Spiced Pickled Apples

Ingredients

• 2 cups apple-cider vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 cup peeled, sliced ginger
• 1 teaspoon allspice berries
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 1 pound lady apples (or halved medium-small apples, about 4)

Preparation

1. 1. Prick apples in a few spots with a fork. In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, ginger, allspice, peppercorns, and anise; bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Add apples; cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until a paring knife inserted in center of an apple meets slight resistance. Transfer apples and liquid to a bowl to cool completely.
2. 2. Transfer to a clean glass jar with lid and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Can be refrigerated up to 1 month.