Ribs, fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread may be quintessential Southern dishes, but have you heard of chow chow (and no, I don’t mean the adorable dog breed by the same name)? I was delighted to try the pickled relish condiment during a Carolina food tour years ago, but what I didn’t realize was that for many in the region, chow chow is as much of a mealtime staple as barbecue sauce. In fact, its use has inspired an entire three-month culinary event series held annually in Asheville, North Carolina.
To break down the delicacy that is as fun to say as it is delicious, I chatted with Asheville chefs Ashleigh Shanti and Brian Crow for their expertise and thoughts on its history, preparation and presentation. Shanti has also graciously provided her drool-worthy lemon pepper pork rinds and green tomato chow chow recipe that showcases the dish in its most decadent form.
Ashleigh Shanti
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Lemon Pepper Pork Rinds and Green Tomato Chow Chow
Ashleigh Shanti
What is chow chow?
Chow chow is a pickled relish condiment that's typically made from a variety of vegetables. It can be eaten by itself or used to top dishes for some added tang, crunch and salt.
“There is no ‘traditional’ version and it varies by region and season,” said Shanti, a freelance chef living in Asheville, who said the North has even taken a stab at their own iteration.
“I’d compare it to other pickled items, like sauerkraut,” added Crow, executive chef of Chestnut. “It’s in that family of items that have been chopped up and pickled. (It’s) almost like a mignonette with bigger pieces of vegetables.”
What is the history of chow chow?
“The origin of chow chow in the South was to use up ingredients in your pantry,” said Shanti. “Southern cooking is rooted in cooking with scarcity and making the most out of what you had. There’s such pride in homegrown cooking in the South and people aren’t willing to throw out even the tiniest amount. Chow chow is a way of using up every little piece and highlighting the ingredients that you’ve put so much care into growing."
The late Southern food historian John Egerton claimed that the canned concoction’s origins can be linked to the flavorful sauces that Chinese railroad workers brought over in the 19th century. "The Food Lover’s Companion" also printed a similar recipe with ginger and orange peels that may have served as the foundation for chow chow’s popularity. But still, due to the dish’s many iterations, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact story or recipe that truly brought this amalgamation of pickled veggies to life.
What makes a chow chow authentic?
Like most dishes that have survived generations, chow chow has evolved over the years.
“There is no one ingredient that makes the dish,” said Shanti, though most modern-day recipes call for cabbage as a way to “bulk it up.”
Ultimately, you’re just going to want to add pickling spices and vinegar to whatever vegetables you have available. This will give the condiment its signature tangy flavor, no matter how you customize it.
What foods does chow chow pair best with?
Because it does an excellent job of cutting through the notoriously rich and heavy foods of the South, chow chow is versatile in its use.
“If I had to pick, I’d say it goes really well with cornbread or fried catfish,” said Crow, but he wouldn’t limit its use. That being said, he is certainly a stickler for authenticity in its taste and texture and wouldn’t recommend any creative or clever spins. “Maybe a puree could be interesting but I think that’d take away from the dish itself.”
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Stefan DeArmon's Cornbread
Stefan DeArmon
The Chow Chow festival
Beyond its role as a humble side, the beloved chow chow has led to a summer-long food series in Asheville. While chow chow isn’t just the primary focus, its preparation, history and diverse ingredients have symbolically inspired the feasts by bringing people together from all walks of life.
“The event series isn’t a series of chow chow focused events, but the concept mimics the creation of a chow chow,” says Jawbreaking Creative’s Jefferson Ellison, the publicist for the event. “It’s different types of people coming together in various ways with a common goal and a greater purpose.”
“Chow chow, the condiment, has such strong roots in this region,” he added. “The point of the Chow Chow event series is to celebrate the specific foodways and cultures of Southern Appalachia. So in this way, it almost becomes an eponym.”
If you’re interested in experiencing an event yourself, a full schedule can be found here. This year’s showcase kicks off June 27 and will go until Sept. 26. In the meantime, why not take a stab at making chow chow yourself? The green tomato base is a nod (whether intentional or not) to classic Southern movie "Fried Green Tomatoes," but I can assure you the secret isn’t in the sauce. The secret is chow chow itself — and it’s likely to become a permanent fixture on your dinner table.
