pickled asparagus

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 30 asparagus spears
• 1/3 cup coarse salt
• 2 quarts cold water
• 1 2/3 cups distilled white vinegar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard seed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dill seed
• 1 white onion, sliced into rings
• 1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs fresh dill

Recipe

• trim the cut end of the asparagus spears, and cut them into 3 inch lengths. place them in a large bowl with 1/3 cup salt, and cover with water. let stand for 2 hours. drain and rinse under cool water, and pat dry.
• sterilize two pint size wide mouth jars in simmering water for 5 minutes.
• in a saucepan over medium heat, combine the vinegar, sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, mustard seed, dill seed and onion rings. bring to a boil, and boil for one minute.
• pack the asparagus spears, tips up, in the hot jars leaving 1/2 of space from the rim. tuck one dill sprig into each jar, and sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. pour hot pickling liquid into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the rim. wipe rims with a clean damp cloth, and seal with lids. process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• cool to room temperature. check seals when cool by pressing the center of the lid. it should not move. label and date; store in a cool dark place. if any jars have not sealed properly, refrigerate and eat within two weeks.