By Millie Peartree
Updated Oct. 12, 2023
- Total Time
- 40 minutes
- Prep Time
- 15 minutes
- Cook Time
- 25 minutes
- Rating
- 4(145)
- Notes
- Read community notes
It’s spicy, it’s sweet, it’s tangy. A perfect condiment, watermelon chow chow has a bright freshness and a gentle crunch that mellows with time. It renders a sweet and spicy kick to anything it’s spooned over, whether you’re serving it with grilled meats, like hot dogs or hot links, or collard greens.
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Ingredients
Yield:4 cups (about 2 tablespoons per serving as a condiment)
- ½cup granulated sugar
- ¼cup dried hibiscus
- 1½pounds watermelon, rind removed, cut into ½-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
- ¼cup chopped and seeded English cucumber
- ¼cup chopped red onion
- ¼cup pickled jalapeños, chopped, plus ¼ cup pickled jalapeño brine
- 1teaspoon lemon juice
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Preparation
Step
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Prepare the hibiscus simple syrup: Add the sugar and ½ cup water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Off heat, stir in the hibiscus, and let steep for at least 15 minutes. Strain into a glass jar and seal tightly with a lid. (Hibiscus simple syrup will keep, refrigerated, for about 1 month and is great in co*cktails or seltzer.)
Step
2
In a bowl or a quart container, combine the watermelon, cucumber, onion and jalapeños. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Step
3
Add jalapeño brine, lemon juice and ¼ cup of the hibiscus simple syrup to the watermelon mixture, and mix to combine.
Step
4
Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for about 15 minutes. Serve as a condiment on hot links and greens, or as a relish.
Ratings
4
out of 5
145
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Cooking Notes
D. Ward
Make ahead tip: Watermelon lets off lots of water, water so keep those cubes separate from everything else and drain right before you mix in to serve.
elinde
I order dried hibiscus from a great CO-based spice company, Savory Spice, for anyone wondering where to source it. Often have free shipping specials.
SEW
I believe they are referring to jarred jalepenos. You can find them in most any supermarket. Look in the aisle where the dill and sweet pickles are. Hope that helps.
ASB
Regarding dried hibiscus, check your local Hispanic market or the Hispanic foods section of your supermarket. If your area has a significant Latino population, you'll likely be able to find flor de jamaica for much cheaper than ordering it online.Slightly less cheap option: check the herbal teas for plain hibiscus tea (a couple bags would probably work fine for infusing syrup), or if you have a local tea shop they may have it in bulk. It makes a wonderfully tart tea, especially great iced!
Mary Young
I make this with diced jalapeños but only takes 15 minutes to make picked jalapeños (1 part water, 1 part white vinegar, 1 TB sugar, 1TB salt, heated and then allowed to cool). Pour over jalapeños and wait 10-15 minutes.
wendy
I couldn't lay my hands on hibiscus, so I used raw honey and it's delicious.
alisa
so delicious and gorgeous! but between the watermelon releasing a *ton* of water, the addition of the jalapeno brine, & the hibiscus syrup, this was a rather wet dish - even with draining the watermelon multiple times beforehand. may be better if the watermelon is allowed to dry out after dicing!
Diana
Too hot to cook. I grilled chicken large cubes on skewers pre-marinated for 4 hours in tarragon, lemon, scallions, and oil, and this was the perfect accompaniment! Light and refreshing, and very tasty! Thank you, Ms. Peartree
Kate
I didn't worry about the hibiscus - I just used simple syrup. This is so delicious and I look forward to making it again and again.
Mimi Pond
Someone else suggested this would get soggy. I can assure you that is not the case! It’s good with EVERYTHING! Grilled meats of any kind, fish, scrambled eggs, as a dip for tortilla chips!
maria
where do you get dried hibiscus? aside from drying your own or opening ups tea bag?
wendy
I couldn't lay my hands on hibiscus, so I used raw honey and it's delicious.
ASB
Regarding dried hibiscus, check your local Hispanic market or the Hispanic foods section of your supermarket. If your area has a significant Latino population, you'll likely be able to find flor de jamaica for much cheaper than ordering it online.Slightly less cheap option: check the herbal teas for plain hibiscus tea (a couple bags would probably work fine for infusing syrup), or if you have a local tea shop they may have it in bulk. It makes a wonderfully tart tea, especially great iced!
Mary Young
I make this with diced jalapeños but only takes 15 minutes to make picked jalapeños (1 part water, 1 part white vinegar, 1 TB sugar, 1TB salt, heated and then allowed to cool). Pour over jalapeños and wait 10-15 minutes.
David
Severed at a dinner party last evening and it was the hit of the meal. Used a strong hibiscus tea for couldn't find any local hibiscus blossoms. A welcomed new addition which I will repeat often.
Sydney
This was good but I didn’t add the pickle brine. Did not need it and plenty spicy without.
catmoo
I love all of her recipes! This looks amazing.
elinde
I order dried hibiscus from a great CO-based spice company, Savory Spice, for anyone wondering where to source it. Often have free shipping specials.
Bougeotte
Could I make the syrup using hibiscus tea bags? No chance of finding the dried flower in my market(s).
Sue B
Jalapeños en escabeche are pickled jalapeños
From The 'Burgh
Pickled jalapeños should be a quick dish to whip up if you can't find them. Can't wait to make this.
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