Zucchini Relish Canning Recipe

Zucchini relish is a great way to preserve the summer glut of zucchini from your vegetable garden.

In this recipe, zucchini is combined with bell peppers, and onions for a sweet and slightly tart flavored relish that will dress up your hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and picnic salads.

If you’re like most gardeners, once summer arrives, you probably have an abundance of zucchini and summer squash coming out of your garden. You may even have many large fruit that seemed to show up overnight. This zucchini relish is the perfect way to use those overgrown zucchini.

Tips for Making Zucchini Relish

Turning that big harvest into zucchini relish is a great way to preserve it to enjoy all year long. Although you may be sick of zucchini now, you’ll be happy to open a jar of zucchini relish later to add flavor to sandwiches, topping to fish, and as a side dish to roasted meats to help balance the richness of the meal. Here are tips for making zucchini relish:

Any Variety of Summer Squash

Any type of summer squash can be used this recipe, including zucchini, yellow squash, crookneck, round zucchini, zepher, pattypan, or any combination. When selecting summer squash for relish, choose firm fruit without soft spots, insect damage, or wrinkled skin.

Your Choice of Peppers

Any type of peppers can be used as long as the amount stays the same. I like mixing sweet yellow, orange, and red bell peppers to add a pop of color. Feel free to spice up the relish by adding a few hot peppers to the mix. Wear gloves when handling hot peppers so you don’t burn your hands.

Any Type of Onion

Any variety of bulb onion can be used in this recipe, including ones that taste sweet or pungent. Feel free to use red, white, yellow, and even sweet Spanish type, or Vidalia.

• Red have a mild flavor and are a great to use if you want a less oniony taste. The color will bleed after canning, and may add a pink hue to your relish.
• White have a pungent flavor that blends well with the other ingredients. The sharp onion flavor mellows as the relish marinates in the pickling brine.
• Yellow are a great all-purpose onion that tastes harsh raw, but mellows after pickling.
• Sweet are also a good choice to help balance the tartness of the vinegar.

Use Vinegar with 5% Acidity

When pickling, use commercial vinegar with at least 5% acidity. The most common types used for canning are apple cider and distilled white vinegar:

• Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples and adds a slightly sweet apple flavor to pickled foods, but it will slightly darken the vegetables.
• White vinegar is clear vinegar made by distilling corn and rye. The flavor is sharper than apple cider vinegar. Choose an organic brand to avoid genetically modified corn.

Use Pickling Salt

Be sure to use pickling salt, also known as canning salt. Table salt contains iodine and anti-caking agents that can darken food and cause cloudiness and residue.

Measure the Vegetables After Chopping

This recipe calls for chopped vegetables. This means you will prepare and chop your vegetables as described in the recipe and then measure using measuring cups. Prepare the vegetables one at a time. Pulse the vegetables in food processor to chop, and add to a measuring cup as you go until you reach the required amount for the recipe.

Steps for Making Zucchini Relish

This simple zucchini relish recipe is from the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. Keep the ingredient measurements the same to maintain the safety of this canning recipe, but feel free to mix and match the types of summer squash, onions, and peppers to add slightly different flavors and colors.

If you are new to canning or haven’t canned in a while, it may be helpful to review this article on water bath canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website. A more detailed and printable recipe can be found at the bottom of this article, but these are the general steps for making and canning zucchini relish:

Step 1: Gather Your Kitchen Equipment

You’ll need:

• Food Processor or knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups
• Water bath canner with canning rack
• 8 half pint canning jars
• Canning lids and bands (new lids, bands can be reused)
• Canning tools: canning ladle, funnel, and bubble popper
• Plus basic kitchen supplies such as large prep bowls, large pot, large spoon, large colander, and clean kitchen towels.

Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables

The ratio of ingredients is important to maintain the proper balance of acid in this canning recipe. Wash, prep, and chop each vegetable first, and then measure with a measuring cup. Chop all vegetables into the same sized pieces, using a food processor or knife. This will ensure you have the correct proportions.

• Zucchini: Wash the zucchini well to remove any residue and soil. Trim and discard a 1/4-inch slice from both ends of the zucchini. The blossoms contain an enzyme that can cause soft pickles, so it is important to remove this. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Chop and add to a measuring cup until you reach the required amount. Add the chopped zucchini to a large prep bowl.
• Peppers: Wash the peppers well. Cut them in half and remove the stems and seeds. Chop, measure, and add the peppers to the bowl.
• Onions: Peel, trim ends, chop, measure, and add to the bowl.

Step 3: Soak the Vegetables in Salted Ice Water

Soaking the vegetables in salted ice water for several hours helps the texture and flavor of your finished relish. Sprinkle canning salt over the vegetables, and toss to combine. Cover with crushed ice or ice cubes and water and let stand for 2 hours.

Step 4: Prepare the Canning Equipment

Once the vegetables almost finished soaking, prepare the jars, set up the canner, and organize your work area.

Wash your canning jars, lids and bands, and canning tools with warm, soapy water and rinse well. Look the jars over carefully, and eliminate any with chips and cracks. Set lids and bands aside until you are ready to use them.

Place the canner on the stove and insert the canning rack. Set the jars in the canner, add water to cover, and simmer (180˚F) for 10 minutes. Keep hot until you are ready to fill them.

Step 5: Make the Relish Brine

Drain and rinse the zucchini mixture well with cold water to remove the extra salt.

Add the sugar, celery seed, mustard seed, and vinegar to a large stockpot. Bring the pot to a simmer, and then add the rinsed vegetables to the pot. Stir to combine and simmer (180˚F) for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Can the Relish

Spread a dry kitchen towel on the counter. Use the jar lifter to remove a hot jar from the canner, drain, and place on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay warm.

Place the canning funnel on the jar, and ladle the hot relish into the jar while leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Run the bubble popper through the jar to release any trapped air bubbles. Adjust the headspace again if needed.

Wipe the rim with a damp towel to remove residue. Center a lid on the jar, add the band, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Place the jar back into the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars.

Adjust the water level so it is covering the jars by two-inches, cover the canner, bring it to a boil, and process the jars in a boiling-water canner for the times indicated in the recipe below.

Once processing time is complete, remove the jars, and let them cool undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours. After cooling for at least 12 hours, test the seals. Refrigerate any that did not seal, and use up within a week.

Wash the jars with warm soapy water, dry, label and date the jars, and store in a cool, dark location for 12 to 18 months. Wait several weeks for the relish to develop its flavor before opening a jar.

This recipe was originally published August 23, 2009. It has been reviewed and updated with new photos and additional information.

You May Also Like:

• Other Ways to Preserve Zucchini
• Bread and Butter Pickles Canning Recipe
• Sweet Cucumber Relish Canning Recipe

Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden

Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.