Green Tomato Pickles
CATEGORIES
INGREDIENTS
  • 4 quarts sliced green tomatoes, loosely packed
  • 1 quart sliced onion, loosely packed
  • 1 cup pickling salt, divided
  • 2 pounds light brown sugar
  • 6 cups vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 2 small red chile peppers
  • 1/3 cup mustard seeds
  • 1/4 cup celery seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon whole allspice
  • 2 teaspoons whole cloves
DIRECTIONS
  1. Place sliced tomatoes and sliced onion in separate bowls; sprinkle 3/4 cup salt over tomatoes and 1/4 cup salt over onion; stir both mixtures. Cover both bowls and let stand at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours. Place tomatoes in a cheesecloth bag, and squeeze gently to remove excess juice. Repeat this procedure for onion. Discard the salt liquid. Combine tomatoes, onion, sugar, vinegar, chile peppers, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and pepper in a large kettle. Tie allspice and cloves in a small cheesecloth bag; add to tomato onion mixture. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, over low heat 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Pack tomato mixture and liquid into hot sterilized 1-quart jars (with 1 piece of the chile pepper in each jar - cut if necessary) leaving 1/2-inch headspace; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on ring bands. Process in a boiling water bath 10 minutes.
  2. Store in a cool dark place. Store opened pickles in refrigerator.