Green Tomato Chow-Chow
This traditional mixed-vegetable relish, which usually features some combination of cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, and onion, is like a Southern version of sauerkraut or Korean kimchi. It has its origins in Appalachia, where big, crisp heads of cabbage thrive in the cooler mountain climate. It’s typically served on stewed beans and rice, but it is excellent, too, on hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches. This version, which features the bright, tart flavor of green tomatoes, comes from an old recipe in my grandmother’s collection—so old that it called for “5 cents’ worth of celery seeds.”
Recipe information
Yield
makes about 4 pints
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Grate the tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers on a box grater or in a food processor using the grating disk.
Step 2
Transfer the grated vegetables to a large nonreactive saucepan and add the sugar, vinegar, chile peppers, salt, mustard seeds, celery seeds, pickling spices, and cloves and stir to mix. Bring to a low boil over medium heat, skimming the rising foam as needed. Cook, stirring often, until thick, about 45 minutes. Remove from the heat. If preserving the relish, sterilize four 1-pint heat-tempered canning jars (see Know-how, page 291).
Step 3
For refrigerator relish, let cool slightly and refrigerate in airtight containers until ready to serve, or for up to 2 months.
Step 4
For preserved relish, pack the hot relish in the sterilized jars, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace to ensure a proper seal, and process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes to vacuum-seal (see Know-how, page 291). Let cool to room temperature, check the seal, and store in a cool, dark place until ready to serve, or for up to 6 months. Refrigerate after opening.
