Sweet pickle relish is a condiment made from chopped cucumbers, sugar, vinegar, and spices. It is bright green in color with the same amount of sweetness and tartness that is exactly proportional.
It is extensively used as toppings in hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, or dips. In the absence of this, many sweet pickle relish substitutes fill that place and give you the same delight.
Some prominent sweet relish substitutes that one may stumble upon very often are chopped dill pickle, green olives, capers, dried cucumbers, and green bell peppers.
Some more effective substitutes might exclusively replace the sweet relish pickle.
Any pickle that has a good amount of vinegar compound can actually go on to replace the sweet relish pickle by all means. However, they are not recommended in high proportions as they render them unhealthy to a large extent.
Having them in moderation suits the purpose and saves you from many health hazards.
You can always reach out to any of the sweet pickle relish substitutes to fill in the flavor and compensate for the taste. They are available in abundance, and the proportion to be used should also be something you need to be wary of.
In this article, we will delve deeper into all the available substitutes and make a note of how well they contribute to the recipes.
What's In The Post
11 Sweet Relish Substitutes
Sweet pickle relish is a unique ingredient that has a taste and flavor of its own. There is a sweetness that is dominating, while there is also the sourness of the pickle that is intense.
A combination of both these flavors would work wonders if they are in the right balance. Some substitutes give the same taste and serve the same purpose.
1. Chopped Dill Pickles
Chopped dill pickle would come close to sweet pickle relish more than any other substitute. Dill pickles are nothing but fermented cucumbers, which turn into pickles over time. Dill seeds are added to the mix, and the flavor of the dill is more vibrant.
This has a crispy and crunchy texture with a flavor remotely reminiscent of sweet pickle relish. The sweetness and the tardiness would go hand in hand with this ingredient. However, there will be a slight dip in the sweetness when it comes to chopped dill pickles.
Sweet pickle relish is sweeter than this counterpart. Chopped dill can actually be substituted in hamburgers and hot dogs to bring the same flavor. They are both added in proportion to give the same taste.
2. Freeze-Dried Dill
This exclusive herb carries citrusy notes combined with a grassy texture to beat the absence of sweet pickle relish.
You have to remember that this is dried dill, and this cannot be used in a recipe that demands freshness and moist flavor. This substitute is used freely in dips, sauces, and dressings.
A little more sweetness is induced in the dried dill to perfectly replicate the flavor of sweet pickle relish by adding honey or sugar. It is added to tuna salad or potato salad. Sometimes it is also sprinkled on top of baked potato with cottage cheese or sour cream.
Omelets, quiches, and any stuffings can be packed with dill weed. You may have to use less dill weed for 1 tablespoon of sweet pickle relish. ½ tablespoon of dried dill will do for 1 tablespoon of sweet pickle relish.
3. Green Olives
Green olives tend to be a great substitute for sweet pickle relish, and it emulates the flavor of the latter too closely. Green olives are acidic with a nutty and tangy flavor that works great on salads and dips.
It can also be used as an ingredient in stuffing’s of sandwiches or wraps. It also gives a unique flavor and would replace the sweet pickle relish perfectly and accurately.
You should probably chop the green olives into pieces and then use them as an ingredient to match the proportion in recipes.
4. Capers
Capers do have an exceptional flavor profile to match the intensity of sweet pickle relish in many recipes. It especially has a tanginess and acidic taste, adding a zing to all recipes.
Capers are nothing but flower buds that are soaked in vinegar and fermented for a long time. The sweetness and the tanginess make a perfect balance in capers, so much like sweet pickle relish.
The texture is something that would be amiss when you replace capers with sweet pickle relish.
It is used in salad dressings, marinades, pasta, and even as a standalone snack item, either cooked or raw.
5. Green Bell Peppers
Sweet pickle relish adds a unique texture to the dish. Green bell peppers will do the same by adding some crispness to the recipe, irrespective of the flavor. It may not bring the tangy flavor or even the expected balance with sweet pickle relish.
Green bell peppers have a bitter taste with a crunchy texture and can also be juicy sometimes. Green bell peppers can be chopped and used. It can be used in the same proportion as sweet pickle relishes in many items.
6. Celery
Celery stalks are more of an ingredient than a proper substitute for sweet pickle relish. You can actually use the celery stalks and make a dish that exactly resembles sweet pickle relish.
You must chop the celery stalks into pieces and then marinate them in wine vinegar and olive oil mix. Throw some minced garlic and onion into this recipe and make it perfect, like sweet pickle relish.
This, in turn, can then be used for sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers.
7. Cucumbers
If you have no time to prepare sweet pickle relish, then it is better to add cucumbers directly to all recipes. They give a nice crunchy texture that crumbles in your mouth.
Cucumbers may not be that intense in flavor, but they give a sharpness in flavor. However, they may not exactly replicate the flavor of the sweet pickle relish.
