Sweet Corn Relish was a regular staple in our refrigerator when I was growing up. We put it on everything! I've found a recipe that's just like the store-bought kind, but with less sugar and no preservatives!
Add the brown sugar, salt, mustard seeds, paprika, black pepper, vinegar, and 8 cups of water to a large pot and whisk to combine.
Add the corn, onion, and red bell peppers. Stir to combine.
Turn on the heat to medium and allow the mixture to come to a low boil. Once the relish starts to boil, stir and allow to cook for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare 14 250 ml jars by washing them thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Be sure to rinse the jars until the soap residue is gone. Set the jars aside. Next, boil a kettle full of water. Place the seals and jar rings into a large bowl. Pour the boiled water over top and let them sit.
Prepare your canning pot for the water bath method. I use a large stock pot with a round metal cooling rack at the bottom so that the jars do not touch the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot half full with water and bring to full boil.
Next, whisk together the 3 tablespoons of water with the cornstarch. Pour into the relish and whisk into the mixture.
Lower the heat to simmer and allow to cook for 10 more minutes.
Using a ladle, spoon the relish into the prepared jars. I like to use a metal funnel to avoid any of the relish coming into contact with the rim of the jar. This will help to create a better and safer seal. Fill the jar so that only 1/2 inch of head space remains. Remove the funnel and place a hot, sterilized seal on the jar. Screw on the lid until just snug. Be careful! The jar will be hot! Use a kitchen towel to hold the jar in place as you screw on the lid.
Using a jar lifter, place the filled jars into the large pot of boiling water. Bring the pot back to a boil and allow the jarred relish to remain in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the jars and place on a kitchen towel where they will not be disturbed. As the jars cool, you’ll hear a popping sound. This is the hot liquid and air in the jar cooling down and contracting. This will create an air-tight seal and will allow you to store your relish for future consumption.
For best results, I recommend allowing the jars to sit undisturbed for at least 12 hours. With a damp cloth, wipe down the jars, re-tighten the lids, and store in a dark, cool place. The relish will last for 12-18 months. Lastly, if you notice that a jar has not properly sealed, simply refrigerate that particular jar, and consume within the next 5-7 days. To test whether or not the jars are sealed, lightly press down on the seal. If the seal pops downward, the sealing process did not work.
Notes
One serving is equal to two tablespoons. Each jar will yield 8 servings. The total recipe will yield 112 servings.