Zucchini and Green Tomato Relish Recipe

Green Tomato Relish Recipe with Zucchini

The Spruce/Cara Cormack

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Standing Time: 3 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 40 servings
Yield: 4 pints

This zucchini and green tomato relish recipe is the perfect way to use up the abundance of these vegetables that might be lingering in your garden. The relish is made with zucchini and green tomatoes (of course!) along with bell peppers, onions, pickling salt and spices, garlic and other spices, then canned in clean, glass jars. 

Get ready to make this recipe by prepping the zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and onions and chopping them. We used the coarse grind of a stand mixer's grinder attachment to make this sweet relish. You can finely chop the vegetables or use a food processor to chop them if you don't have a grinder. Plan accordingly as the gound veggies need to sit in the pickling salt for three hours before mixing with the other ingredients and canning.

This is a great relish for hot dogs or burgers, or can be used as a condiment on sandwiches and salads, as a topping for potatoes, or on entrees. You can also use it to make tartar sauce. It's good with cheese too!

"This relish was delicious. I’ve been using it in all my sandwiches and burgers since making it. It’s sweet, tangy and packed with flavor. I’ve also been mixing it with mayo which is absolutely delicious as a condiment. Luckily, it makes plenty, so enough to share with friends and family!" —Cara Cormack

zucchini and green tomato relish/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups ground zucchini, from about 2 1/2 pounds zucchini

  • 2 cups ground green tomatoes, from about 1 1/2 pounds green tomatoes

  • 3 large bell peppers, red and/or yellow, ground

  • 1 large onion, ground

  • 1/3 cup pickling or canning salt

  • 3 cups cider vinegar

  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon pickling spices

  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make green tomato relish recipe with zucchini

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  2. Put the ground zucchini, green tomatoes, peppers, and onion in a large nonreactive container with the pickling or canning salt. Gently stir to combine.

    ground vegetables in glass bowl

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  3. Top with about 3 cups of ice cubes. Cover and let stand for 3 hours. 

    ground vegetables with ice cubes

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  4.  Drain and lightly rinse.

    ground vegetables draining in a colander

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  5. In a large, nonreactive pot combine the vinegar, sugar, pickling spices, mustard seeds, turmeric, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes.

    vinegar, sugar, pickling spices, mustard seeds, turmeric, and garlic in a stock pot

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  6. Add drained vegetable mixture and bring slowly to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes.

    drained vegetable mixture in stock pot

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  7. Pack into clean jars. Wipe rims with a clean damp cloth and seal with 2-part lids.

    Zucchini and Green Tomato Relish in jars

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

  8. Process in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

    jars processing in stock pot

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

Tip

For the bell peppers, you can use all red, all yellow, or mix them up and use both for a more colorful accent to the relish.

High Altitude Process Times

  • For altitudes of 1,001 to 3,000 feet, process for 15 minutes.
  • For 3,001 to 6,000 feet, process for 20 minutes.
  • Over 6,000 feet, process for 25 minutes.

How to Store

This tomato relish can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to one year. Once a jar is opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
45 Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 40
Amount per serving
Calories 45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 938mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 12mg 60%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 140mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)