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Chow Chow Relish

A tangy, sweet pickled vegetable relish of cabbage, pepper, and onion, served alongside soup beans and cornbread.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 15 minCook time
🍽 10Servings
🏷 Appalachian KitchenCategory
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Chow Chow Relish

A tangy, sweet pickled vegetable relish of cabbage, pepper, and onion, served alongside soup beans and cornbread.

The beans’ best friend

This crunchy, tangy-sweet relish brightens every mountain plate — especially a bowl of soup beans.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Toss the cabbage, peppers, and onion with the salt; let stand 1 hour, then drain and rinse well.
  2. Simmer the vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, turmeric, and red pepper flakes 5 minutes.
  3. Add the vegetables and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Ladle into sterilized jars, seal, and cool; refrigerate.
  5. Rest at least 24 hours before serving — the flavor deepens. Keeps 4-6 weeks chilled.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The salting step pulls out water so the relish stays crunchy. Serve with beans, hot dogs, or sandwiches.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook15 min
Servings10
CategoryAppalachian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →