and place on a dry towel away from drafts. As the jars cool, you will hear the lids make a popping sound, which indicates that they have sealed.
The pickles taste best if you allow them to sit for a few weeks before eating. Because of the vinegar, the salt and the preserving effects of canning, they should stay good for several years if unopened.
Comments
[July 27, 2007 1:01 PM]
Cindy KreticosI'll gladly trade some canned tomatoes for a jar of your mom's dilly beans. BTW, what single person in their right mind plants 14 tomato plants?
Auntie C
[July 27, 2007 1:38 PM]
Lindsey NairSo Cyn, are you the single person who planted 14 tomato plants? Well, if so, you'll be enjoying tomatoes out of your back yard and I'll be hitting up Dad...unless the bear gets his first!
I'll see if I can't coax a jar of dilly beans out of Mom for ya. I'm glad you found my blog!
[August 20, 2007 6:37 PM]
TinaI grew up on dilly beans and have yet (until now) found a recipe that sounds like Grandma Bucholtz's. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!! I do understand a single woman with 14 plants. My hubby and I normally put out about 20 plants and only this year have I begun to can. I grew up canning with Grandma B. and only this year became unemployed. I have so far (early Aug) put up 40 jars of tomatos, 20 jars of peppers and will now begin on dilly beans. They will be my Christmas presents this year.
Hint - I can layerd jars of tomatos yellow and red and peppers green and yellow - I also add carrot strips. Beautiful presentation and wonderful christmas gifts - hostess gifts and housewarming gifts all year long.
You go girl!!
[August 21, 2007 10:26 AM]
LindseyTina, that's an awesome idea. For my bridal shower, my mom-- who was working two jobs at the time and trying to save up money-- made me a big gorgeous basket filled with her homemade grape jelly, salsa and Italian tomatoes. I try to do hand-painted gifts at Christmas, too, to save money. Plus, people just love gifts with a personal touch.
I do feel sorry for you doing all that canning w/ the temps so high these days. I hope you have A/C!