Pickled Crudités

2 cups white wine vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt

8 bay leaves

8 garlic cloves, smashed

4 chiles de árbol

2 tablespoons fennel seeds

2 tablespoons coriander seeds

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns

1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds

1 pound baby or small red-skinned sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut lengthwise into spears

1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved

1 pound baby carrots, peeled, trimmed with

1/2" green tops still attached, halved lengthwise if more than

1" in diameter

12 baby turnips or radishes, trimmed with

1/2" green tops still attached

1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/3" wedges with some core attached

1 pound baby bell (Ariel) peppers, cored, halved lengthwise, or assorted red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, quartered lengthwise

Ingredient info: Chiles de árbol are sold at better supermarkets and at Latin American markets.