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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Snacks

    How to Make Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish

    Updated Jun 12, 2022

    20813 shares
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    Jalapeno Corn Relish

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions, recipes and ideas are mine alone. #CelebratorySips #HenrysSparklingSips #HenrysHardSparkling #CollectiveBias

    Sweet + tangy relish is one of my favorite things to make. Especially for the summer when the vegetables are fresh and full of flavor. This Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish is a perfect pop of sweet meets spicy to serve at your next gathering. Serve this colorful relish with chips, cornbread, or your favorite grilled main course.

    BONUS: Get our easy Jalapeno Lemon-Limeade Cocktail Recipe in this post. (We might just have a thing for jalapenos.)

    Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish

    Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish (and a Bonus Cocktail Recipe)

    Do you love sweet and spicy? Me, too. But no worries, even if you aren't a fan of super hot foods, you can control the heat in this Southern style refrigerator relish recipe. Like it hot? Leave in a lot of jalapeno seeds. Like it mild? Remove all of the seeds.

    I like it a little hot, so we added just a few seeds to this relish to give it a kick.

    Overhead shot of corn, chopped jalapeños and vegetables in a bowl

    But the real secret of getting great flavor is from this quick pickle technique that we use a lot in our kitchen.

    Ingredients Needed:

    • Corn
    • Jalapenos
    • Red onion
    • Red bell pepper
    • Garlic
    • Water
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Brown sugar
    • Curry powder
    • Sea salt
    • Black pepper

    Instructions:

    1. In a large bowl, combine the corn, jalapenos, red onion, bell pepper and garlic. Set aside. For a milder heat, remove all jalapeno seeds. For hotter relish, leave in seeds as desired.
    2. Stir together the remaining ingredients in a small sauce pan. Heat on the stove to a low boil, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved.
    3. Pour the vinegar and spice mixture over the corn mixture. 
    4. Cover and refrigerate for one hour or more before serving.

    First, heat apple cider vinegar, water, and brown sugar in a saucepan. Stir in your seasonings and cook until everything is dissolved. Then pour the hot mixture over the corn and chopped vegetables.

    Then chill.  That's it. All of the vegetables soak up the sweet + sour flavors of the vinegar mixture and makes an amazing relish. (I use this method a lot with cabbage slaw, too.)

    To give this Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish a unique twist, we added curry powder. The flavor is perfect and it gives the relish a beautiful golden color.

    Hot pickling liquid being poured over corn and jalapeños

    So what about that cocktail recipe I mentioned? Well, a gal has to have something to sip on during the summer. While my jalapeno corn relish is chilling in the fridge, I'm chilling on my deck with this Jalapeno Lemon-Limeade made with Henry's Hard Sparkling Water.

    Henry's Hard Sparkling Water has only 88 calories and no sugar. I repeat, zero sugar. I love having a low-carb drink option this summer, don't you?

    It has just as much alcohol as a regular beer without as many calories. Plus there are no artificial colors or flavors. I love it because it is sparkling and refreshing. It tastes great on its own and makes an excellent cocktail mixer, too.

    Speaking of which, check out this Bonus Recipe for Jalapeno Lemon Limeade. (That's right, I'm crazy about the spicy jalapenos.) You can find Henry's in Passionfruit, Lemon Lime, and the new Strawberry Kiwi flavor available in the variety pack.

    Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water

    For the Jalepeno Lemon Limeade Cocktail:

    1. In a glass, add 3 lime wedges, 2 or 3 slices of jalapenos, 1 ounce of vodka, and 1 packet of your favorite natural sweetener. (Optional).
    2. Using a wooden spoon or muddler, mash together the lime and jalapenos. The sugar and vodka will help get out all of the flavor.
    3. Pour in about half a can of Henry's Hard Sparkling Water Lemon Lime flavor.
    4. Gently swirl with a spoon and pour over a tall glass of crushed ice.
    5. Fill to the top with more Henry's, garnish with a fresh slice of lime and enjoy.

