Ingredients
- 1.5 kg green tomatoes, finely chopped
- 500 g onions, finely chopped
- 250 g sweet peppers, finely chopped
- 60 g pickling salt
- 500 ml cider vinegar
- 240 ml Québec maple syrup
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp celery seeds
- 0.5 tsp turmeric
Method
- Mix tomatoes, onions, and peppers with salt; cover and refrigerate for 8 hours, then rinse and drain.
- Combine the vegetables with vinegar, maple syrup, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric.
- Simmer uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes until tender and thick, stirring frequently.
- Pack into hot sterilized jars, seal, and process in boiling water for 10 minutes.
Conversion and rationale
Original sweetener (classic version): 450 g white sugar
Conversion used: Replace the sugar with 240 ml maple syrup and omit any extra water; simmer uncovered until the relish is spoon-thick, allowing for the syrup's added moisture. No oven adjustment.
Why Quebec maple syrup: Maple balances the sharpness of green tomatoes and vinegar while contributing a mild toasted note. This preserves the traditional sweet-tart relish style with a distinctly local Québec ingredient.
General rule: 1 cup (250 ml) sugar ≈ 3/4 cup (180 ml) maple syrup; reduce liquids by 45–60 ml per cup of syrup and lower oven by 15 °C. Substitution calculator →