This homemade Sweet Corn Relish recipe is superbly delicious, fabulously versatile, and comes together in a snap!Ā You’ll be enjoying the taste of Summer corn all year long!
One of the things I love about canning is that it enables you to enjoy the fresh flavors of Summer produce long after the growing season is over. Ā It’s also a great way to make use of sales when you can buy in bulk for a good price and especially if you have your own garden or fruit trees. Ā And of course there are few things as satisfying as walking into your pantry or out to your garage shelf and seeing jars and jars of homemade goods ready for your family to enjoy.Ā And seeing jars of homemade corn relish is something I get especially excited about!
How to Use Corn Relish
Use it on hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fish, serve it with roasted chicken, in a cheese omelet or pasta salad, sprinkle over tacos or in burritos, or mix it with black beans/tomatoes/onions/cilantro for a Summer salad. Ā The options are only limited by your imagination!
For optimal flavor be sure to use the best, freshest corn available.
This corn relish will keep for at least a year if stored properly. Ā You’ll be able to enjoy that wonderful taste of Summer corn all year long. Ā And these jars make excellent gifts as well!
Something that isn’t remotely necessary but that I’m kind of anal about it getting all the veggies chopped uniformly. Ā You can chop by hand or use a food processor but appearance-wise relishes just look so much nicer when the veggies are all uniform in size and shape. Ā A gadget that my mother-in-law got me as a gift a few years ago and that I love to use for purposes like this is the Vidalia Chop Wizard.
It comes with two sizes of square cutting grids and chops the vegetables in perfect uniform sizes. Ā I’ve been using it for several years and it’s still going strong.
Homemade Corn Relish Recipe
Let’s get started!
Finely chop the onions.
Do the same withĀ the red and green bell peppers and the celery ribs.
Remove the husks and silk from the corn and cut the kernels off the cobs.
Throw everything in a pot.
Add all remaining ingredients and bring it to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Spoon the mixture into hot sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch of head space and seal with lids. Ā Place in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Here is the canner I use (I have an older model) and it comes with all the accessories: Ā Granite Ware Enamel-on-Steel Canning Kit
Wait a week or two before eating the relish to allow time for the vinegar to mellow out.
Keep the jars stored in a cool dark place. Ā They’ll keep for at least a year. Ā Once opened, store in the fridge for up to two months.
Enjoy!
Be sure to also try our:
- Giardiniera
- Marinara Sauce
- Dill Pickle Relish
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- Sweet Pepper and Onion Relish
- Pickled Onions
- Dilly Beans
- Pickled Asparagus
- Pickled Turnips
- Pickled Peppers
- Pickled Beets
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Homemade Sweet Corn Relish
Ingredients
- 10 fresh ears of sweet yellow corn husks and silk removed, slice kernels off the cob with a sharp knife
- 2 large red bell peppers , cored, and finely chopped
- 2 large green bell peppers , cored and finely chopped
- 8 ribs celery , finely chopped
- 1 large yellow or sweet onion , finely chopped
- 4 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 4 whole allspice berries
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Ladle the relish into hot sterilized jars and seal with lids. Process the jars in a water bath for 10 minutes.
- Keep stored in a dark, cool place. Will keep at least one year. Once opened, store in the fridge for up to two months.Makes approximately 8 pints
- Note: Wait a week or two before eating the relish to allow time for the vinegar to mellow out.
Terry Scott says
My mom made this when I was a kid, I’d eat it by the jar!
teresa says
so disapointed way too much vinegar.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Teresa, as the recipe notes, it’s important to wait “at least” a week, preferably two, before eating it to allow the vinegar to mellow out.
Cheryl says
I tried this recipe! Tastes great, but itās really runny, what can I do next time to thicken it?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Cheryl, be sure to pack the jars as tightly as you can with the veggies and then only add enough liquid to immerse them within the jar. Also, a lot of the liquid will absorb into the veggies over time.
Donna Smith-Powell says
One lady already asked my question but I didn’t see the answer. I made this this morning exactly. My question is it suppose to be watery. I thought it would congeal
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Donna, no it won’t congeal because there are no thickening agents/additives in it. It’s normal for it to be that watery initially though. After it has sat for a couple of weeks some of the liquid will be absorbed by the veggies and the relish will become “thicker.” The longer the relish sits the more liquid will be absorbed. But I’d recommend two weeks as the minimum anyway from a flavor standpoint.
Ruthy says
Hello, this recipe looks amazing! I really want to try it. Question: Iām new to canning and I just want to double check on the water bath method. Iāve mostly read that low acidic vegetables should be pressure canned. Since youāve already stated that it could make the veggies mushy, does adding the vinegar raise the acidic content of the vegetables?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Ruthy, correct, foods that are low in acid must be pressure canned, but that does not apply to this corn relish. The inclusion of the vinegar and sugar both raise the acidity level sufficiently to make it safe for using the water bath method. So no need to pressure can. Happy canning!
Patrick J O'Shea says
is it supposed to congeal afterwards because I have a lot of liquid even with the amounts given in the recipe
John Currier says
I made this last fall and it was a hit. I will be making 2 batches this year. I to omitted the allspice berries because I couldn’t find them,it still tastes great. š
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, John, I’m so glad it’s been a hit!
Janet says
I see what appears to be brown sugar in a picture? It is not in recipe? Or is that ground mustard yet it says to use mustard seed. Also can I use corn starch to thicken if I have to?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Janet, thanks for catching that, it should read ground mustard. You can thicken it as long as you’re not canning it. Thickening agents are generally not considered safe for canning, plus they’ll also make the brine cloudy.
Connie says
I canāt find allspice berries , how much cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper do I use in this recipe,
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Connie, I would not add any of those spices to the corn relish. If you can’t find allspice berries I would simply omit them. The relish will still taste good.
Connie says
What is whole allspice bertied
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Connie, allspice is reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper. You can buy it either ground or whole and this recipe calls for whole allspice, known as allspice berries.
Anonymous says
you can get them at any bulk store they are just little red berries
l have been making corn relish for over 30 years and l never have added them
Steve says
I was curious about the 3 teaspoons of salt , is that pickling , kosher or table salt for this recipe. Thanks.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Steve, I recommend either pickling or kosher salt. You “can” use table salt but because of the additives in it, it can change the color of the relish and make it aesthetically less pleasing.
Mary says
How long would I cook this recipe in a pressurized canner
Patsy-Lee Hadix says
If you pressure can your veggies will be mushy. Water bath is better for crispness.
Charlene Woods says
About how many jars will I need for this recipe?
Bruce says
I boiled the peppers, celery and onions with the vinegar and other ingredients for 10 minutes before adding the fresh corn off the cob (much better than frozen). Since I preferred more crunch to the corn, I only boiled it for the last ten minutes before the hot water bath. Yield: Seven pint jars and one 1/2 pint jar. Delicious!
Tammy Allan says
Hi i am wondering with this recipe if you can just use normal vinegar and is it the same amount as apple cider vinegar. Thank you am really looking forward to trying this.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Tammy, yes you can (same amount) but it will have a “harsher” flavor as apple cider vinegar is fruitier.