What Is Relish?
Relish is a condiment made from chopped fruits or vegetables preserved in a sweet-and-sour vinegar brine, giving it a tangy, slightly sweet flavor and a chunky texture.
More detail
Relish starts with vegetables or fruit, most commonly cucumbers, but also corn, onion, tomato, or bell pepper, that are diced small and cooked briefly with vinegar, sugar, and salt until they soften and absorb the brine. The mixture is then either canned for long-term storage or refrigerated for shorter-term use. Unlike a straight pickle, which keeps the vegetable whole or sliced, relish is always finely chopped, which lets it cling to whatever it's served on rather than sitting as a separate piece.
Where it's used
Relish is most familiar as a hot dog and burger topping in American cooking, but it also gets stirred into deviled eggs, potato salad, tartar sauce, and remoulade for a hit of acidity and texture.
Substitutes
Finely diced dill pickles mixed with a pinch of sugar make a close stand-in for sweet pickle relish in a pinch.
FAQ
Is relish the same as pickles?
No. Pickles are whole or sliced cucumbers preserved in brine, while relish is finely chopped and usually includes added sugar for a sweeter, softer condiment.
What's the difference between relish and chutney?
Chutney typically uses larger pieces of fruit, more spice, and is cooked down to a thicker, jammier consistency, while relish is chunkier, more vinegar-forward, and less spiced.
Does relish need to be refrigerated?
Store-bought relish in an unopened jar can sit in the pantry, but once opened it should be refrigerated and is best used within a few months for flavor and texture.
Can relish be made without sugar?
Yes, savory relishes made with just vinegar, salt, and vegetables exist, but most American-style sweet relish relies on sugar to balance the vinegar's sharpness.
