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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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

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  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 is North Carolina chow chow? ›

Chowchow is as Southern as buttermilk, and one of the South's most important relishes. Chowchow is a pickled relish dish that was used to preserve summer vegetables for later in the year.

What is house made 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? ›

Peppers, green tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices make the base of Chow Chow.

What does chow chow taste like? ›

Simply put, chow chow is a relish made using late summer produce. Green tomatoes were the inspiration for this chow chow, so they are the centerpiece of the recipe. The flavor definitely skews on the side of tangy versus sweet in order to keep that fresh garden taste.

What is Charleston chow chow? ›

This pickled condiment can be eaten by itself or used to top dishes for some added tang, crunch and salt. For many in the Carolinas, chow chow is as much of a mealtime staple as barbecue sauce.

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.

What is Southern chow chow made of? ›

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 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's the difference between Piccalilli and chow chow? ›

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 goes good with chow chow? ›

DIRECTIONS:
  • With cold roast beef.
  • On top of steamed veggies.
  • On mashed potatoes.
  • A southern favorite - on top of your favorite type of cooked beans! (pinto, white beans, or red beans)
  • On a Po' Boy sandwich.
  • Any kind of salad! ...
  • Top a baked potato with chili & chow chow!
  • Use on a BBQ pulled pork sandwich or a sloppy joe.

Is chow chow good for gut health? ›

Good For The Gut:

An ample presence of flavonoids, plant compounds in Chayote prevent constipation, regulate bowel movement, maintain the growth of healthy gut bacteria thus optimizing various functions of digestive tract.

Why is it called chow chow? ›

The name Chow Chow may derive from an English term used in the 19th century to refer to cargo from East Asia; however, some sources note that it may derive from the Chinese word for “edible.” The Chow Chow is built compactly, with a large head and a thick coat that forms a dense ruff about the neck.

Which part of Chow Chow is edible? ›

It is a perennial rooted vine that bears edible fruits. In addition to fruit, stem, tender leaves and tuberous roots are also eaten. The root, stem and seed contain high calorific value and carbohydrate content. It is mainly propagated by means of seed (whole fruit with seed)/ sprouted fruits.

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. In some countries it is called cho-cho, pipinola, pear squash, vegetable pear or choko.

How long does chow chow last in the fridge? ›

Unopened jars will stay good for up to a year when stored in a cool, dry area. After the jars of Chow Chow relish have been opened, store them in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4 months.

What are the two types of Chow Chows? ›

The chow chow comes in two coat types. The rough coat is straight and off-standing. The smooth coat is hard and smooth. Both coat types have wooly undercoats.

Are there two types of chow chow? ›

Various colors and basically two coat types, smooth and rough coated. Black, red, cinnamon and cream colored chows are most common but there are some other colors.

What are the different types of chow chow? ›

There are different types of chow breeds, some of them are, black chow chow, blue chow chow, white chow chow, this differentiation is made on the basis of the fur or coat color. Originally chow dogs were bred as a basal breed used for hunting, guarding and herding, they were also owned by kings as war dogs.

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