Chow Chow Aka Green Termater Relish
Brighten up your pantry with homemade Chow Chow, also known as Green Tomato Relish, a tangy and vibrant condiment that's the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. This classic Southern recipe is a brilliant way to use up green tomatoes, along with onions, bell peppers, and a symphony of warm spices like mustard seeds, turmeric, and cloves. The vegetables are salted to draw out moisture, then simmered in a zesty vinegar-sugar brine until tender and aromatic. Preserved in jars, this relish boasts a beautiful balance of tartness with a hint of heat from cayenne pepper, making it the ultimate topping for hot dogs, burgers, chili, or beans. With a prep time of just 30 minutes and a rich, complex flavor that only improves over time, Chow Chow is a must-have addition to your homemade preserves collection.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 10 medium-sized Green tomatoes
- 5 medium-sized Onions
- 3 medium-sized Green bell peppers
- 2 medium-sized Red bell peppers
- 0.5 cup Kosher salt
- 2 cups Granulated sugar
- 3 cups White vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon Celery seeds
- 1 teaspoon Ground turmeric
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
Wash and core the green tomatoes. Chop them into small, uniform pieces.
Peel and finely dice the onions.
Remove the seeds and stems from the green and red bell peppers and chop them into small pieces.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the green tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Sprinkle the mixture with the kosher salt, toss to coat, and let the mixture sit for at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. This helps draw out excess moisture.
After the mixture has rested, drain it in a colander and rinse it thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt. Let it drain completely.
In a large pot, combine the sugar, white vinegar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, ground turmeric, ground cloves, and cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the drained vegetable mixture to the pot and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture back to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the relish thickens and the vegetables are tender.
Carefully ladle the hot relish into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims clean and seal with sterilized lids and bands.
Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10-15 minutes to ensure proper sealing. Remove from the water bath and let the jars cool completely on a towel-lined countertop.
Once cooled, check the seals by pressing the center of each lid. If it does not pop back, the jar is sealed properly. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Refrigerate any unsealed jars and consume within a few weeks.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
399 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 1.8 g | 2% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 8968 mg | 390% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 94.1 g | 34% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.4 g | 26% | |
| Total Sugars | 84.3 g | ||
| Protein | 4.9 g | 10% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 73 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 1.8 mg | 10% | |
| Potassium | 831 mg | 18% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
