Tangy Southern Relish (Collard Greens Chow Chow Relish Recipe) (2024)

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Chow Chow Relish - tangy Southern relish that is good on everything as a condiment.

Tangy Southern Relish (Collard Greens Chow Chow Relish Recipe) (1)

Sunday is my cook day. The rest of the week is just a matter of assembling meals that I've prepped. I keep things pretty simple, reserving all my food fussing for the sauces and dressings. I typically make 2-3 per week, but this chow chow is always on hand.

I'm not sure how many people outside of the South, Pennsylvania, or New Mexico know about the magic that is chow chow. From here on out, I promise to no longer be selfish and will commit to hyping up chow chow for the amazing wonder that it is.

Chow Chow Ingredients

I feel compelled to explain right off the bat, that chow chow does not have any connection to the four-legged furry creatures. Chow chow relish varies by region but I'd describe Southern versions as sort of a hybrid of slaw and relish. In the South though peppers, green tomatoes and cabbage are mainstays along with a combination of spices including typically mustard seeds, coriander, and salt and pepper.

I adapted my grandmother's approach which was to preserve whatever summer vegetables she had on hand. I have access to a lot of good cauliflower and collard greens so they both went into my recipe and for good measure I threw in padron peppers. I usually stick to red and green bell peppers, but had a rather large haul of padrons from the farmer's market. Color, flavor, and crunch are all achieved in this chow chow recipe.

  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Collard Greens
  • Padron Peppers
  • Onion
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Garlic Cloves
  • Mustard Seeds
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Ground Ginger
  • Coriander
  • Ground Turmeric
  • Sugar
  • Cider Vinegar
  • Water

How To Make Chow Chow

Combine cauliflower, cabbage, greens, onions, patron peppers and red pepper in a bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon salt and refrigerate overnight. Drain vegetables and discard liquid.

In a medium saucepan, combine garlic, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander, ginger, turmeric, sugar, water, vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat

Place vegetables in a glass mason jar and pour the boiling liquid over them. Set aside andallow to cool. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before using.

Tangy Southern Relish (Collard Greens Chow Chow Relish Recipe) (2)

What does chow chow go well with?

I remember as a kid having no clue what the jar of vinegary vegetables were in our refrigerator, but I ate it all the time. I couldn't get enough. I ate it with just crackers, topped my hot dogs, and doctored up those old school cans of Wolf brand chili. Everybody loved my chili back then! Beyond my world-famous chili, I've included it on biscuits and gravy, sandwiches, mashed potatoes, and sausage dogs.

Chow chow was as common at our family barbecues as potato salads.

I added the collard greens to this classic chow chow cause I'm trying eat more collard greens. I grow so much collards I need new recipes lol.

I also use it to cut through the fat when I enjoy a healthy serving of biscuits and gravy lol.

Tangy Southern Relish (Collard Greens Chow Chow Relish Recipe) (3)

MORE COLLARD GREEN BASED RECIPES

Southern Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey

Curried Collard Greens

Instant Pot Collard Greens with Smoked Brisket

Blackeyed Peas and Collards

Brazilian Collard Greens

Collards Chiffonade

Braised Collard Greens

Collard Greens Salad

Collard Greens 101

Make this Recipe

If you make this chow chow relish recipeplease come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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For other addictive all purpose condiments check out this roasted red pepper sauce.

Southern Relish aka Chow Chow Recipe

Tangy Southern relish that is an all-purpose condiment that brightens any dish from hot dogs to fried eggs.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Modern Soul Food, southern

Servings: 8

Calories: 72kcal

Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cauliflower florettes
  • 1 cup cabbage chopped
  • 1 cup collard greens thinly chopped
  • ½ cup padron/shish*to peppers chopped
  • ½ cup white onion chopped
  • ½ cup red peppers diced
  • 3 tablespoons salt separated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup cider vinegar

Instructions

  • Combine cauliflower, cabbage, greens, onions, patron peppers and red pepper in a bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon salt and refrigerate overnight.

  • Drain vegetables and discard liquid.

  • In a medium saucepan, combine garlic, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander, ginger, turmeric, sugar, water, vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat

  • Place vegetables in a glass mason jar and pour the boiling liquid over them. Set aside andallow to cool. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2631mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 23.7mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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Tangy Southern Relish (Collard Greens Chow Chow Relish Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chow chow and relish? ›

Chowchow is a pickled relish dish that was used to preserve summer vegetables for later in the year. Recipes for the relish are highly regional, and tend to be generational recipes, passed down through families. While no one batch is the same, a lot of Southern chowchows use tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, and onions.

