Watermelon Chow Chow

By Millie Peartree

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Watermelon Chow Chow
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
4(162)
Comments
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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
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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    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 cocktails or seltzer.)

  2. Step 2

    In a bowl or a quart container, combine the watermelon, cucumber, onion and jalapeños. Mix until thoroughly combined.

  3. Step 3

    Add jalapeño brine, lemon juice and ¼ cup of the hibiscus simple syrup to the watermelon mixture, and mix to combine.

  4. 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
162 user ratings
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Comments

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.

Afi Scruggs

If you can't find hibiscus, use Red Zinger tea. It's hibiscus and some other ingredients. I've subbed it many times.

Tom 190

True, Red Zinger is a good sub. But dried hibiscus is widely available in the herbal tea section, or the hispanic section of many stores. Cheaper in this form. It’s called jamaica, pronounced, ha-MIKE-a. If you can’t find it, add some vinegar to the simple syrup, hibiscus is tart.

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

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