Spicy, Crunchy Pickled Green Beans with Lemon

Ingredients

• 1 pound very fresh green beans, stem ends trimmed
• 2 cups rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 6 small dried red chiles, such as Thai or arbol
• 1 teaspoon pink peppercorns
• 3-in.-long piece kombu (dried kelp)*
• 1 lemon, ends removed, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/3-in.-thick slices, seeds removed

Preparation

1. 1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and blanch green beans until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and put in a large heatproof bowl.
2. 2. Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in another medium pot with vinegar, sugar, salt, chiles, peppercorns, and kombu. As soon as liquid boils, pour over beans and add lemon. Let cool to room temperature. Slit 3 of the chiles to let seeds spill into liquid. Chill, covered, overnight to let flavors develop. Serve cold. Keeps, chilled, up to 1 week.
3. *Find in grocery stores' Asian foods aisle.
4. Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1/4-cup serving.