Recipes
Green Tomato Chow Chow
The pickled pantry essential you didn’t know you were missing.
- Serves
makes 2 Cups
- Time
7 hours 10 minutes
This tangy relish from Nova Scotia native Florence Jackson makes use of shoulder-season produce. Serve it alongside meat and fish dishes to add a bright note of sweetness. While chow chow can be used immediately, consider making it ahead or canning a few jars as its flavor improves with time. If you still have tomatoes left from the harvest, be sure to check out all of our tomato recipes.
Featured in: "The Underexplored Roots of Black Cooking in Nova Scotia."
What You Will Need
Ingredients
- 1 1⁄4 lb. green (unripened) tomatoes, cored and finely chopped (3 cups)
- 1⁄3 lb. yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
- 1⁄4 cup finely chopped green or red bell pepper
- 1 tbsp. kosher salt
- 1⁄4 tsp. brown mustard seed
- 1⁄4 tsp. coriander seeds
- 3 allspice berries
- 3 black peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 whole clove
- 1⁄2 small cinnamon stick
- Pinch ground cardamom
- Pinch powdered ginger
- 2⁄3 cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp. sugar
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Instructions
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and salt. Cover the bowl with a plate and let stand at room temperature for at least 6 hours, and up to overnight.
Step 2
Set a fine mesh strainer over the sink and drain the tomato mixture, gently pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the liquid.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine the mustard seeds, coriander, allspice berries, black peppercorns, bay leaf, clove, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and ginger. Transfer the mixture to a sachet made from a double layer of cheesecloth, and tie to seal.
Step 4
Transfer the tomato mixture to a medium pot. Add the vinegar, sugars, and the spice sachet, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the chow-chow has reduced to a fragrant, dry relish, 40–50 minutes. Chill, then serve immediately, or refrigerate in a covered jar for up to one month.
- In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and salt. Cover the bowl with a plate and let stand at room temperature for at least 6 hours, and up to overnight.
- Set a fine mesh strainer over the sink and drain the tomato mixture, gently pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the liquid.
- In a small bowl, combine the mustard seeds, coriander, allspice berries, black peppercorns, bay leaf, clove, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and ginger. Transfer the mixture to a sachet made from a double layer of cheesecloth, and tie to seal.
- Transfer the tomato mixture to a medium pot. Add the vinegar, sugars, and the spice sachet, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the chow-chow has reduced to a fragrant, dry relish, 40–50 minutes. Chill, then serve immediately, or refrigerate in a covered jar for up to one month.
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