Relish Cooking 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.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE RELISH

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse, then blend until you have a uniform, very finely chopped mixture with a crunchy texture. Chill until ready to serve.

UNCOOKED CRANBERRY AND ORANGE RELISH

Steps:

• Make sure there are no seeds in oranges. Cut the oranges into quarters and then chop them up roughly. Either in a meat grinder or in a food processor chop the raw cranberries and oranges. Transfer to glass or ceramic serving bowl and add the sugar. Cover with plastic and let stand for 24 hours. Refrigerate after that; this will keep for 2 weeks. Leftovers can be combined with mayonnaise and used as a dressing for leftover turkey sandwiches.

LEMONY CRANBERRY RELISH

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the cranberries, then pick out and discard any squishy ones. In a food processor, pulse the cranberries, lemon, sugar and salt until finely chopped. You can serve this immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 48 hours, or until ready to serve. As it sits, the sugar will dissolve and the fruit will release liquid, creating a sweet-tart sauciness.

RAW CRANBERRY RELISH WITH FUYU PERSIMMON

Steps:

• Wash the cranberries well and pick them over, discarding soft ones. Scrub the orange and dry it. Use a microplane to grate off the zest and measure out 2 teaspoons, then peel the orange and remove the white pith, and break into segments. Wash the persimmons, trim out their stems and cores, and cut them into roughly 1-inch pieces.
• Combine the cranberries, orange, grated zest, persimmons, and a pinch of sea salt in the container of the food processor and pulse briefly, just to break everything up. Add the sugar and 2 teaspoons lemon juice, pulse again, and taste. If you think you need more sweetness, add a tiny bit more sugar; if you need acid, add a drop of lemon juice.
• Pulse once more to blend the seasonings, but do not overprocess. This relish should have a gravelly texture, with distinct pieces of golden persimmon showing among the cranberries.