Ginger Free Sweet Pickle Relish
Bright, tangy, and just a little sweet, this homemade pickle relish is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better — hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, you name it. Many store-bought relishes sneak in unexpected spices or flavorings that can be hard to track down on a label, so making your own puts you completely in control of what goes into the jar. This recipe keeps things clean and classic, relying on cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, and a handful of pantry spices — none of which include ginger — for a flavor that's bold without any hidden surprises. The double-vinegar brine, combining white distilled and apple cider vinegar, gives the relish a nicely layered tartness, while the sugar balances everything out into that signature sweet-and-sour finish. Mustard seeds and celery seeds add just enough depth and texture to make it taste genuinely homemade. The salting and pressing step is worth every minute — it pulls excess moisture from the vegetables so your relish stays bright and punchy rather than watery. Pack it into jars, stash them in the fridge, and you'll have a versatile, crowd-pleasing condiment ready to go whenever you need it.
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Learn more →Ingredients
32 servings
- 1 ½ lbs cucumbers (about 3 medium), finely diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- ¾ cup white distilled vinegar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp celery seeds
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
Instructions
- 1
Combine the diced cucumbers, onion, and green bell pepper 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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