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Spicy Red Pepper Relish

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on June 17, 2020

Time

40 minutes, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Makes about 1 cup

Spicy Red Pepper Relish

Ingredients

2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces2 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces1 small onion, chopped3 garlic cloves, peeled½ cup distilled white vinegar ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds ½ teaspoon table salt

Instructions

  1. Pulse bell peppers and jalapeños in food processor until coarsely chopped into 1/4‑inch pieces, 8 to 10 pulses; transfer to large bowl. Pulse onion and garlic in now-empty food processor until coarsely chopped into 1/4‑inch pieces, about 10 pulses; transfer to bowl with bell pepper mixture.
  2. Bring vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, and salt to boil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add vegetable mixture, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened, 15 to 18 minutes.
  3. Let relish cool slightly, then transfer to airtight container and let cool to room temperature. (Relish can be refrigerated for up to 3 months; flavor will deepen over time.)
Spicy Red Pepper Relish
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Marie Piraino.

Spicy Red Pepper Relish

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

40 minutes, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients

2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
2 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled
½ cup distilled white vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
½ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
2 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled
½ cup distilled white vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
½ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

2 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
2 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1‑inch pieces
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled
½ cup distilled white vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
½ teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

For acidity and added sweetness, we used equal parts white vinegar and sugar, which tempered the chiles’ heat. A quick simmer on the stovetop let the sweet and spicy notes of the relish meld.

Instructions

  1. Pulse bell peppers and jalapeños in food processor until coarsely chopped into 1/4‑inch pieces, 8 to 10 pulses; transfer to large bowl. Pulse onion and garlic in now-empty food processor until coarsely chopped into 1/4‑inch pieces, about 10 pulses; transfer to bowl with bell pepper mixture.
  2. Bring vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, and salt to boil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add vegetable mixture, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened, 15 to 18 minutes.
  3. Let relish cool slightly, then transfer to airtight container and let cool to room temperature. (Relish can be refrigerated for up to 3 months; flavor will deepen over time.)

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