FOOD NEWS
The Unexpected Relish Switch For Worcestershire Sauce
BY CHLOE O'DONNELL
Since it's made with anchovies and barley malt vinegar, Worcestershire sauce is off limits if you’re vegetarian or gluten intolerant. However, chow chow makes a good replacement.
With roots in the southern U.S., chow chow is a relish made of pickled vegetables. It's tangy, fermented, and slightly spicy like Worcestershire, and can even be used similarly.
Chow chow can be added to chili, barbecue, or anything else that needs some tang. The relish varies regionally, but often includes green tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions.
A standard version of chow chow uses green tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, green chili peppers, sugar, horseradish, white vinegar, and various spices.
Chop up and combine the tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers with a few pinches of salt, then let the mixture sit for 12 hours so the salt can extract liquid from the vegetables.
Separate the veggies, then mix in chopped chili peppers, vinegar, sugar, and horseradish. Tie the spices in a cheesecloth and boil the sachet with the vegetables for 15 minutes.
Jar the veggies and keep them at room temp for a couple of weeks. After opening and enjoying your vegetarian replacement for Worcestershire sauce, store it in the fridge.