Pickled Banana Peppers

By Dani Meyer, on May 18th, 2012

Easy and sweet pickled banana peppers are one of life’s fine delicacies. This recipe is so fast and easy it’s silly. It’s tangy and salty and sweet and vinegary all at the perfect levels. When your pepper plants are loaded down with fruit this brine is a quick and easy way to get them put up fast.

We had a great harvest of banana peppers this year. They are pretty consistent plants for us no matter where we have lived. Although in Oregon we did have to start covering them pretty early as the season is so short there. We also got to experience our first real harvest of Jalepenos and Serrano peppers which was super exciting….we have done up many of the Jalepenos in this same brine and have even done a few mixed jars to kick up the spice factor of the banana peppers.

The other thing that was totally unique here in Georgia was that because the season is so long we actually had banana peppers turn a beautiful array of colors for us.

Everything from light light yellow to deep orange and reds. The look absolutely stunning mixed together in the jars.

We eat these pickled banana peppers on everything, salads, sandwiches, if I’m feeling bold I even enjoy a few on a slice of pizza. One of my favorite things to do with them is mix them up with some tuna and mayo and eat them with saltines. They also make great bribes and gifts for friends. We have to keep it hush hush how good they are or we wouldn’t have any left for ourselves.

Pickled Banana Peppers

prep:
20 minutes

cook:
10 minutes

yield:
4 Pints

Sweet banana peppers are offset with a lovely tangy brine that perfectly compliments them. Great on salads, sandwiches, pizza and more.

// ingredients.

4 cups white vinegar

1 1/3 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 lb banana pepper, seeded and sliced in rings (or around 4 cups)

// instructions.

Sterilize 4- 1/2 pint jars by washing and then placing them in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes. Do not allow them to touch each other. If unable to assemble immediately, leave in oven to stay hot.
Sterilize lids and rings with hot water.
Bring the vinegar, sugar, mustard seed and celery seed to a rolling boil.
Place peppers in the 1/2 pint jars.
Pour on the pickling juice.
Bring brine to within 1/2" of the top.
Be sure the edge of the jar has no juice on it.
Seal jar and tighten ring. Jars should seal themselves and audibly make a pop as they cool. Test by pressing down center of lid, it should be solid and not pop up and down.
Leave for 2 weeks or longer.
Enjoy!

// notes.

Keep in fridge after opening. Stores basically indefinitely after opening.

Some people have asked about the safety of canning this way....I have had very few cans not seal when I have used hot cans and boiling brine. Any that don't suck down should be used immediately. If you are uncomfortable with this you can either keep all of them in the fridge from the get go or process for 5-10 min in a boiling water canner. I would think that processing them would alter the crunchiness of the rings personally.

http://theadventurebite.com/pickled-banana-peppers/