Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (2024)

June 24, 2018 By Kelli and Holli 11 Comments

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This is my Nana’s Chow Chow Recipe. How long has it been since you have had Chow Chow? Do you know what it is? For those of you who do not, chow chow is a preparation added to food in order to enhance its flavor, like whatever you may put on your fries although I wouldn’t put chow chow on fries. Last week, as I was unpacking another box from the move I found some cookbooks and in one of those cookbooks I found an index card in my Nana’s handwriting with her beloved and until-now-lost chow chow recipe. Yay! It is sweet and spicy and perfect for the top of pinto beans or the bottom of a hot dog. Since Nana made it last, many things have changed and I use as many shortcuts as I can.

If you have a full garden, you go ahead and chop up all those garden-fresh items – you’ll need to chop and chop. You may do the same if you have access to a farmer’s market. But, if you are like me, only green bell peppers, onions and tomatoes are ripe in the farmer’s market right now. So, I took what I could get and bought the rest at the store. I purchased 2 bags of angel hair cabbage as well as all my red, orange and yellow bell peppers already cut up. It will save you tons of time! Check around your produce area – they are generally on a top shelf.

Nana’s Chow Chow

Here’s what you are going to need to get:

1 small cabbage, chopped
6 to 8 green or red tomatoes, chopped
6 medium bell peppers, chopped
6 large onions, chopped
2 hot peppers, chopped
3 cups sugar
5 cups white vinegar
1/4 cup salt or pickling salt.

1 teaspoon mustard seeds.

Directions:

Put all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.
Ladle into pint jars and screw lids tightly on top. Place in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool on a towel that is in a place in your home that is draft free. Makes 8 to 9 pints.

Now you can give some to your friends and keep some to add to dishes where you want that little extra kick! Before you know it – people will be begging you for more!

4.5 from 2 votes

Nana's Chow Chow

Ingredients

1small cabbagechopped
6 to 8green or red tomatoeschopped
6medium bell pepperschopped
6large onionschopped
2hot pepperschopped
3cupssugar
5cupswhite vinegar
1/4cupsalt or pickling salt.
1teaspoonmustard seeds.

Instructions

Put all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.
Ladle into pint jars and screw lids tightly on top. Place in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool on a towel that is in a place in your home that is draft free. Makes 8 to 9 pints.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Terri C
June 25, 2018 at 7:00 AM
I’ve made my grandma’s chow chow too. Thanks for the great memories! Yours looks delicious!
Reply
- Kelli
  June 25, 2018 at 7:27 AM
  Thank you Terri!!
  Reply
- Karen
  August 26, 2019 at 4:57 PM
  I love chow chow on a pulled pork sandwich! Can’t wait to make my own!!!
  Reply
Sarah
July 16, 2021 at 12:16 PM
Looks and smells good. I’ve never been brave enough to try chow chow. I added extra jalapeños to give it more kick. I just have one thing “bad” to say about your recipe. You don’t tell how much headspace.
Reply
- Kelli and Holli
  July 16, 2021 at 2:33 PM
  Sorry about that! 1/4 inch headspace is the correct amount. Too much or too little headspace can cause problems with the seal. Thanks for asking — Kelli
  Reply
Patsy
September 14, 2021 at 9:42 AM
I’d like to make childcare for my son but he’s allergic to the green tomatoes so can I just do cabbage instead of the green tomatoes
Reply
- Kelli and Holli
  September 14, 2021 at 12:29 PM
  That’s a great idea! Yes!
  Reply
- Granny Jean
  June 13, 2023 at 12:32 AM
  
  I have made chow chow with ripe tomatoes. Just cut off the top of the tomato and then squeeze out as much liquid and seeds you can. Will keep the chow chow from being too runny.
  Reply
Derick
June 1, 2022 at 11:47 PM

My Aunt made Chow Chow often I remember loving it so much. I was a foodie before that was even a thing. She always had a stockpile of ingredients for any eventuality. I and my Cousin often made cheese dips and the like.
Reply

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Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is chow chow made of? ›

Southern chow chow is typically made with just chopped bell peppers, green tomatoes, sweet onions, and cabbage. Northern chow chow on the other hand can consist of everything from cauliflower, carrots, beans, onions, bell peppers, and more.

Read On ›

What is chow chow in Southern cuisine? ›

Chowchow is a pickled relish dish that was used to preserve summer vegetables for later in the year. Recipes for the relish are highly regional, and tend to be generational recipes, passed down through families. While no one batch is the same, a lot of Southern chowchows use tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, and onions.

Get More Info Here ›

What is amish chow chow made of? ›

Mix the onions, peppers, and tomatoes with the cooked vegetables in a large heavy kettle. Bring the vinegar to boiling and stir in a mixture of the sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, dry mustard, and turmeric.

Learn More Now ›

What is the difference between chow chow and piccalilli? ›

Chow chow and piccalilli are often mistaken for each other, yet although similar, they are slightly different. Picalilli relish simply has more vegetables in it than chow chow relish—that's the main difference between these two relishes.

Show Me More ›

What is chow chow from cracker barrel? ›

Chow chow relish

Traditionally, this sweet, pickled relish was made at the end of the harvest, to preserve the vegetables that wouldn't be eaten fresh.

Are there two types of chow chow? ›

Coat and Coloring

Chow Chows have two separate coat types: rough and smooth. Both are densely double-coated. But the rough coat's fur is straight and coarse with a thick, wooly undercoat. The smooth coat is, well, smooth and has an undercoat but no obvious "ruff" on the legs or tail.

Keep Reading ›

Is Chow Chow a man made breed? ›

A research study has concluded that the Chow Chow dog breed originated from other indigenous dogs in central China about 8,300 years ago. The ancient breed evolved and manifests both morphological and physiological features for example; the black / purple tongue, coat of fur, and a stronger build.

Learn More ›

Is Chow Chow a clean dog? ›

Chows are known to be a very clean breed – almost cat-like in their approach to personal hygiene. However, because of their high shedding coats, Chows can be particularly high-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Chow Chows come with one of two types of coat: rough coat and smooth coat.

See Details ›

What is Chow Chow from cracker barrel? ›

Chow chow relish

Traditionally, this sweet, pickled relish was made at the end of the harvest, to preserve the vegetables that wouldn't be eaten fresh.

Is Chow Chow made from cabbage? ›

Easy Southern Chow Chow Recipe

It's a sweet and tangy relish made with a variety of vegetables. It traditionally includes chopped cabbage, green tomatoes, bell peppers and onion. It comes in many varieties depending on the region and the cook's preference.

Find Out More ›