Joey Skladany
Joeyis a writer/editor, TV/radio personality, lifestyle expert, former entertainment publicist and author of "Basic Bitchen."
A traditional Southern meal may include pan-fried chicken, field peas (such as black-eyed peas), greens (such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, or poke sallet), mashed potatoes, cornbread or corn pone, sweet tea, and dessert—typically a pie (sweet potato, chess, shoofly, pecan, and peach are the most ...
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cuisine_of_the_Southern_Un...
as buttermilk, and one of the South's most important relishes. Chowchow is a pickled relish dish that was used to preserve summer vegetables for later in the year. Recipes for the relish are highly regional, and tend to be generational recipes, passed down through families.
Simply put, chow chow is a relish made using late summer produce. Green tomatoes were the inspiration for this chow chow, so they are the centerpiece of the recipe. The flavor definitely skews on the side of tangy versus sweet in order to keep that fresh garden taste.
Chowchow is a pickled relish and Southern staple, good on just about anything. A great way to preserve and use up an abundance of summer vegetables, classic chowchow versions typically include tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and cabbage, all pickled in a sweet or spicy brine, depending on how you like yours.
You can use chow chow as you would any other kind of pickled relish. Use it as a topping for hot dogs, hamburgers, or barbeque. It's also commonly used to give a little spunk to a bowl of beans or a side of cornbread. You can even make a delicious appetizer by adding a little atop a cracker with cream cheese spread.
Mix the onions, peppers, and tomatoes with the cooked vegetables in a large heavy kettle. Bring the vinegar to boiling and stir in a mixture of the sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, dry mustard, and turmeric.
Typically it's a salty, tangy, and slightly sweet tasting condiment. In chowchows with a green tomato base, they might taste brighter and more tart. Some people make chowchows very vinegar-forward, while others add quite a bit of sugar to make it sweet.
Chow Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is unique by their purple/blue-black tongue which no other breed has except Shar Pei, and has very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait.
The chow chow comes in two coat types. The rough coat is straight and off-standing. The smooth coat is hard and smooth. Both coat types have wooly undercoats.
The one consistent difference seems to be that Chutneys have a spreadable consistency that is consistent to preserves, whereas Chow-Chow is chunky but, without the “spreadable” consistency.
Chow chow and piccalilli are often mistaken for each other, yet although similar, they are slightly different. Picalilli relish simply has more vegetables in it than chow chow relish—that's the main difference between these two relishes.
Chow chow is a pickled relish condiment made from a variety of vegetables. Its origins are traced back to the South as a way to use up ingredients in the pantry. There's no traditional chow chow recipe and it can vary from region to region, but the main ingredient is typically green cabbage.
As a condiment spread on your hamburger, hot dog, bratwurst, veggie burger or lamb burger. Lamb Kebabs with Chow Chow relish. A topping on your omelet; spicy relish for your western omelet. Use spicy or hot pepper relish as a dip for pretzels or crackers.
Health issues for the Chow Chow may include eyelid entropion, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, allergies, and thyroid function. These issues may be minimized by health screening, responsible breeding, and regular health care and can be diagnosed and managed with veterinary care.
The word chow is an informal way to say "food" or "meal." Someone happily gobbling tacos might say, "I just love Mexican chow," or your dad might open up a pizza delivery box and yell, "Time for chow, everybody!" Chow is an American English word that originated in California around 1856, from the Chinese pidgin English ...
This quick, no-bake puppy snack mix will also answer to other names such as Muddy Buddies, Muddy Munch, Monkey Munch, or Reindeer Chow. Think of it as sweet chocolate and peanut butter Chex mix.
Chow Chow is a pickled vegetable relish traditionally made from Green Tomatoes, Cabbage, Onion, Bell Pepper, and Vinegar. It's a southern thing I guess but it is SO good! I used to put it on everything when I lived in Texas and it goes especially good with Pinto Beans and Cornbread!
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