Canned Cucumbers in Tomato Sauce for Winter
A simple recipe for a great winter appetizer! This canned cucumber-and-tomato relish is a lifesaver when cucumbers are everywhere and you need to "rescue" the harvest. It's also a much-loved appetizer that makes a great winter partner for mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or fluffy buckwheat. This recipe doesn't call for a canning bath, but if you're unsure and don't want to risk it, go ahead and process each jar.
Cooking method
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Step 1:
To make this canned cucumber-and-tomato relish, gather your ingredients using the amounts above. You'll need smallish cucumbers, good-quality tomato paste, salt, sugar, odorless vegetable oil, and 9% white vinegar.
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Step 2:
Scrub the cucumbers thoroughly, using a medium-stiff brush if needed. Trim off the ends, then cut the cucumbers into half-moons about 1/4 inch (5 mm) thick.
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Step 3:
Put the sliced cucumbers, tomato paste, salt, sugar, vinegar, and vegetable oil in a suitably sized pot. Let everything sit at room temperature for 20 minutes—40 is even better. During this time the cucumbers start to release the juice you need for the relish.
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Step 4:
Set the pot on the stove and heat it gradually, stirring often so nothing sticks to the bottom. As it warms, the cucumbers release even more juice, and it will come up to a boil (be careful—the tomato mixture spatters once it boils hard). Simmer the cucumbers in the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring as you go.
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Step 5:
Pack the relish into sterilized jars. Seal them, turn them upside down, and cover with a warm blanket. Once they've cooled completely, the jars of cucumber-and-tomato relish are ready to go into storage.
- To make sure your summer harvest keeps you happy all season long, brush up on the basic rules, secrets, and handy tricks of canning for the winter.
- For extra flavor, you can add a little garlic and some red hot pepper to taste; a pinch of fragrant freshly ground black pepper works beautifully, too. Some cooks also stir in chopped herbs, onion, or bell pepper.
- For tips on choosing the right pot for soups, grains, or pickling cucumbers, see our article on cookware.
Caloric content of the products possible in the composition of the dish
- Fresh cucumbers - 15 kcal/100g
- Granulated sugar - 398 kcal/100g
- Sugar - 398 kcal/100g
- Wine vinegar (3%) - 9 kcal/100g
- Vinegar 9% - 11 kcal/100g
- Balsamic vinegar - 88 kcal/100g
- Apple cider vinegar - 14 kcal/100g
- Vinegar - 11 kcal/100g
- Vegetable oil - 873 kcal/100g
- Tomato paste - 28 kcal/100g
- Salt - 0 kcal/100g
