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Keaton Larson
Relish is a condiment we’ve all seen at cookouts and ballparks. It packs a punch of tangy, acidic flavor that complements hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
Relish takes on all kinds of different flavors, depending on what you add to the recipe. Sweet pickle relish is the classic version to serve, but that’s just the beginning. There’s corn relish, sweet zucchini relish, and spicy relishes of all kinds.
I substitute spicy relish for sweet relish on most occasions. One of my favorite relish recipes is Christopholofigus’ deliciously spicy Infamous Jalapeño Relish.
Christopholofigus’ Jalapeño Relish
What makes Christopholofigus Jalapeño Relish ”infamous,” as it’s name suggests? Probably the spice. This recipe uses two parts pickled jalapeños to one part dill pickles. There’s also a dash or two of hot sauce, so the result is a hot and bright condiment.
"Don't be intimidated at first bite; the heat hits you up front, yet is gone before you have time to swallow," says reviewer lovestohost. "It's good stuff!"
There is another ingredient that makes the recipe unique: tequila. There's only a tablespoon in the recipe—so it's not enough to give anyone a buzz. But the small amount contributes to the final flavor, as does the garlic, diced onions, fresh black pepper, and fresh dill.
This recipe is so good, I could eat it by the spoonful. I may be in the minority on that, but I love it. There are two ways to make this recipe: with a food processor or with a knife.
If you're using a food processor, add all the ingredients straight in and pulse several times until the relish is finely chopped and thoroughly mixed. The relish will be more rustic and chunky if you dice up all the ingredients with a knife, but it is my preferred method (I don't own a food processor). Once all the ingredients are combined, chill the mixture in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
If you want to decrease the heat, reduce the amount of jalapeños or hot sauce. Some reviewers use a 1:1 ratio for the pickles and pickled jalapeños, so this recipe can be made to suit your personal tastes.
Mary Griedl-Lee Johnson
"I will always have this relish in hand! Made it for a cookout—it was a big hit. I didn't change anything, and I don't think I ever will."
— Mary Griedl-Lee Johnson
How to Use This Relish
Reviewers speak to how versatile this relish is, and I agree. Whatever you want to add a little spice and acidity to, this recipe will be your best friend.
- Watermelon: Recipe creator Christopholofigus swears that this relish is unbeatable on fresh, sweet watermelon.
- Hot dogs and hamburgers: If you want to shake up your traditional potluck, bring this relish and make a spicy statement.
- Sandwiches: A good spicy relish can do wonders for delicatessen-style sandwiches. Add this to subs, tuna sandwiches, or classic chicken sandwiches.
- Dips, sauces, and spreads: If you’re making a sauce or dip from scratch—or you’re trying to spruce up a store-bought one—this relish does the trick. Because of the bright, acidic nature of this recipe, it’s great to combine with creamy condiments. Whether you have 1000 Island dressing, Catalina dressing, tartar sauce, or a secret sauce that’s wholly your own, this recipe does the trick.
- Comfort salads: Tuna, macaroni, and potato salads are all great recipes to mix in some spicy relish with.
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
Don't take it from me, the Allrecipes community has plenty of praise for this relish. See what they love most about this recipe:
- “Oh wow…this is great! I did double the onion and garlic because I could not help myself and it was perfect for us,” says reviewer Texasbelle. “We had it on hot dogs but it will be good on so many things. We will also, as others have stated, always have this on hand it is that good.”
- “Good stuff to have around! It lasts forever in the fridge, and can be used a million ways,” says reviewer AZ. “Dress up a boring turkey sandwich, burger, hot dog…add to tuna salad, or you can even add it to cream cheese/sour cream to make a spicy party dip to go with veggies and crackers.”
- “This is AWESOME! Served it with Oklahoma cheese grits, and both were gone before anything else on the table,” says Allrecipes member JMCCURTAIN.
- “A friend made this, and it was incredible,” says reviewer Lmullin. “I immediately went home and made some. This relish is so versatile. Hotdogs and hamburgers become gourmet with this relish. Another friend put it into her salmon dip. It’s good on eggs too. Have fun experimenting!”
Get the recipe: Christopholofigus’ Infamous Jalapeño Relish
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