End-of-Season Green Tomato Sweet Relish

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Don’t toss those green tomatoes! Instead, get out your cooking pots and canning jars and make Green Tomato Sweet Relish! This sweet and tart relish is easy to make. And so good you’ll be glad you grew green tomatoes!

Grab Victory From the Jaws of Garden Defeat

Here’s something every gardener can relate to; that moment in fall when the mornings are turning chilly, and you realize the tomatoes have made a decision: They are simply not going to turn red.

Not ever.

You can wait. You can hope. You can check them every morning as if your stern gaze might speed up the ripening process. But eventually, you have to admit defeat. Those tomatoes are green, and they’re going to stay green.

But not to worry! I’ve got an easy and delicious way to grab victory from the jaws of garden defeat. Make some green tomato sweet relish!

Of course, you could also try frying those green tomatoes. Or making pickles. But green tomato sweet relish may be one of my favorite ways to make good use of those stubborn end-of-season tomatoes.

Instead of letting all your hard work in the garden go to waste, you end up with jars of sweet-tangy relish that can brighten up everything from a humble hot dog to a lunch time tuna salad sandwich.

What You Need to Make Green Tomato Sweet Relish

Why Green Tomatoes Are Perfect for Relish

Green tomatoes are perfect for making relish. They’re firm and slightly tart, so they’ll hold up well during cooking. Add sweet onions, red bell peppers, vinegar, sugar, and a few warming spices, and something kind of magical happens.

The finished relish is sweet and tangy, but not so tangy it’ll make you pucker. And that beautiful combination of green tomatoes and red peppers makes it look particularly cheerful in a jar.

My recipe calls for about two pounds of green tomatoes. You’ll also need a large white onion, two red bell peppers, white vinegar, sugar, salt, pickling spices, and celery seed. The finished recipe makes about five half-pint jars of relish.

That’s about the perfect amount for our winter use. If you don’t need that much, a jar of green tomato sweet relish makes a nice Christmas or hostess gift. It’s a thoughtful and tasty gift that anyone would relish.

Let’s Talk Spices

How to Make Your Own Pickling Spice

The pickling spice is what gives this relish its distinctive old-fashioned flavor.

You can buy pre-mixed pickling spices at many supermarkets. However, if yours doesn’t carry it or you just don’t feel like going to the store, you can easily mix up your own batch. I like a combination of mustard seeds, coriander, allspice, and a little cinnamon stick, but any combination of sweet, warming spices will do.

Whether you buy it or make your own pickling spices, it’s important that you slightly crush them before cooking. That will help release more of their flavor.

I have a mortar and pestle for crushing spices, but you can also just put them in a bowl and crush with a heavy glass. Remember, you’re crushing them a bit, not grinding them into powder.

There’s also a teaspoon of celery seed, which may seem like a small detail, but it adds a subtle savory note that helps balance all that sweetness.

The vinegar does double duty here. It provides the bright acidity that makes the relish so good, while also creating the kind of sharp contrast that keeps the sugar from taking over.

And speaking of sugar, there’s a reason this is called sweet relish. The one and one-fourth cups of white sugar may look like a lot when you first measure it out, but it works beautifully with vinegar and naturally tart green tomatoes.

Storing and Canning Your Green Tomato Sweet Relish

Once cooked, your relish will keep covered in the fridge for about two to three weeks. Commercial relish would keep considerably longer, but that’s because it has preservatives.

However, if you can your relish using the water bath method, it can last a month or possibly up to two months if stored in the fridge after opening. Unopened jars of relish canned with the water bath method can be stored in the pantry for one to two years.

Water Bath Canning Basics

What is the water bath method of canning? Glad you asked!

If you’ve never canned anything before, it would be a good idea to check out this overview from the Ball Jar company. 

And here’s a list of the basics for water bath canning your relish for those who have some experience.

Start by sterilizing the jars in boiling water. Keep the jars hot until you’re ready to fill them.

Next, you’ll fill each jar with relish, leaving about a half an inch of headspace at the top of the jar. Use a wet paper towel to wipe the rim of each jar – you need a clean rim to get a good seal.

Place a new lid (lids cannot be reused) and metal band on the jar. Twist the band until it is finger-tip tight – i.e tight but not crazy tight!

Place jars on the rack of a canning pot with about 2 inches of water over the top of the jars (I usually just keep the water I used for sterilizing warm until I’m ready to use it). Bring water to a boil and let jars process for fifteen to twenty minutes. Remove jars from the water bath and allow them to cool and seal.

When you hear a little “pop,” you’ll know the jar has sealed. Some brands of lids also have a small “button” in the center. When the button flattens out, you’ll know you’ve got a good seal.

What to Do With Green Tomato Sweet Relish

You can definitely use this relish on a hot dog or hamburger. In fact, you should.

But don’t stop there.

It’s also great with grilled sausages. Stir a little into tuna, egg, or chicken salad. Add it to a sandwich when it needs something bright and crunchy. It’s especially good with sharp cheddar cheese, where the sweet-tart relish cuts through the richness of the cheese.

And if you happen to be making potato salad, you might want to sneak some in there, too.

That’s one of the things I love about homemade relish. A little jar sitting in the refrigerator has a way of making ordinary meals considerably less ordinary.

So, if you’re faced with a bunch of green tomatoes at the end of the season, don’t despair. Reach for the vinegar, sugar, and pickling spice and make some Green Tomato Sweet Relish.

Your future hamburgers will thank you.

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