What is southern chow chow made of? ›

Southern chow chow is typically made with just chopped bell peppers, green tomatoes, sweet onions, and cabbage. Northern chow chow on the other hand can consist of everything from cauliflower, carrots, beans, onions, bell peppers, and more.

What do you do with chow chow relish? ›

Some folks like to pair it with a thick slice of cornbread, while others use it as the crowning touch on burgers, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches and fried green tomatoes. Some cooks use it as a pickle relish substitute to add pizazz to deviled eggs.

What is amish chow chow made of? ›

Mix the onions, peppers, and tomatoes with the cooked vegetables in a large heavy kettle. Bring the vinegar to boiling and stir in a mixture of the sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, dry mustard, and turmeric.

What does chow chow relish taste like? ›

Chow Chow is sometimes called “Sweet” with a “Hot” version also available. This recipe is fairly mild, but the Cayenne Pepper and Pepper Flakes give it a slight bit of heat. You could certainly eliminate that or add more, depending on your personal tastes.

What is unique about Chow Chow? ›

Chow Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is unique by their purple/blue-black tongue which no other breed has except Shar Pei, and has very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait.

What is southern relish called? ›

Chow Chow is a southern condiment that preserves the last of the garden summer season. Use it on hot dogs, sausages, or to top pinto beans.

What is southern chow chow used for? ›

The most popular food to eat with Chow-Chow Relish in the south is pinto beans or black-eyed peas. As an item on your veggie tray. Use as a condiment on a shredded BBQ pork sandwich or Sloppy Joes. Use with almost any tuna - tuna salad, tuna burgers, tuna stuffed tomatoes.

Are there two types of chow chow? ›

Coat and Coloring

Chow Chows have two separate coat types: rough and smooth. Both are densely double-coated. But the rough coat's fur is straight and coarse with a thick, wooly undercoat. The smooth coat is, well, smooth and has an undercoat but no obvious "ruff" on the legs or tail.

How long does Chow Chow last in the fridge? ›

Unopened jars will stay good for up to a year when stored in a cool, dry area. After the jars of Chow Chow relish have been opened, store them in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4 months.

What is Chow Chow from cracker barrel? ›

Chow chow relish

Traditionally, this sweet, pickled relish was made at the end of the harvest, to preserve the vegetables that wouldn't be eaten fresh.

What are the pros and cons of a Chow Chow? ›

Chows make good family pets but aren't known for their playfulness or patience so they are better suited to families without boisterous younger children. As well as being physically strong, Chow Chows can be quite strong-willed and stubborn so they are not the best choice for novice owners.

What is the difference between Chow Chow and piccalilli? ›

Chow chow and piccalilli are often mistaken for each other, yet although similar, they are slightly different. Picalilli relish simply has more vegetables in it than chow chow relish—that's the main difference between these two relishes.

What is southern mild chow chow? ›

Renfro's Mild Chow Chow, at a mild heat level, is a southern-style cabbage relish. Made in Fort Worth, Texas. Cabbage, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Onions, Sweet Red Peppers, Salt, Spices, Guar Gum, Dextrose, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Turmeric, Alum, & Artificial Colors FD&C Yellow No. 5, Blue No. 1 & Red No.

What does Chow Chow contain? ›

Loaded with Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, B9 or folate, calcium, iron besides impressive amounts of dietary fibre, Chayote helps in bringing down high blood pressure, improving liver function, preventing cancer, inflammation, reducing the signs of aging.

What is chow chow from cracker barrel? ›

Chow chow relish

Traditionally, this sweet, pickled relish was made at the end of the harvest, to preserve the vegetables that wouldn't be eaten fresh.

Why is there two different types of chow mein? ›

Crispy chow mein uses fried, flat noodles, while soft chow mein uses long, rounded noodles. Crispy chow mein either has onions and celery in the finished dish or is served "strained", without any vegetables.

Why do they call it Chow? ›

The word chow is an informal way to say "food" or "meal." Someone happily gobbling tacos might say, "I just love Mexican chow," or your dad might open up a pizza delivery box and yell, "Time for chow, everybody!" Chow is an American English word that originated in California around 1856, from the Chinese pidgin English ...

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