Tomato relish recipe

Make the most of the last of the tomato season with this piquant relish. Photo / Fresh Media

A good relish can take the humble cheese sandwich to new heights. Try it as an accompaniment to cold meats or give a jar of relish as a homemade gift.

This is an old family recipe that has a subtle spiciness. Adjust the amount of chillis depending on their heat level. This is meant to be a family-friendly relish, not a super spicy one.

Tomato relish

Makes 4 jars

Ingredients

1kg of tomatoes

4 large onions

600ml white vinegar

1 ¾ cups sugar

1 Tbsp curry powder

1 ½ tsp mustard

2-3 small fresh red chillies

2 Tbsp flour

1 tsp salt

Method

1. Chop the tomatoes and onions, sprinkle with the salt and stand overnight.
2. Drain the next day, and then boil in vinegar for 10 minutes.
3. Add the sugar, finely chopped chillies, and other ingredients, mixed to a paste with a little vinegar.
4. Simmer gently for 1 hour or until thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent it from catching on the bottom of the pan.
5. Pour into sterilised jars while still hot.

Afterword

Make sure the chopped vegetables are well drained after standing overnight, otherwise, the relish will be too runny. Simmer for a bit longer than 1 hour if necessary to reduce the amount of fluid, but the relish will thicken a little as it cools.

– fresh.co.nz