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Onion Relish Recipe

This onion relish recipe is perfect for spring and summer barbecues! It is a great substitute for pickle relish and delicious with hot dogs and sausages.

onion relish in a mason jar

We love to grill at The Thirsty Feast.

We grill multiple times a week and painstakingly clean and maintain our grill to its original condition.

It has its own cover and that, for the most part, protects it from hail damage and errant wildlife. It is cute and amusing to me at the same time.

I usually leave the grill to an expert and experiment with homemade condiments instead.

onion relish picture

Onion Relish Recipe

I am born and raised in Chicago and am no stranger to relish.

The Chicago dog with its myriad of toppings, including that green relish reminiscent of ectoplasm, is my favorite.

“Must love pickle relish,” I want to say and am considering putting that on a t-shirt.

For those that detest pickle relish (what an un-Chicago-like quality), this recipe is for you.

I decided to create a delicious onion relish recipe with red and white onions for everyone that cringes at the sight of bright green relish.

onion relish on a sausage in a bun

How to Make Onion Relish

The hardest part about making this relish is cutting the onions.

Cut them in half through the root and then cut into thin slivers.

Try to slice uniformly. I often go back and make sure the big pieces from the ends are cut down to the right size.

This recipe is very easy to make and is perfect on top of hot dogs and sausages!

I usually add a little mustard but I don’t think it’s really necessary thanks to the delicious tangy flavor the onion relish has.

I have not canned this yet, so I don’t know if it is suitable for canning. I imagine it is and will update here when I’ve canned a batch or two.

onion relish in a jar with a fork
onion relish in a mason jar picture

Onion Relish Recipe

This onion relish recipe is perfect for spring and summer barbecues! It is a great substitute for pickle relish and delicious with hot dogs and sausages.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Calories: 14.1kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • ½ cup red onion thinly slivered
  • ½ cup white onion thinly slivered
  • ¼ cup green bell pepper julienned

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar and sugar over medium low heat. Warm and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Add the red onion, white onion and bell pepper. Stir to coat, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for one hour. Then transfer to a sealable container and refrigerate to cool for at least 2 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 14.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.9g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.03g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 30.2mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 14.1IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 4.8mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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4.50 from 20 votes (20 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Mark

Sunday 30th of May 2021

I think it would be eminently freezable, so I will try a large batch and freeze in small used relish jars, keep one in the fridge and freeze the rest.

Sandra

Friday 26th of February 2021

After you add the onions and bell pepper do you turn off the heat?

Marlene

Friday 22nd of April 2022

@Sandra, Hi Sandra, I haven’t made this recipe, but checked other recipes and they say to stir in the onions cover & remove from heat. Hope this helps. Marlene

Harold

Saturday 12th of August 2017

I found this on Pinterest and followed your link. This is absolutely the best relish out there, hands down. Thank you so very much for sharing. Harold

Jenny

Sunday 13th of August 2017

Thank you Harold!! I'm so glad to hear your feedback!

Miz Helen

Monday 31st of July 2017

Your Onion Relish will be fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back to see us real soon! Miz Helen

Virginia

Tuesday 25th of July 2017

Thank you for the recipe. Pinned it.