Eight Vegetable Relish Recipes

THE BEST RELISH I'VE EVER HAD

Steps:

• Grate the cucumbers and onions into a large bowl using the large holes of a box grater. Sprinkle the pickling salt over the top. Cover tightly, and allow to rest at room temperature overnight.
• Squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the cucumber mixture; set aside. Whisk together the sugar, flour, turmeric, ginger, and celery seed. Heat the vinegar and water in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Whisk in the sugar mixture until smooth. Stir in the cucumber mixture. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the relish into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process pint jars for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

EIGHT VEGETABLE RELISH

Steps:

• Add the first 8 ingredients to a very large bowl; gently stir to combine.
• Add pickling salt; stir to combine.
• Cover and let sit in a cool place for 12-18 hours; drain well and set aside.
• Add the remaining ingredients to a 10-quart stock pot; simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Add in the vegetable mixture; simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring every now and then.
• Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Immediately ladle relish into hot sterilized jars; leave 1/4 inch headspace.
• Cover with lids and make sure bands are screwed on tightly.
• Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
• Let cool.

FRUIT RELISH

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in a large, heavy bottomed pot. Cook over high heat until it begins to thicken then reduce heat. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning until very thick. (3 to 5 hours in all). To speed up this process, place fruit in a colander overnight to allow some of the juices to drip out first.

CHAKALAKA (SPICY VEGETABLE RELISH)

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot set over medium heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, jalapeño, and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander, and salt. Cook, stirring, just until the spices are wonderfully fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the bell peppers, carrots, cabbage, and tomatoes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, giving the mixture a stir every so often, until all the vegetables are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the vinegar, and season the chakalaka to taste with salt. Let the chakalaka cool to room temperature and season it to taste one final time. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, then serve it either cold or at room temperature.

MIXED VEGETABLE RELISH

Steps:

• Cut out the stem and end of the tomatoes. Grind all the vegetables together in a meat grinder, using the coarsest blade. Place in a large bowl. Cover with well-salted water and let stand overnight. The next day pour vegetables and brine into a large pot, bring to a broil and drain. Mix flour, sugar, turmeric and mustard in a pot, add the vinegar and cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add drained vegetables. Cook over low heat until mixture is fairly thick and vegetables tender. Ladle into hot, sterilized preserving jars, cover and seal.

FRESH GARDEN RELISH

Steps:

• Grind the cabbages, carrots, onions and peppers in a food chopper (I grated), then add salt and let stand 2 hours.
• Place in a colander and drain.
• Wash if mixture is too salty.
• Add the vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed and stir well.
• Heat and pour into sterilized jars and seal.
• Variation: Instead of carrots, I used grated summer squash, green tomatoes and added 6-8 hot jalapeno peppers.

END OF GARDEN RELISH

Steps:

• Toss first 5 ingredients; let stand 3 hours. Drain; squeeze and blot dry with paper towels., In a Dutch oven, mix sugar, vinegar, celery seed and mustard seed; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Add vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Ladle hot mixture into hot 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight., Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 20 minutes. Remove jars and cool.