    For just the right amount of spice, I removed almost all of the jalapeno seeds. If you like your drink with a lot of kick, leave a few in.

    The bright refreshing bubbly of Henry's with the fresh fruit and jalepenos is a major flavor sensation.

    Hard Sparkling Water poured over a cocktail

    So grab your friends, pick up some Henry's, and make this yummy Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish recipe for a fun and spicy gathering.

    A jar full of spicy jalapeño corn relish

    Love this recipe? Here are more I think you are going to like:

    Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes)

    Peach Green Tomato Chow Chow

    Grilled Basil Butter Sweet Corn

    Bacon Lover's Baked Beans

    Citrus + Ginger Pear Preserves

    Roasted Okra Vidalia + Peppers

    Corn relish served over a wedge of golden cornbread

    Click here to get more recipes, ideas + inspiration from Henry's Hard Sparkling Water. 

    Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish with Henry’s Hard Sparkling Jalapeno Lemon Limeade Cocktails

    A little bit sweet, a little bit of heat. Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish and Jalapeno Lemon-Limeade Cocktails are a hot combination you are going to love.

    Sweet Hot Jalapeno Corn Relish with Henry’s Hard Sparkling Jalapeno Lemon Limeade Cocktails

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    Jalapeno Corn Relish

    4.28 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Email Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Chill 1 hr
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Relish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 Quarter-cup servings
    Calories 38 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 15 ounces kernel corn drained
    • 2 jalapenos seeded (partially, if desired), finely diced
    • ½ cup red onion diced
    • ½ red bell pepper seeded, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
    • ½ cup water
    • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon curry powder
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, combine the corn, jalapenos, red onion, bell pepper and garlic. Set aside. For a milder heat, remove all jalapeno seeds. For hotter relish, leave in seeds as desired.
    • Stir together the remaining ingredients in a small sauce pan. Heat on the stove to a low boil, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved.
    • Pour the vinegar and spice mixture over the corn mixture. 
    • Cover and refrigerate for one hour or more before serving.

    Notes

    This recipe makes about 1 quart of relish. I like to transfer it to a jar with a lid for chilling and storing. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 38kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 118mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 0gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Donna Brock

      December 21, 2018 at 9:33 am

      Would this relish be suitable for canning?

      Reply
      • Teri

        December 28, 2018 at 3:53 pm

        Absolutely although for that effort you'd want to increase the amount. You can easily do that by sliding the "servings" on our recipe to give you new ingredient totals. I would process for 15 minutes in a boiling water canner. If you try it, let me know how it turns out. 🙂

        Reply
      • Diane

        August 13, 2021 at 6:58 pm

        corn has to be pressure cooked - not water bathed - due to the low acidity. Maybe adding the other ingredients will change that, but I would really research that first.

        Reply
        • Teri

          August 15, 2021 at 3:59 pm

          Good point. It has quite a bit of vinegar in it. I made it to be a simple refrigerator relish and have not tested as canning. I've made corn relish in the past in water bath with no problems. But definitely worth researching.

    2. Arsene Powers

      January 13, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      How long will this keep in a jar/fridge?

      Reply
      • Teri

        January 16, 2020 at 9:45 am

        About 10 to 14 days.

        Reply
    3. Rush

      June 28, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      What are your thoughts on adding lime juice?

      Reply
      • Teri

        July 07, 2020 at 4:14 pm

        You could definitely add lime juice or use in substitution to your taste. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Rhonda

      April 29, 2021 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      Do you use frozen, fresh or canned corn?

      Reply
      • Teri

        May 02, 2021 at 11:54 am

        I would use canned or fresh. If using fresh, be sure to rinse the kernels and drain.

        Reply
    5. Ed

      October 04, 2021 at 3:54 pm

      Could this be placed in small containers and frozen until ready to be used?

      Reply
      • Teri

        October 11, 2021 at 4:15 pm

        Hmmm....I'm not sure. You should be able to, but it might change the texture of the corn a bit since sugar / vinegar is involved.

        Reply

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