Description
Chow chow pickle relish brings Southern comfort to summer picnics and family gatherings. Crisp vegetables and tangy spices create a nostalgic condiment perfect for grilled meats and sandwiches you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16.2 fl oz) apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups (400 g / 14.1 oz) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) kosher salt
- 1 medium head green cabbage, finely chopped
- 4 medium green tomatoes, diced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Chop cabbage, green tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Generously sprinkle salt over the vegetable mixture, massaging thoroughly to draw out moisture. Let the blend rest uncovered for 4-6 hours.
- Cleanse and Drain: Rinse vegetables under cold water to remove excess salt. Drain completely using a colander, shaking to eliminate residual moisture.
- Create Pickling Liquid: In a large pot, combine sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard and celery seeds, turmeric, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a vigorous boil, stirring until sugar dissolves completely.
- Combine and Simmer: Add drained vegetables to the aromatic liquid. Reduce heat and let the mixture gently simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even flavor distribution.
- Sterilize and Preserve: Sterilize glass jars and lids through boiling. Carefully ladle hot chow chow into containers, leaving a half-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims clean, seal tightly, and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
- Cool and Store: Allow jars to cool naturally at room temperature. For long-term storage, keep in a cool, dark place for up to one year. For immediate use, refrigerate in a sealed container and consume within one month.
Notes
- Control Salt Intensity: Adjust salt quantity during initial vegetable preparation to prevent over-salting, which could overwhelm the pickle’s delicate flavor profile.
- Vegetable Precision: Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even pickling throughout the mixture.
- Temperature Management: Monitor simmering process carefully, maintaining gentle heat to prevent burning and preserve vegetable crispness.
- Sterilization Importance: Thoroughly sterilize glass containers to prevent bacterial growth and extend preservation duration of chow chow.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 6700 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg