Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course

A small batch of relish is simple and versatile.

By

Marisa McClellan

Marisa McClellan

Marisa McClellan is a food writer, canning teacher, and the voicebehind the long-running food blog Food in Jars. She is the author ofFood in Jars(2012),Preserving by the Pint(2014),Naturally Sweet Food in Jars(2016), andThe Food In Jars Kitchen(2019).

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated December 21, 2022

Trending Videos

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (1)

Why It Works

  • You can use a box grater to shred the vegetables, but a food processor and a grating disc are quick and simple.
  • Adding more vinegar after the vegetables have simmered ensures a lively brine, as the vegetables express water when cooked.

I grew up believing firmly in a condiment matrix. Mustard went on hot dogs, ketchup belonged to hamburgers, and relish was only applicable if I had a Dodger Dog in my hands. As I got older, I began to bend my self-imposed condiment rules and explored other applications. I discovered that mustard could also be good whisked into salad dressing and ketchup made an excellent glaze for meatloaf.

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (2)

And then there's relish. True, it's good on hot dogs, but this condiment can do so much more. I think it's time to shake off the lowbrow reputation that pickle relish has been saddled with for so long and bring it out into the limelight. Since it's essentially a chopped pickle, you can use it anywhere that a bit of sliced or minced dill pickle might go. Spread it on a sandwich, stir it into tuna or chicken salad, or even put it out on a cheese tray along with a dish of tapenade.

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (3)

Another virtue of this type of relish is that it has the ability to absorb mountains of garden produce. Cucumbers and green peppers take up a heck of a lot of space in their natural form, but once shredded, they become compact and manageable.

Before You Get Started

If you have a food processor with a fine grating disc blade, this is a good time to pull it out. You can use a box grater, but using an appliance makes really quick work of it and keeps your knuckles entirely intact.

The reason that the recipe has you simmer the vegetables in apple cider, drain them, and then add more is because these vegetables have a very high water content. They express enough liquid into the vinegar that they can dilute and leave the relish tasting weak and lifeless.

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (4)

I like to add enough red chile flake to this relish to ensure that I experience a pleasant tingle while eating it. However, if you like things a little less hot, feel free to reduce or omit the chile flakes.

July 2012

Recipe Details

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe

Cook60 mins

Active45 mins

Total60 mins

Serves32 servings

Makes2 pints

Ingredients

  • 3 cups grated green pepper (about 2 large)

  • 3 cups grated pickling cucumber (6 to 8 pickles)

  • 1 cup minced or grated onion (about 1 medium)

  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar, divided

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon mustard seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

  • 1 teaspoon red chile flakes

Directions

  1. Combine prepared green pepper, cucumber, and onion in a large, non-reactive (stainless steel or enamel-coated) pot. Stir in one cup of apple cider vinegar and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have cooked down and liquid is reduced by about 1/3, about 30 minutes. Drain vegetables, discard liquid, and return vegetables to pot.

  2. Add remaining vinegar, sugar, and spices. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Remove pot from heat.

  3. Fill jars, wipe rims, apply lids and rings. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes (starting time when pot returns to a boil). Remove jars from pot and let cool on a towel-lined countertop.

  4. When jars are completely cool, remove rings and test seals. The relish is good to eat immediately. Store sealed jars in a cool dark place for up to a year.

Special Equipment

Food processor, mason jars, canning pot

  • Pickling
  • Cucumbers
  • Summer Sides
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
34Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories34
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 119mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 8g3%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg29%
Calcium 5mg0%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 47mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is pickle relish just chopped up pickles? ›

In the United States, the most common relish is made from chopped pickled cucumbers, either dill or sweet pickles. It's used as a topping on sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. But in other parts of the world, popular relishes are made with other ingredients.

What is the difference between sweet relish and relish? ›

A: Dill relish is seasoned with the dill herb and hs a minimal quantity of sugar. Sweet relish is spiced usually with clove, and it has a large quantity of sugar or other sweeteners.

Does pickle relish need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

Condiments like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and pickles should be stored in the refrigerator for quality. These products, once opened, will maintain quality better if stored in the refrigerator and that is the primary reason that package instructions indicate refrigerate after opening.

