Pickled green beans, also known as “dilly beans”, are a tasty preserved vegetable that can be enjoyed year-round. Their crunchy texture and tangy, slightly spicy flavor make them a versatile ingredient. But what exactly can you do with a jar of pickled green beans?
As someone who makes pickled green beans every summer, I’m always looking for new ways to use them when we crack open a jar months later. In this article, I’ll share 15 of my favorite recipes and serving ideas to inspire you to enjoy pickled green beans in meals, snacks, appetizers and more.
1. Add to Bloody Marys
A pickled green bean makes the perfect edible stirrer for a Bloody Mary cocktail The briny flavor complements the tomato juice and spice blend nicely Drop one or two pickled beans into your Bloody Mary for an instant flavor boost.
2. Make a Pickled Green Bean Salad
Turn your beans into a light, tangy salad by tossing them with mixed greens, shredded carrot, cherry tomatoes, and a vinaigrette dressing The vinegar in the pickling liquid acts as a lighter dressing option
3. Serve on an Antipasto Platter
Pickled green beans pair nicely with other cured meats, cheeses, and veggies on an antipasto platter Their crunch stands up well next to salty prosciutto, pepperoni, olives, and roasted peppers
4. Top Nachos or Tacos
Chop up a few pickled green beans and sprinkle them over nachos, tacos, burritos, or fajitas. The tangy pickle flavor cuts through the rich cheeses, meats, beans, and condiments nicely.
5. Skewer for Appetizers
Thread pickled green beans onto toothpicks along with rolled lunchmeat, cheese cubes, olives, grape tomatoes, etc. Arrange the skewers on a platter for easy finger food.
6. Add Crunch to Tuna or Egg Salad
Chopped pickled green beans stir nicely into tuna, chicken, or egg salad recipes. They add extra crunch to balance the creamy mayo texture.
7. Toss with Roasted Potatoes
Mix bite-size pieces of pickled green beans into a dish of roasted potatoes, garlic, and olive oil. The briny beans offset the rich, starchy potatoes.
8. Make Pickle Wraps with Meat & Cheese
Wrap sliced meat and cheese inside pickled green beans for a tangy little bundle. Ham and Swiss or salami and provolone pair well. Secure with a toothpick.
9. Add to Pasta Salad Dishes
The vinegar in pickled beans seasons and brightens up pasta salads made with veggies, cheese, deli meats, or seafood. Toss them in just before serving.
10. Top Soups & Stews
Add some chopped pickled green beans as a crunchy garnish for hearty soups and stews. Try them atop chili, beef stew, minestrone, vegetable soup, or chowders.
11. Bake into Muffins or Bread
Chop pickled green beans and fold them into cornbread, zucchini bread, or bran muffin batters. The pickle flavor comes through and adds moisture.
12. Fry up with Bacon & Onions
Fry chopped pickled green beans in bacon fat along with onions and garlic. The saltiness pairs perfectly with the rich pork and onion.
13. Make Refrigerator Pickles Last Longer
Add chopped pickled beans to fresh-made refrigerator dill pickle spears or chips. The tang helps keep the new batch crisp.
14. Blend into Dips & Spreads
Puree pickled green beans with mayo, Greek yogurt, or sour cream to make a tangy veggie dip or sandwich spread. Add herbs and garlic.
15. Pickle Green Bean Fries
Bread and fry fresh green bean “fries”, let cool, then soak in your favorite pickled green bean brine overnight to absorb the flavors.
The next time you open a jar of home-preserved pickled green beans, I hope these ideas inspire you to use them creatively in recipes beyond just snacking from the jar! Their unique flavor and crunch truly enhances so many dishes.
Once you get cooking with your pickled beans, you may find yourself making extra jars each summer to keep your stockpile ready for recipes. Homemade pickled green beans also make great gifts for fellow foodie friends and family to enjoy.
Tips for Using Your Pickled Green Beans
Here are a few quick tips to make the most of your pickled green beans:
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Retrieve beans with clean utensils to avoid contaminating the jar. Never directly touch the contents.
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Store opened jars in the fridge and use within 1 month. The beans lose their crispness over time once exposed to air.
