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A bold and tangy chow chow relish made with collard greens, green cabbage, and chopped vegetables—the ultimate Southern condiment.
Listen up flavor peeps—this here chow chow relish recipe is straight fire for your taste buds. We talkin’ collard greens bringin’ that earthy backbone, chopped vegetables keepin’ it crisp, and apple cider vinegar cuttin’ through with a tangy pop that wakes any dish up. Texture ridin’ the groove between crunchy snap and tender bite, makin’ this one funky, soulful condiment.
Flavor Profile: A bright balance of tangy, slightly sweet, and earthy flavors with the vinegar punch vibin with collards and cabbage.
Texture Profile: Crunchy from chopped vegetables including red bell peppers, tender from the greens, and juicy from the vinegar soak—a layered bite that hits all notes.
Cooking Technique: No real coking goin on with this one. It's a pickled affair - veggies plus spices (mustard seeds and red pepper flakes) and salt and vinegar mixed up in hot jars and refrigerated. Choppin is the only work unless you use a food processor to speed things up.
Key Recipe Gamechanger
Collards add a hearty, earthy depth that grounds the relish, giving it more body than a standard chow chow. They bring that soul food touch, tying the tangy brightness to Southern comfort tradition.
Beats and Eats (Music to pair with chow chow)
This relish grooves like Love and Happiness—sweet, sour, sharp, and smooth all in one rhythm. Just like Al Green’s voice, it’s layered with warmth and a little bite, carrying a soulful kick that makes any dish shine brighter. Put it on the table and watch the mood change—suddenly, everything tastes a little better, a little happier.
Use chow chow like a hot dog relish like on this andouille sausage dog. It's also tasty with sweet potato cornbread and Southern style pinto beans. I also like it as a compliment to fried dishes like this flavorful Haitian Fried Chicken.
Keep up with my food exploits on Instagram and YouTube. If you like any of the music you find on the site, visit me at Spotify to find curated playlists.
Southern Relish aka Chow Chow Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cauliflower florettes
- 1 cup cabbage chopped
- 1 cup collard greens thinly chopped
- ½ cup padron/shishito peppers chopped
- ½ cup white onion chopped
- ½ cup red peppers diced
- 3 tablespoons salt separated
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup cider vinegar
Method
- Combine cauliflower, cabbage, greens, onions, patron peppers and red pepper in a bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon salt and refrigerate overnight.
- Drain vegetables and discard liquid.
- In a medium saucepan, combine garlic, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander, ginger, turmeric, sugar, water, vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat
- Place vegetables in a glass mason jar and pour the boiling liquid over them. Set aside and allow to cool. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before using.
Wow! I am so glad I found this page!
Welcome!
Sooooooooo good . . . My mother used to make this and with seven children in the family all out on our own she would lock it up because she said she got tired of us taking it and nobody was helping her make it!!!
I was shocked the first time I went home and wasn't able to get into the cellar and get the Chow Chow. My mother passed before she could give us the recipe. and thanks to your dad and now I'm going to surprise my sisters with chow chow for Christmas.
I absolutely love this chouchou on Crowder peas or Black eyed peas.
What a great story! And thank you. I eat a lock of black-eyed peas, so will have to remember to try it with chow chow.