Classic Pickle Relish
This no-dill, not-too-sweet pickle relish is made with chunky cucumbers and just the right balance of vinegar, sugar, and spices. A summer canning classic!
Servings: 64 servings, makes 4 pints
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 lbs pickling cucumbers chopped
- 3 cups onion chopped
- ¼ cup pickling and canning salt
- 4 cups white vinegar 5% acidity
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 Tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 Tbsp celery seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric
Instructions
- Stir salt into chopped cucumbers and onions. Refrigerate for 3–4 hours, then drain and rinse thoroughly. Squeeze out excess liquid and set aside.
- Prepare a water bath canner, jars, lids, and rings.
- In a large saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric. Bring to a boil. Add the drained vegetables, return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Ladle hot relish into prepared jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Debubble, wipe rims, and cap with two-part canning lids.
- Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Let rest in the canner for 5 minutes before removing to cool.
Notes
This classic pickle relish is a great option if you prefer a less sweet, no-dill version of the usual store-bought varieties. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients: cucumbers, onions, vinegar, sugar, and a few classic pickling spices like mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric. The turmeric gives it a beautiful golden color, while the mustard and celery seed add subtle flavor without overwhelming the relish. A salt soak helps draw out moisture from the vegetables so the finished relish isn’t watery, and it also helps the cucumbers stay crisp in the jar.
Be sure to rinse and drain the vegetables thoroughly after the salt soak to prevent the relish from being too salty. Squeezing out the excess liquid is key to getting the right texture. If you'd like a bit more sweetness, you can increase the sugar slightly, but the recipe as written strikes a nice balance between tangy and sweet. This relish is perfect for canning and holds up well on the pantry shelf, making it a go-to condiment for sandwiches, hot dogs, and picnic salads all year long.
Nutrition
Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg