Active Time

　　30 min

　　Total Time

　　2 days

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 3 cups

　　1 cup cider vinegar

　　1/2 cup water

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　1/8 teaspoon pickling spice

　　1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds

　　1/4 onion, halved

　　1 small bay leaf (not California)

　　3/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

　　1/4 bunch fresh dill

　　3 beets (1 pound without tops)

　　

Step 1

Bring all ingredients except beets to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Cool marinade, then chill, covered, 1 day to allow flavors to develop. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl.

　　

Step 3

Cook beets in a saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Drain and cool. Slip off skins and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

　　

Step 4

Stir together beets and marinade, then marinate, covered and chilled, 1 day.