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

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!

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

  1. Put all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

  2. 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

  1. Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (4)Terri C

    I’ve made my grandma’s chow chow too. Thanks for the great memories! Yours looks delicious!

    Reply

    • Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (5)Kelli

      Thank you Terri!!

      Reply

    • Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (6)Karen

      I love chow chow on a pulled pork sandwich! Can’t wait to make my own!!!

      Reply

  2. Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (7)Sarah

    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

    • Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (8)Kelli and Holli

      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

  3. Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (9)Patsy

    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

    • Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (10)Kelli and Holli

      That’s a great idea! Yes!

      Reply

    • Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (11)Granny Jean

      Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (12)
      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

  4. Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (13)Derick

    Nanas Chow Chow Recipe - Kelli's Kitchen (14)
    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

Trackbacks

  1. […] Add Nana’s Chow Chow for a real zing! […]

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  2. […] are you doing this fine Sunday? I am making more of the Chow Chow I made a few weeks ago and my daughter asked me to make a salsa recipe for canning. Something I […]

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

FAQs

What makes chow chow? ›

Some chow chow recipes consist primarily of chopped green tomatoes, cabbage, onion, and peppers while others can contain carrots, beans, cauliflower, or peas. Regardless of which ones you choose, the ingredients are all pickled in a canning jar and served cold as a condiment.

What is in a jar of chow chow? ›

Description. Our Chow Chow Relish is a Southern blend of cabbage, vinegar, red bell peppers, onion and the perfect amount of savory spices. You will receive two delicious 8 oz. jars of Mild Chow Chow that is perfect atop home cooked vegetables, hot dogs or mixed into your favorite cole slaw recipe.

How long is canned chow chow good for? ›

If they make a dull thump, they're sealed. Store unopened jars of chow chow relish in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Store opened jars in the fridge and use within 4 months of opening.

What is southern chow chow? ›

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.

What is amish Chow Chow made of? ›

LNP|LancasterOnline readers picked cauliflower, corn, green beans, onions and celery as their top ingredients for chow-chow. Recipes call for a wide range of vegetables and beans. Some have watermelon rind or green tomatoes. There's a cucumber version and a corn version.

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.

What is special about Chow Chow? ›

Owners say Chows are the cleanest of dogs: They housebreak easily, have little doggy odor, and are known to be as fastidious as cats. Well-socialized Chows are never fierce or intractable, but always refined and dignified. They are aloof with strangers and eternally loyal to loved ones.

What is the difference between Chow Chow and relish? ›

Chow chow is a pickled relish condiment made from a variety of vegetables. Its origins are traced back to the South as a way to use up ingredients in the pantry. There's no traditional chow chow recipe and it can vary from region to region, but the main ingredient is typically green cabbage.

What is unique about Chow Chow? ›

They Have Blue-Black Tongues

The two AKC-registered breeds with blue-black tongues are the Chow Chow and the Chinese Shar-Pei. But Chow Chow puppies are born with pink tongues. The blue-black color develops as they age.

Can you eat 20 year old canned food? ›

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

What vegetable is chow chow? ›

Chayote, chow chow, squash or Bangalore brinjal is a common inexpensive vegetable that belongs to the gourd family, along with melons and cucumbers. It is known by different names in different places.

Why is Chow Chow expensive? ›

Around 10,000 Chows are registered in the U.S. every year. Although this breed is not very rare, the cost can be higher if your Chow Chow has a champion bloodline. Their blue tongues are another reason for this breed's high price. The price also depends if you are planning to buy a black, red, fawn, or white Chow.

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.

Is Chow Chow made from cabbage? ›

In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onions, green and red bell peppers, tomatoes, and salt. Soak the mixture overnight in the refrigerator. The next morning, drain off the excess moisture.

Is Chow Chow a man made breed? ›

Despite having features like a thick coat which suggest an origin in a high altitude environment, the authors' analysis found that Chow Chows were in fact selected from Chinese indigenous dogs which are of Southern origin.

Why is Chow Chow a restricted breed? ›

While there are many dogs that are considered more dangerous, a Chow Chow is considered one of the most dangerous dogs because of a number of traits, including: Dominating personality. Very protective of owners. Mistrustful of strangers.

Is A Chow Chow A Purebred? ›

Chow Chows are bred to be strong, loyal and they are often described as independent. Sadly, as with many purebred dogs, Chow Chows are prone to certain health conditions due to how they've been bred to look.

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