I used to turn my nose up at just about anything vegetable related, but especially things like chow chow and relish – stuff whose components cannot be easily identified. Here I am a bunch of years later wondering why in the world I was so silly. We had a ton of green tomatoes left in the garden when we decided to put it to bed for the winter.Â
I am not one to just dump the free food so we carried every green tomato into the kitchen. Thanks to the folks at Texas A & M University, we found a way to use them without my having to give myself some sort of tomato facial or make a tomato+Mt Dew sport drink.Â
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- CHOW-CHOW
- 1 peck (12 pounds) green tomatoes
- 8 large onions
- 10 green bell peppers
- 3 tablespoons salt
- 6 hot peppers (chopped)
- 1 quart vinegar
- 1 tablespoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 3 tablespoons dry mustard
- Few bay leaves
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- cup horseradish (optional)
CHOP tomatoes, onions and peppers together and cover with the salt; let stand overnight. Drain, add the hot peppers, vinegar, spices (tied in cheese-cloth bag) and sugar; allow to boil slowly until tender (about 15 minutes). Add horseradish. Pack into sterilized Kerr jars to within inch of top. Put on cap, screw band FIRMLY TIGHT. Process in Boiling Water Bath 10 minutes.
Of course, chow chow is one of those mystery foods where you can really put just about anything into it. I have seen it with cabbage before and I suppose you could shred squash or pumpkins too. Anyhow, we made several jars of the stuff and it is really really good!
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I’ve always been intrigued by things like chow chows and chutneys. What do you do with them?
I have never heard of this stuff until now. I should print this for my neighbor.
I eat the stuff on sandwiches…ham sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs, etc. You can also treat it like salsa and eat with chips. I like it a little spicy and hot. It comes in all varieties…some hotter and some sweeter.
As far as chutneys, I am not a huge fan. I think people eat it on toast, bread, crackers, etc. I don’t care for it too much though. I have only had a few types though so I could be won over to chutneys
Sounds interesting, I too have never heard of Chow-Chow, but I do like relish and chutneyes. Now I’m interested in googling tomato+Mt. Dew, too! Now THAT sounds pretty resourceful!
I love chow chow with pinto beans and fried potatoes. Glad ya didn’t have to let any go to waste, that would have a shame to work to raise it and then just let it go. Ya done good.
Chris
Interesting, not sure I’d be so brave…great Jack O’ lanterns!
I wish I would of seen this recipe before I chucked all of my green tomatoes!!! Looks and sounds great, enjoy!
Mmmm- I love chow chow. Pinto beans and a big dollup of chow chow on the top amd I’m in heaven!