Caffeine Free Classic Relish
Bright, tangy, and loaded with garden-fresh flavor, this homemade relish is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better — from hot dogs and burgers to a simple cheese board. The combination of crisp English cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, and onion gets transformed by a brine of white vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric into something genuinely special. That golden hue from the turmeric is pure eye candy in the jar, and the aroma while it simmers on the stove is absolutely irresistible. Because every single ingredient here is naturally free of caffeine, you can skip the label-reading anxiety that comes with store-bought condiments, which sometimes sneak in unexpected additives. The salting-and-draining step is the real secret — it pulls excess moisture from the vegetables so the finished relish has that perfect slightly-chunky, not-watery texture. Spooned into sterilized jars and chilled, it keeps beautifully in the fridge and makes a thoughtful homemade gift too. Once you've made your own, it's genuinely hard to go back to the jarred stuff.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
16 servings
- 4 cups english cucumbers, finely chopped (about 3 medium cucumbers)
- 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 medium onion)
- ½ cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp mustard seed
- ½ tsp celery seed
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
Instructions
- 1
Combine the chopped cucumbers, onion, and both bell peppers in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the kosher salt over the vegetables and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour, until the vegetables have released a significant amount of liquid.
- 2
Transfer the salted vegetables to a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Press firmly with your hands or the back of a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as possible — the vegetables should feel noticeably drier.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!