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Drain excess brine off beans before adding to recipes if it will make the dish too wet.
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Rinse beans if you want to remove excess salt or mellow the vinegar flavor. Pat dry before using.
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Chop or slice beans into smaller pieces to spread the pickle flavor around.
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Save and reuse the leftover brine from the jars to make more pickles or dressings.
With these serving ideas and proper storage, you can enjoy your homemade pickled green beans for many months post-preservation. The options are endless for creatively working them into recipes, snacks, appetizers, and more!
Top Pickle Brine Recipes
Don’t throw away the leftover brine when you use up your pickled green beans! That seasoned vinegar is full of flavor. Here are some tasty ways to reuse the brine:
- Marinade for chicken, pork, or veggies
- Base for salad dressings and vinaigrettes
- Mix with mayo for sandwich spread or dip
- Flavor booster in potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad
- Poaching liquid for fish fillets
- Deglazing liquid for pan sauces
- Acid component for homemade shrubs and cocktails
A little splash of pickle brine can add a tangy kick to many recipes. Get creative with experimenting beyond these ideas!
Easy Refrigerator Pickled Green Bean Recipe
Want to make your own pickled green beans at home? Here’s a simple refrigerator pickle recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-3 inch pieces
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 tsp dill seeds
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions:
- Wash and prep green beans. Place in a 1 quart jar or container.
- Bring vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Pour over beans to cover.
- Add garlic, dill seeds, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes to jar.
- Seal jar and refrigerate for at least 3 days, up to 2 months.
Enjoy your homemade pickled green beans on salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards and more! Adjust brine ingredients to your taste.
The Takeaway
Pickled green beans are a versatile preserved vegetable that can be used in many recipes beyond snacking straight from the jar. Their tangy crunch enhances salads, starters, cocktails, pasta, potato dishes, sandwiches, and more. With proper storage and some creativity, you can enjoy homemade or store-bought pickled beans for months to come. Keep these serving ideas handy!
Delicious Ways to Enjoy Pickled Green Beans
If you’re a fan of pickled vegetables, you’re in for a treat with pickled green beans. Not only are these tangy and crunchy treats tasty by themselves, but you can also use them in creative ways to make your meals better. Here are some tasty ways to eat pickled green beans, whether you’ve had them before or this is your first time.
Create Pickled Green Bean Salsa
Put a twist on traditional salsa by incorporating pickled green beans into the mix. They taste great with tortilla chips or as a topping for grilled fish or chicken. Just chop them up and mix them with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice to make a tangy and refreshing salsa.
Old Fashioned Refrigerator Dilly Beans ~ Pickled Green Beans ~ Preserving
FAQ
What to eat pickled green beans with?
How long will pickled green beans keep?
How do you eat dilly beans?
Can green beans be pickled?
Any type of fresh green beans, snap bean, string bean, or wax bean can be used for pickling. These beans come in green, of course, but also in shades of yellow and even purple and they can all be pickled. While all varieties of green beans can be pickled, string beans will stay crispest. Pickled green beans, or dilly beans, are super easy to make.
What is the best way to eat beans?
The best way to eat beans is to first cook them in a large pot of water, about 4 cups of water to every 1 cup of beans. Adding lemon grass or other herbs to the water can improve the flavor. Once beans are cooked the best thing to do is combine them with cooked rice, this is because beans are low in methionine and rice is low in lysine, so combining them makes a more complete protein.
How do you make pickled green beans?
Here’s how to make pickled green beans of your very own: Start with a clean quart-sized mason jar. Place the garlic, dill, peppercorns, and bay leaf in the bottom of the jar. Add the green beans to the jar– I like to try to have them stand up on end, but if it doesn’t work, don’t drive yourself crazy. Just get them in there the best you can.
How do you preserve pickled green beans?
While we think pickled green beans are the best, there are other ways to preserve them. Some other methods include freezing, fermenting and dry freezing. Pack beans into 4 hot 1-pint jars to within 1/2 in. of the top. Add cayenne, garlic and dill seed to jars. In a large saucepan, bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil.