Chow-chow (food)
Chow-chow is a North American pickled relish with unclear origins. Some say it started in the American South, others think it came from Canada with Acadian migrants, and another idea is that Chinese railway workers brought it.
It’s usually made from chopped green tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and peppers. Sometimes carrots, cauliflower, beans, and peas are added. The mixture is put in a jar and pickled.
Chow-chow can be eaten by itself or used as a condiment on foods like fish cakes, mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, pinto beans, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
There are different versions: Northern (mostly Pennsylvania) and Southern, and a Canadian version called “chow” in the Maritimes. The Northern version uses many vegetables (green and red tomatoes, onions, carrots, beans, asparagus, cauliflower, and peas); the Southern version uses mostly green tomatoes or cabbage; the Canadian version uses mostly green tomatoes or cabbage.
Chow-chow is served cold after pickling.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:16 (CET).