Make The Best Burgers By Adding This Tangy Southern Topping (It's Not Pimento Cheese)
There's hardly a dish or ingredient that can't be Southernified.
Though chow chow was created out of need, one taste of the condiment will make you give it a permanent spot in your kitchen. The mix of pickled vegetables became a staple Southerners made when winter chased away the warmth. In an effort to preserve unused vegetables, families would pickle their crops — usually onions, green tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage would make the cut, but no two chow chows are the same. What they do share, however, is a tangy, refreshing flavor that will take burgers to the next level.
The veggies are chopped and simmered with white vinegar and classic pickling spices, like ground mustard, celery seed, coriander, and sugar. Once cooked, you're left with a condiment you can easily heap onto your burgers. The earthy cabbage, tart green tomatoes, and sweet onions are still present in each bite, each one perfectly complementing savory beef. After preparing your burgers, slide it onto a bun before heaping some chow chow on top.
Chow chow's versatility is a hit with any burger
Down south, it's common to see chow chow on deviled eggs or stirred into potato salad, but the condiment can fit on gourmet burgers, too. The best part about it is how personal it is to every household — it's meant to cater to your tastes. If you're partial to salmon burgers, chow chow that tastes light is the best option.
Along with white vinegar, add a splash of lemon juice for a zingy flavor. Forego heavier spices like cinnamon and cloves in favor of dill and tarragon. To match the sweetness of the salmon, throw some corn into the veggie mix. For a cheesy smash burger taco, you'll need chow chow that brings the heat. The green tomatoes already help with the Tex-Mex flavor, so jalapenos are a no-brainer addition. You can add extra spice with fresh chili peppers; to round it out, use minced garlic and cilantro in the brine.
A fiery, yet fresh flavor is perfect for burger tacos, but if you're whipping up some gamey lamb burgers, make some sweet chow chow to balance things out. Use an abundance of orange and red bell peppers, and don't skimp on the brown sugar when making the brine. Sweet pickling spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger, help to balance the ultra savory meat while still contributing to its richness.
