Turkey Free Classic Relish
Bright, tangy, and packed with garden-fresh crunch, this classic relish is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better — from hot dogs to potato salad to a simple cheese board. English cucumbers, colorful bell peppers, and sweet onion come together in a brine of white vinegar, sugar, and warm spices like mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric, giving you that gorgeous golden hue and bold flavor you'd expect from a jar that's been in someone's family for decades. The salting step is the real secret here — drawing out excess moisture before cooking means the vegetables stay pleasantly textured rather than turning to mush. Everything is completely plant-based and free from any poultry-derived ingredients, so there's no need to scrutinize store-bought labels for hidden broths, gelatin, or meat-based additives that sometimes sneak into commercial relishes. The whole process is straightforward and deeply satisfying, ending with jars of something genuinely homemade that you can keep in the fridge and reach for all week long. It's the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever bought the bottled stuff in the first place.
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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.
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