no takers? shucks! I was hoping someone would have an idea or recipe I could try!

Well, thanks for looking anyways.

bluejean in ohio

I have looked but no luck. That Jamaican relish is proprietary and apparently sales are limited to food service.

I think something could be re-created using one of the pepper jellies as a base; that would give you correct (and safe) proportions of peppers, onion, sugar (could use part corn syrup or honey) and vinegar. Pectin would thicken instead of the modified starch, or you could use clear jel. My guess is the watermelon rind, or perhaps all the veggies including rind, are salted or brined overnight prior to cooking.

There's an old thread on watermelon pickle and preserve ideas that would give you an idea. In fact, with time I wouldn't be surprised if originally we'd find this was some kind of southern watermelon rind relish recipe that's been modified and re-named.

My problem is I've never tasted it and never seen it in this part of the country, so I can't re-create the flavors, but if it's truly Jamaican, there might be a touch of allspice in it.

Carol

Carol, Thanks for your insight. I really appreciate it and the efforts you made to find it for me. The consistancy is very similar to pepper jelly- so my thoughts were I could recreate it some how. I will experiment a little and see what I can come up with.

I wish there was a way I could send you some. I send my mom in occasionally for a jar (she sells it by the jar to the public), but it wouldn't be sealed and I don't know how I would be able to send it and keep it fresh.

I guess the next time I go I will buy a jar and then make some small batches and experiment with it and compare and taste and compare and adjust.

Thanks again for you help. I really appreciate it.

bluejean in ohio

Bluejean

there was an amazing recipe for red pepper jam that was printed here last year. I don't have the recipe with me at home but I could bring it and type it for you, or you could probably find it by doing a search, or someone has it. A lot of the ingredients are similar to yours, and there are tomatoes that you could probably replace with the melon rind. I will look for it if you want.

Marie

It's me again, found it on the forum, faster than having to go to the store to retrieve it. Even if it's not exactly what you are looking for, I think you can start with this as a base, replace some of the hot pepper and tomatoes with green pepper and rind and adjust the rest. This recipe was perfect as it for other people who feel inclined to try it also.

Shirley's H & D Taste-Alike

"I used my Cuisinart to chop all the peppers. Tomatoes were peeled, seeded and diced very small. The onion was diced using the Julienne blade of my V-slicer."

12 med Red bell peppers
10 jalapenos
5 assorted green, yellow or red hot peppers
5 large plum tomatoes
1 large onion. Any kind will do.
2 cups white vinegar
3 cups granulated sugar

Remove seeds and white membrane from red peppers
Remove HALF the seeds from the jalapenos
Remove half the seeds from the other hots.
Chop peppers in food processor

Place in bowl with prepared tomatoes and onion. Sprinkle with 1 Tbls. canning salt. Let stand about 1 hour.
Drain off liquid. I use my quart capacity strainer with a handle. The holes are smaller than my colander. You don't want any of the small pepper pieces falling through.

Place peppers, onions and tomatoes in cooking pot and add sugar and vinegar. Cook over medium heat until thick as you like. Usually 30 or 45 minutes is plenty. You can almost tell by the texture.
Ladle into jam jars and seal.
Process 20 minutes in Hot water bath.

I realize this is an old thread, but did anyone ever work out a recipe for the Jamaican Relish? I've come across a recipe that calls for it, so if someone has a version they are happy with, I'd like to try that. Otherwise, I'll experiment and see what I can come up with on my own.

Thanks!

I know it has been a long time since this original post but the closest thing I have found to the original product is "Onion & Pepper Relish" made by Harry & David in Oregon. It is available on the internet but only in 11 oz. jars at a cost of $5.95 per jar. It is available in classic (Spicy) or sweet formulas.

Did a bit of an internet search and found this recipe... it is basically a 'sweet' fruit salsa in "modern" terms... I suggest that you do more research to determine the safety of this recipe for canning, however. http://www.attainable-sustainable.net/watermelon-rind-relish/

I use to get hamburgers at a little bar in Lynchburg, Va that had a Jamaican red relish that was the best I had ever had by far. The owner told me he got it through Sexton Foods as I remember but they said it was discontinued a while back. After much searching I found a guy in Easton, Pa who owns a seafood restaurant there who had the same experience I did. He discovered it in a cafe in his same town that kept it in little jars on every table. He loved it so much after putting it on his hamburger that he asked a cafe waiter if he still had one of the gallon jars that it came in and he did! He was able to take the contents in the order they were listed back to his cooks at his restaurant and after much experimentation testing they nailed it. I actually called him to ask if he would ship me several jars and that I would gladly pay him for his trouble. He said that he would not ship it but I could come by and buy all I wanted. Unfortunately, he is located about 6-7 hours from me. The name of his restaurant is Marblehead Chowder House in Easton, Pa., 4101 William Penn Hwy, Easton, Pa and the phone number is 610-258-4301. If he could only be pursuaded to ship several pint jars at a time that would be great. He says that he is the only place in the county still making Jamaican Red Relish and I know it's the same one I use to always eat on hamburgers because the owner of the little bar where I would eat it gave me a free trial size jar of it and I remember reading the ingredients and one of them was, as the guy at the seafood restaurant described it, "some quirky ingredients,
mainly pickled watermelon rind" and I definitely remember seeing that ingredient. If you are able to make any headway with him and he possibly agrees to ship to you will you please notify me so I can try him again. It's been several years since I last spoke with him. My email is kwdi@comcast.net or if you want to call me my phone is 434-384-9397. Thanks and I hope you have some luck! Kenny Wright

It's a food-service item. If you know a restaurant owner they may be able to get it for you. The original Jamaican Relish was Sexton brand, it's now been re branded under "Monarch". It's sold by US Foods & it's AMAZE BALLS!!!

I would love to see what recipe you ended up with!