Green-Tomato Pickle

• HEALTHY
• MAKE-AHEAD
• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 2 pounds green tomatoes, cored and thinly sliced
2. 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
3. 2 1/8 cups cider vinegar
4. 3/4 cup water
5. 2 cups granulated sugar
6. 1/2 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
7. 1 tablespoon pickling spice, tied in a cheesecloth bundle
8. 1 small bay leaf
9. 1/2 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced
10. 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced

1. In a colander set in the sink, toss the green tomatoes with the salt and let stand at room temperature until almost all of their liquid has been released, at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the tomato slices, then pat dry.
2. In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pickling spice bundle and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer until reduced by one-third, about 30 minutes.
3. Add the sliced green tomatoes, green bell pepper and onion and cook them over moderate heat until the liquid is reduced to a thick syrup, about 2 hours. Discard the pickling spice bundle and the bay leaf.
4. Pour the green-tomato mixture into 2 hot sterilized 1-pint jars, stopping 1/4 inch from the tops. Wipe the glass rims and seal the jars. Let cool and refrigerate. Alternatively, process the pickle: Set the jars in a water bath, bring to a boil and boil for 15 minutes. Remove the jars from the water bath and let cool completely.