Ingredients

makes 2 quarts

　　Coarse salt

　　1 pound green beans, trimmed

　　1 pound yellow wax beans, trimmed

　　3 cups distilled white vinegar

　　3 garlic cloves

　　1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

　　

Step 1

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add salt. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Cook the beans until just tender, about 3 minutes. Immediately transfer with tongs to the ice-water bath. Drain well, and transfer to a large bowl.

　　

Step 2

Bring 3 cups water, the vinegar, 3 tablespoons salt, the garlic, and the cayenne to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer 4 minutes. Pour the brine over the beans. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Transfer to airtight containers; refrigerate at least 1 week (and up to 3 weeks more).

　　Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group.Buy the full book from Amazon.