Zucchini Corn Relish

This zucchini sweet corn relish is a wonderfully fresh and flavorful addition to your summer cooking repertoire. It's incredibly easy to make with the summer flavor of zucchini, corn and peppers. Trust me, once you try this relish - you'll be hooked!

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Contents

🌟 Why this recipe works
🍽 Key Ingredients
🔪 How to make
💭 Expert tips
📖 Recipe Variations
🥗 What to serve with
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
🧊 Storage
🍳 Related Canning Recipes
👪 Serving Size
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

🌟 Why this recipe works

Corn relish is the perfect condiment for any BBQ that's easy to make using this canning method. Its flavor will complement any meat or salad you serve it with.

This corn relish is so flavorful with the sweetness from the summer corn, sugar, and bell pepper, while the vinegar adds a subtle tang. It will add life to any dish with just a few simple pantry ingredients.

Any home cook can make this tasty relish in no time that will provide you with enough jars to last over a year to serve with your favorite recipes, and watch your guests rave about it!

You’ll love how colorful this corn relish is! The green bell peppers and zucchini give it a beautiful green hue, while the corn kernels and turmeric powder add a touch of yellow. It’s sure to be the star of your next potluck or BBQ.

Compared to store-bought corn relish that uses artificial ingredients and costs a few bucks per jar, this fresh corn relish canning recipe is more affordable and has a superior taste.

🍽 Key Ingredients

This sweet corn relish uses colorful fresh pantry vegetables and warming aromatic spices.

Vegetables - Using fresh produce for this relish will maximize the color and flavor. Use Fresh corn kernels, green, yellow, and red bell peppers, zucchini, and onions.

Vinegar - We're using 2 types: red wine vinegar to give the relish a beautiful vibrant red color and white vinegar for its strength.

Spices - The spices make a big difference to the overall taste, and ground turmeric, celery seed, and mustard seed are perfect aromatic spices for relish recipes.

Sugar - Use white granulated sugar as it dissolves better and doesn't change the corn mixture color, unlike brown sugar.

Salt - Use canning salt or pickling salt.

Substitutions

Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is commonly used for relish recipes and is a perfect substitute for red wine vinegar. You can use apple cider vinegar as a 1:1 substitution.

Salt

You can use kosher salt as a substitute for canning salt as long as it doesn't contain anti-caking chemicals. Use the conversion of 1 teaspoon of canning salt to 1 ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt.

🔪 How to make

This zucchini, sweet corn relish recipe is super easy to make using this canning method. Once the relish mixture has been cooked, it is transferred to tightly sealed jars and processed in the canner.

Preparations

Step 1
Without removing the peel, chop the zucchini into small pieces with a knife.

Step 2
Chop one large red pepper, one yellow pepper, and one green pepper. I don't have a photo of a green pepper but I'm getting a ton of them out of the garden this year. Also, chop 3 medium size onions.

Step 3
You will also need about 4-5 ears of corn. Use a knife to cut the kernels from the cobs.

Cooking Instructions

Step 1
Place all of the chopped veggies in a large bowl. Sprinkle ½ cup canning salt on the top and then add enough cold water to the bowl to cover the veggies. *Note: do not use regular salt because the additives in regular salt will make a cloudy mixture.

Step 2
Cover and allow to stand at room temperature for 3 hours.

Step 3
Transfer vegetable mixture to a large colander set in the sink. Rinse with cold water and drain.

Step 4
In an 8-10 quart heavy pot, combine red wine vinegar, white vinegar, water, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes.

Step 5
Add the drained vegetable mixture and return to a boil. Reduce the heat again, and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 6
Ladle into hot, sterilized pint jars, leaving a ½-inch headspace. Remove any air pockets, wipe rims, and apply prepared lids and rings. Tighten rings just until fingertip-tight.

Step 7
Place jars in a boiling water canner and process for 15 minutes. Turn off the canner and let the jars stand in water for 5 minutes. Transfer jars to a towel-lined surface and let rest at room temperature until cooled. Check seals and store in a cool, dark place.

💭 Expert tips

Chunky or smooth relish

Chop the vegetables into small pieces for a chunky relish that looks great. Alternatively, if you want a smoother consistency, you can use a food processor to finely chops the vegetables.

📖 Recipe Variations

Mix up your corn relish with these three variations using the same recipe.

Roasted corn relish

Roasting the corn, zucchinis, and bell peppers before chopping and salting them adds a fantastic smokiness to the relish. You can roast them on a BBQ or char them in the oven under the broiler.

Spicy corn relish

If you want your relish spicy, feel free to add 1 or 2 chopped jalapenos and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or chili powder.

Black bean corn relish

Make your relish even more delicious and heartier with 1 can of drained black beans. Mix the beans with the chopped vegetables when salting them, then boil the soaked mixture as instructed.

🥗 What to serve with

Sweet corn relish is the perfect condiment to WOW your guests with the sweet and tangy flavors and vibrant mixture of colors at any event.

This relish is perfect for serving meats on BBQs, like burgers, hot dogs, and slow-cooker ribs.

Mixed into salads or spooned on top of Mexican dishes like burritos, tacos, and nachos.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to use corn starch in canning?

No, when using thickeners such as corn starch, it interferes with the heat penetrating the jars in the canner while also turning the liquid inside the relish thick and cloudy.

Can you pressure can corn relish?

Yes, but it is not advisable. Pressure canning relish would destroy the chunky texture of the vegetables and turn them into much. Using the boiling water bath method is the best way to ensure the relish is preserved from bacteria and keeps its texture.

🧊 Storage

You can easily store this sweet corn relish in jars for well over a year, and it will stay as fresh as the day you canned them.

Unopen

You can store the homemade relish at room temperature in the jars for up to 12 months in a cupboard or shelf away from direct sunlight. And in the fridge for 12 to 18 months.

Opened

Once the jars have been opened, the relish will need to be transferred to the fridge and eaten within a month.

You will notice the relish turning sour once it loses its texture and flavor, which usually happens after the 3rd to 4th week, depending on how tight the jars are sealed and how long the jars were left open to air in use.

If you like my zucchini corn relish recipe. Try one of my fantastic canning recipes for your next meal.

👪 Serving Size

This sweet corn relish recipe will give you enough relish to fill 8 to 10 medium-sized jars, which is enough to last for several months.

Corn relish is the perfect condiment for any BBQ. It’s easy to make, flavorful, and has many vibrant colors that will brighten up any table. Whether you’re serving it on meats or salads, the relish is a must-have this summer.

If you want to try something new this year, give our zucchini corn relish recipe a go. You won’t be disappointed!

Looking for more canning recipes? Check my best mason jars recipes and tomato canning recipes collection with delicious recipes that you can make at home.

📋 Recipe