What is sweet relish made of? ›

This sweet pickle relish, made with cucumbers, sugar, onion, salt, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and cider vinegar, is perfect for hamburgers and hot dogs and potato salad, and anything else.

What's the difference between sweet pickles and sweet pickle relish? ›

There is a discernible difference between a relish and a pickle. The important difference being the way in which they go about preserving, whether it is mostly with vinegar/salt (pickles), sugar (jams and jellies, relish) or a mixture of the two (relish).

Is there a difference between relish and pickle relish? ›

All relish should have bright, zesty flavors with a rich, slightly acidic aftertaste. The vinegar and sugar should make for tangy-sweet goodness. Pickle relish is sometimes sour, and sometimes sweet. Other types of relish that have their own distinct flavors are mango, cranberry, onion, corn, and tomato.

Which is better dill or sweet relish? ›

Each has its place - sweet relish is good for hot dogs, but dill relish is much better for making my own tartar sauce for seafood - mayonnaise, a squirt of lemon juice plus a small spoonful of dill relish makes a tastier and cheaper tartar sauce that will be used immediately with no leftover to lose its flavor in ...

Does relish go bad if not refrigerated? ›

According to the FoodKeeper app, relish should be eaten with 30 MONTHS of purchase if it's in the pantry. If it's opened and is being refrigerated, it should be used up within nine months.

Does relish go bad after opening? ›

You've probably seen this pickle-infused condiment at baseball stadiums and grocery stores. As long as the relish is refrigerated after opening, Still Tasty noted that it should be good for up to one year.

Is ketchup OK if left out overnight? ›

If you keep your ketchup out all day at a barbecue, do you need to throw it away? Sargent clarifies that “for ketchup that is kept at room temperature, it should be consumed within 30 days.” Even without preservatives, most all-natural ketchups can handle some time stored at room temperature, Wagner says.

Can sweet pickle relish go bad? ›

When does sweet pickle relish expire? Unopened bottles of sweet pickle relish can last about a year beyond the printed date if stored properly, maybe even longer if kept cool and dark. Once the jar or bottle is opened, ensure that it's refrigerated. This way, it can last up to 9 months to a year.

Can ketchup be left out after opening? ›

Once you've opened a bottle of ketchup, you should keep it in the fridge alongside other condiments that need to be refrigerated. Homemade ketchup, however, because it isn't subject to the factory-sealed bottled as store-bought varieties, must always be kept in the fridge until it's time to serve it with the meal.

What makes a good relish? ›

Some of the key ingredients as we see them are tomatoes, gherkins, onions, vinegar, mustard and salt. All of these elements harmonise together to make a delicious relish fit for any burger or BBQ.

Is sweet relish high in sugar? ›

Condiments: Condiments like relish, ketchup, or BBQ sauce are full of sugar. For example, ketchup and sweet pickle relish have around 5 grams of sugar per 1 tablespoon serving.

Is Chicago hot dogs sweet relish or dill relish? ›

Chicago-style relish is a type of sweet pickle relish typically used on Chicago-style hot dogs. The unique color of the relish, often referred to as "neon green", is created by adding blue dye to regular pickle relish.

What makes something a relish? ›

Relishes are cooked or pickled chopped fruits or vegetables that are mixed together in a sauce. In comparison, chutneys are a type of relish. Relish is normally made with vegetables, while chutney is mostly made with fruit.

What are cut pickles called? ›

Pickles are available in the following cuts or styles: chips, chunks, gherkins, halves, lengthwise slices (for sandwiches), salad cubes, relish, spears, sticks and whole.

What is the main difference between relish pickles and chutney? ›

So how does a relish differ? Generally, they are thinner in consistency with more “pickled and vinegary” flavours. They usually contain vegetables rather than fruit and only one variety whereas chutneys are mostly fruit and often a mixture of fruits. Perhaps you are more confused than ever!

Are quick pickles the same as regular pickles? ›

Quick-process pickles differ from fermented pickles because the pickling process uses acetic acid from vinegar rather than lactic acid from fermentation. Quick-process pickles are ideal for those who want to make pickles, start to finish, in a few days.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 5528

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.