Recently on the Green Tomato Relish recipe, someone commented that her family calls it chow chow, and I knew that I had additional recipes, including several for chow chow. This dish is most commonly associated with the Southern United States, Pennsylvania and some parts of Eastern Canada. While there isn’t much definitive evidence of its origins, the Indian word for chayote squash is chow chow and chayote is often used in chow chow and chutney recipes. It could also be of a Chinese or French origin, with speculation leaning toward Chinese railroad workers and French Acadians having brought their recipes to America. Regardless of the origin, chow chow, green tomato relish, chutney, relish, etc., is used as a side dish or dressing on foods as diverse as fish cakes to hot dogs.

Again this recipe calls for mangoes, but we now know that these are probably peppers.

Chow Chow

1 basket tomatoes (green)

1/2 peck onions (6 lbs)

2 bunches celery

1 doz mangoes (probably peppers)

Spices

2 cups sugar

Salt to taste

Small head of cabbage

2 handfulls salt

1 tsp celery seed

1 T mustard seed

2 tsp tumeric

1 qt vinegar

2 qts water

Small head cauliflower

Cook for at least 10 minutes or until desired softness