Cucumbers can be used in sandwiches, burgers, salads, dips, and sauces. There is a coolness that comes with this ingredient that sweet pickles will not give. Take a cup of chopped cucumbers as a replacement for a cup of sweet pickle relish.
8. Piccalilli Relish
Piccalilli relish is actually a mixed compound of all vegetables of different varieties. The vegetables mixed are cucumbers, onions, cauliflower, gherkins, and other various spices.
These vegetables are mixed with mayonnaise or cheese and sometimes even with mustard. This relish definitely has a fusional taste of tanginess, sweetness, and spiciness.
It is used as a standalone condiment, topped and combined with cold meats and cheeses. It is also displayed on cheese boards for the look and taste.
This piccalilli relish is usually stored in jars and cans in stores and shops. It is conveniently replaceable for sweet pickle relish and does give an attractive taste.
9. Indian Chutneys
If you need depth in a dish, Indian chutneys are the way to go. They usually combine ingredients such as tamarind, mangoes, lime, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and ginger.
Sometimes it also subsumes many herbs and spices. It is spicy in nature but does give away some amount of tanginess and sweetness to the dish.
It can be used in sandwiches and wraps. It is also conveniently stuffed and packed in salads, sauces, and dips.
It will be a very good replacement for sweet pickle relish, which will give the flavor intensity and also treat you with a fusional taste of sweetness and spiciness with the combination of tanginess to some extent.
A tablespoon of chutney could be proportional to a tablespoon of sweet pickle relish in stuffing and recipes.
10. Bread And Butter Pickle
There is an effective substitute for sweet pickle relish in bread and butter pickles. The cucumbers are grated into fine pieces to give a refreshing bite than in sweet pickle relish.
This substitute will give away the natural flavor of the cucumber than sweet pickle relish. Other spices in this dish would be subtle, and hence there will be a dominant cucumber flavor. The texture will also remind you a lot about sweet pickle relish.
It can be used in the same proportion to resemble the same flavor profile.
11. Chicago-Styled Relish
Chicago-style relish is another yellowish or green-colored condiment that combines a lot of vegetables like cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. This relish is quite spicy with some mild tanginess and sweetness.
A considerable volume of vinegar is added to the relish, and it also has a lot of hot peppers to give a spicy taste.
However, if you want a Chicago-style hot dog, sweet pickle relish would be a perfect addition, as the sweet taste would be more than appropriate in this recipe.
A Short Recap Of Sweet Relish Substitute
Best Sweet Relish Substitute In Terms Of Flavor:
- Chopped Dill pickles
- Freeze-dried dill
- Green olives
- Capers
- Celery
- Piccalilli Relish
- Indian Chutneys
- Chicago-style Relish
Best Sweet Relish Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor:
- Green bell peppers
- Cucumbers
- Bread and butter Pickle
Sweet Pickle Substitutes To Be Least Considered:
- Green bell peppers
- Cucumbers
How To Use Sweet Relish Substitutes?
11 Best Sweet Relish Substitutes You Should Try!
Ingredients
- Chopped Dill Pickles
- Freeze-Dried Dill
- Green Olives
- Capers
- Green Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Piccalilli Relish
- Indian Chutneys
- Bread And Butter Pickle
- Chicago-Styled Relish
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Conclusion
Sweet pickle relish is such a delightful side dish and stuffing that works magically in your taste buds. If you ever think about replicating the original flavor and texture, it needs a proper replacement.
Many substitutes can serve that purpose, but you have to be picky about what you want to prepare and how effective the recipe will be.
This article is a compilation of all possible substitutes that might work well in place of sweet pickle relish and how to use them intact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the sweet pickle relish substitutes?
Some prominent sweet pickle relish substitutes that one may stumble upon very often are chopped dill pickle, green olives, capers, dried cucumbers, and green bell peppers. Some more effective substitutes might exclusively replace the sweet relish pickle.
How are chopped dill pickles a good replacement for sweet pickle relish?
Chopped dill pickle would come close to sweet pickle relish more than any other substitute. Dill pickles are nothing but fermented cucumbers, which turn into pickles over time. Dill seeds are added to the mix, and the flavor of the dill is more vibrant.
How are green olives a better alternative of sweet pickle relish?
Green olives tend to be a great substitute for sweet pickle relish, and it emulates the flavor of the latter too closely. Green olives are acidic with a nutty and tangy flavor that works great on salads and dips.
How are cucumbers a good substitute for sweet pickle relish?
If you have no time to prepare sweet pickle relish, then it is better to add cucumbers directly to all recipes. They give a nice crunchy texture that crumbles in your mouth. Cucumbers may not be that intense in flavor, but they give a sharpness in flavor. However, they may not exactly replicate the flavor of the sweet pickle relish.
What is Chicago-Styled relish?
Chicago-styled relish is another yellowish or green-colored condiment that combines a lot of vegetables like cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. This relish is quite spicy with some mild tanginess and sweetness.
