GREEN TOMATO CHOWCHOW

Green Tomato Chowchow image

Here is a chunky relish of cabbage and bell pepper commonly served in the South with salty cold cuts and meats. It couldn't be simpler: simmer chopped vegetables for 15 minutes in a spiced brine - we use judicious amounts of clove, allspice, cinnamon and toasted coriander - and pack into jars. We tip the balance more toward green tomato than cabbage when green tomatoes are available because we love the tomatillo-like flavor of a green tomato - a near-apple flavor, but without the sweetness. It's a delicious substitute for any relish you would spread over a hot dog or a burger, but we take it in other directions, too. Mixed one-to-one with good mayonnaise, green tomato chowchow makes the perfect dressing for coleslaw. Sometimes we'll strain out the brine before we add the mayonnaise to make a killer tartar sauce. Or if we're feeling indulgent, we'll drain the chowchow, toss it with squid or small bay scallops and flood it with a fruity extra virgin olive oil for easy mock-ceviche.

Provided by Matt Lee And Ted Lee

Time 45m

Yield 2 quarts

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

4 whole allspice berries
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon coriander seed, toasted
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 quart apple cider vinegar
1 cup light brown sugar
3 cups green cabbage, cut into small dice (from 1/2 pound green cabbage)
3 cups Spanish onion, cut into small dice (from 1 1/4 pounds Spanish onions)
2 cups red bell pepper, cut into small dice (from 3/4 pounds red bell peppers)
6 cups green tomatoes, cut into small dice (from 2 1/4 pounds green tomatoes)

Steps:

Pound the dry seasonings together in a mortar.
Bring vinegar, sugar, and 2/3 cup water to a boil in a large stockpot, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add spices, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Add cabbage, onion and bell pepper, return to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Add the green tomato, stir thoroughly to incorporate, and cook 5 minutes more.
With a slotted spoon, transfer the relish to 2 quart jars or 4 pint jars. Fill to 1/4-inch from rim with remaining brine, agitate jars, and let stand 1 minute. Top up with brine, close jars and let them cool. Store jars in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 44, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 186 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams