Side angle shot of Homestyle Corn Relish in glass mason jars, ready for canning

Indiana is pretty well-known for its corn, and for good reason! Our hot and humid summers tend to produce the perfect conditions for sweet, juicy, delicious corn. During the summer as a kid, I had a daily ritual of going down to the garden and popping off a fresh ear of corn, shucking it, and eating it right there in the garden. Corn here grows sweet, juicy, and plump enough to eat raw!

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    Once Iโ€™ve had my fill of raw corn, boiled corn, grilled corn, and corn ice cream, I start thinking about ways to preserve corn to eat all year long. Freezing is one of the best ways to keep corn fresh-tasting and ready-to-eat at anytime, but one of my other favorite ways to use up a surplus of corn is to can some corn relish.

    Overhead shot of ingredients for homestyle corn relish - corn, peppers, cabbage, spices

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    Overhead shot of Homestyle Corn Relish cooking in a pot

    Corn relish is an amazingly versatile dish. You can use it in place of regular cucumber relish on hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats, but it also works as a salsa, mixed in with pasta, or just as a side dish on its own.

    The thing I love the most about corn relish though is how stupendously easy it is. Especially for first-time canners. Itโ€™s a great small-batch dish to get down the basics of canning. I know a lot of folks start with jams and jellies, but I think more savory dishes (like this relish or pickles) are a better way to start. No worries about additives or sugar levels. Just cook it, can it, and process it! Easy. Peasy.

    Overhead shot of Homestyle Corn Relish in glass mason jars, ready for canning

    If you are afraid of canning, I promise you have no reason to be! Canning is actually remarkably simple and incredibly rewarding. Trust me, the most satisfying sound in the world is the sound of a jar popping to seal after processing. You will feel so proud of yourself! And you get to eat delicious healthy food all year round.

    Before I dig into the recipe, here are a few tips thatโ€™ll help make the whole process go a lot more smoothly:

    • To get the kernels off the corn cob, simply place a small bowl upside down in a larger bowl. Shuck the corn and then rest the corn on the small bowl. Run your knife along the corn cob and let the kernels fall into the big bowl. You can also just use a Bundt pan in the same way (but I donโ€™t have one!). See photos of this process in this post.
    • Have all of your canning suppliesโ€”jars, lids, funnel, ladle, jar basket, jar lifter tong things, etc.โ€”washed, clean, and ready to go before you start cooking.
    • Before you twist the lids on the jars, run a damp washcloth along the top to remove any relish. Thatโ€™ll help the cans seal properly.

    Alrighty, now onto the recipe. Happy corn season. Enjoy!

    Side angle shot of Homestyle Corn Relish in glass mason jars, ready for canning

    Homestyle Corn Relish - Canned

    Yield: About 8 cups
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

    Preserve the taste of summer with this delicious and versatile corn relish! Itโ€™s a perfect canning recipe for beginners.

    Ingredients

    • Kernels from 8 ears of corn
    • 1 1/2 cups diced bell peppers (green, yellow, red, etc.)
    • 1/2 cup diced celery
    • 3 cups shredded cabbage
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1/2 cup diced onion
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard
    • 1 teaspoon celery seeds
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
    • 3 tablespoons honey
    • 2 cups vinegar
    • 1/2 cup water

    Instructions

    1. Wash and sterilize jars, rings, lids and all utensils. Prepare a water bath canner by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a simmer.
    2. To make the corn relish, combine all ingredients in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
    3. Ladle the hot relish into sterilized half-pint jars. Wipe the tops of the jars using a clean towel. Put on the lids and rings and tighten by hand.
    4. Process the jars in the prepared water bath for 20 minutes. Remove the jars from the bath and let them cool at room temperature. As the jars cool, check the seals by pressing down on top of the lids. If they still โ€œpop,โ€ they are not preserved and need to be refrigerated and used within the next few days. If they donโ€™t move, they can be labeled and stored in a cool, dark pantry.
    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1/2 cup
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 75Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 207mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

    At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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    71 Comments

    1. Your canning jars would be put to very good use. I would can dandelion hazelnut jelly. I just have two bags of frozen spring dandelion flowers in my frezer right now waiting to be use. This jelly is soooo good it taste like sun shine warmed with the good taste of hazelnut. Yummy!