The deliciousness of a good tomato relish

Bush Burger Relish is a delicious tomato-based relish that elevates any dish.  This rich, savoury tomato relish is amazing on your BBQ burgers.   As well as burgers it pairs really well with fish or chicken.  Add this wonderful relish to a grilled chicken sandwich.  Without the grilling, just a straight-out chicken sandwich.  Fresh bread with chicken, Bush BBQ relish and a little lettuce and cheese.  This relish is a versatile and mouthwatering addition to any of your favourite dishes.

Originally the relish was made in the Wild Food Cafe.  It was so popular with our customers that we started bottling and selling in the Cafe Shop.  The Cafe, sadly, is no longer.  But many of our regular customers have requested this relish, now its available on line.  Thankyou all for your support.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy making it.

A bit more about tomatoes, the base ingredient

History of tomato relish

The early pioneers in the Barossa Valley cultivated tomatoes in the Barossa Valley in about 1984.  As was the case with most jams, preserves and relishes it was made at home as a way to preserve fruit and vegetable out of season.  Pickling or preserving fruit and vegetables go back thousands of years and the traditions of chutneys and pickled vegetables go back to then.  Relishes enhance bland dishes, give a dish that extra buzz.  In Australia we’ve got very used to flavourful food with such a varied multi-cultural heritage and the food that has been introduced.

As we know when tomatoes are happy they grow really well and the abundance of them in the Summer months enabled relishes and sauces to be made to use up the excess and to preserve.  It was and has been a really popular food condiment to enhance food.

Commercial production

Rosella, a household name in Australia, if amongst one of the oldest commercial food companies.  It opened it’s doors in Richmond, Victoria in 1905.  According to Rosella it actually began producing in 1899 though!

What is a Relish

A relish is a combination of tomatoes with other fruits or vegetables, often chunky.  Tomato sauce, a thinner and pourable sauce, is probably in every cupboard and pantry throughout Australia.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are in so many foods in Australia and with the popularity of Indian curries and Italian pasta and pizza, they are just a staple.

They are extremely versatile and go into everything from salads to pasta dishes, soups, condiments, sandwiches and burgers.

Fun facts about relish

Originally relish was made in India.  Indian cooks used relish as an ingredient in their food, whereas we’ve used it as a condiment

Growing tomatoes in Australia

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow.  My father always had a tomato patch and used mainly Grossse Lisse.

As long as you’ve got a sunny spot with well-drained soil away from the frost they will grow.  They love a rich soil with organic matter.

Once they get up a bit support the plants with stakes and keep the water up to them.  This is one of the best times, something about the beautiful smell of tomato plants as they enjoy a good water….I think it’s what memories are made of.  There are so many species of tomatoes available, choose the one that best suits you.

How many tomato species are there?

There are approximately 10,000 tomato varieties in the world.  This number includes hybrids, various shapes, colours and sizes plus the heirloom varieties.

In Australia we have an abundance of varieties as well, some of the most popular are:

Roma – Italian plum tomato used a lot of sauces and chutneys

Grossse Lisse – This is really an Australian favourite with many growers and is a large and juicy tomato, great for sandwiches, salads and cooking

Apollo – cherry tomatoes, a good salad tomato and eaten alone

Black Russian – Dark colour with a rich, sweet flavour

Gardener’s Delight – Cherry tomatoes, sweet and tangy

Bush Tomatoes ( Australian native plant)

Bush Tomatoes aren’t actually tomatoes.  The botanical name Solanum centrale

I’ll cover more information about bush tomatoes in another blog….

Bush Tomatoes are also known as Kutjera or Desert Raisins.

They grow in the hot dry desert regions of central Australia.

They can only be eaten once they are dark red and dried, like a raison.  The have a bitter-sweet caramel flavour with a slight sundried tomato taste.  They are unique in themselves and are a great source of potassium, iron, Vitamin C and selenium