Active Time

　　25 min

　　Total Time

　　4 3/4 hr (includes cooling)

　　Happiness is having a jar of sweet, tart, crunchy relish in the refrigerator. It's a project that easily fits into your culinary repertoire.

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

　　2 cups finely chopped cucumber (about 3 Kirby cucumbers)

　　1/2 cup finely chopped onion

　　1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

　　1/4 cup sugar

　　1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 teaspoon water

　　

Step 1

Toss cucumber and onion with 3/4 teaspoon salt in a sieve set over a bowl and drain 3 hours. Discard liquid from bowl. Wrap cucumber and onion in a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

　　

Step 2

Bring vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil until reduced to about 1/2 cup, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cucumber-onion mixture and simmer, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir cornstarch mixture, then stir into relish. Simmer, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer relish to a bowl and chill, uncovered, until cold, about 1 1/2 hours.

　　Cooks' note:

　　Relish keeps, chilled, 1 month.