Dilly Beans Canning Recipe (Plus… What’s A ‘Head’ of Dill?)
It must be a southern thing, ’cause I’d never in my life heard of Dilly Beans before moving out here. Although… I had no idea people still canned either, so that’s not saying much is it?! For those who don’t know, Dilly Beans are a kind of pickled green bean. You eat them cold, like you would pickles. And this morning I canned my very first batch of them.
I haven’t had a chance to taste them yet, I’d like to let them sit in the brine for about a week before I open a jar, but I thought I’d go ahead and share the recipe with you in case you’d like to make some for yourself! This recipe came from the Ball Blue Book of Canning. I think I’ll search the internet for variations and see which recipe I like the best. Maybe you have a favorite way to make these that you’d like to share?!
I wanna start off by explaining something that I had to look up before I could begin my canning session: this particular recipe called for ’4 heads of dill’.
But what the heck is a head of dill?
Well, it’s actually the flowering ‘head’ of the dill plant. I don’t think you’ll have much luck finding it anywhere unless you or someone you know grows dill. If you’d like to make this recipe and you can’t find fresh dill heads you could substitute 1/2 tsp dill seeds per pint jar instead. Dill seeds are in the spice section of the grocery store.
I just so happened… proudly puffing up chest… to have some fresh dill heads growing in my garden! I thought it was so awesome that the dill was coming to a head exactly at the same time the green beans were coming in. It’s as if the Lord meant for them to go together!
The flowering clusters at the top of each stem are the heads. Each individual round cluster is one head. So, for this recipe I just snipped off one round cluster to drop into each jar of beans.
Alright, so now that that’s all cleared up… on to the recipe!
Dilly Beans Canning Recipe
- 2 pounds green beans (about six cups)
- 1/4 c. canning salt
- 2 1/2 c. vinegar (I used white)
- 2 1/2 c. water
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper, divided (I used the flakes, not the powder)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 heads dill
Wash beans, and trim ends off. I measured my beans to within 1/4″ from the rim of my pint jars and snipped them to size.
Combine salt, vinegar and water in a large saucepot. Bring to boil. Pack beans lengthwise into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 clove garlic and 1 head dill to each pint jar. Add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 cloves garlic and 2 heads dill to each quart jar. Ladle hot liquid over beans, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust two-piece caps. Process pints and quarts 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.
If you have a different recipe for dilly beans that your family loves, feel free to share it below!
I made dilly beans last summer, but I lacto-fermented them in a salt brine, instead of canning them in vinegar. I still have a partial jar in my fridge, so the fermentation was a success… they have lasted a year. They are so good! I also used flowering dill heads from my garden. Be warned, if this is your first year growing dill, that it is prolific! We had a few plants go to seed last year, and this year dill came up everywhere. And I do mean everywhere!
That sounds so easy! What a great veg to add to salads in the summer!
Thanks, Kendra!
It’s been ages since I’ve had dilly beans. So your post is making my mouth water! Hopefully I will have some extra beans to make a batch or two this summer.
Thanks for sharing!
You may be surpised…this time of year: pickling season, most grocery stores in my area carry dill…produce section by the fresh herbs.
Lynda,
I’ve seen dill in the stores, but not with heads on them. You’re fortunate if you have them!
Actually dilly beans are an old canning recipe. I remember my grandma making them back in the mid 60′s. Of course she didnt put any hot spices in them. They were mostly sweet/sour tasting. I’ve also put up some a year ago and I tried them heated up. They are mighty tasty either way. My hubby doesnt like them though – more for me LOL.
Now I know what Dilly beans are! Thanks
I’ll be lucky to get any green beans this year…the weather is not playing ball. Very wet now after a very dry spring.
Kendra,
She said that when she was growing up there was woman that made hers in a crock.. She didnt can them, she pickled them in her fridge like you would for grape leaf pickles.. She said those were the best dilly beans that she had ever had!!Just thought I would share
Mom and I were talking last night and I told her that you had made your first batch
That’s interesting, Lindy
I wonder if they were fermented? So, Jerry and I tried the dilly beans the other day. Jerry did NOT like them, lol. He said, “If I wanted to eat something that tasted like a pickle, I’d eat a pickle!” It was weird to him. I liked them. But I kinda felt like the beans I used were too big/tough. 
Update: We tried the dilly beans again a couple of weeks after I made them, and they were actually really yummy! I guess they just needed more time to sit
The thinner beans were crunchier and better than the fatter beans.
I found a great recipe for “dilly beans” last year but was a bit hesitant to try them even though I love dill pickles. I finally made them this year and we absolutely LOVE them! What a great crunchy addition to a sandwich for lunch! The recipe I used is not a canning recipe – just a refrigerator recipe so they won’t hold for long. They didn’t last long enough here though to have had to worry! =)
The recipe I used was a bit different from yours.
Bring 1/4c. pickling salt, 2C water, and 1C white vinigar to a full boil. — Let cool to room temp.
In each jar add the following:
2 thin slices of onion
1-2 cloves minced garlic
fresh dill
1 bay leaf
green beans
* I add the fresh dill first and use the end of a wooden spoon to crush it up and release the oils. Then I add the rest of the ingredients.
Pack your green beans into the jar and then fill almost to the top with brine.
Let sit 5-7 days in the refrigerator before eating. I like to give my jars a shake every here and again while I’m waiting!
These are fabulous!!!
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