Pickle relish, sweet
Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Sweet pickle relish is a vibrant, finely chopped condiment made from pickled cucumbers, sugar, and spices. It offers a glossy, crunchy texture with a dominant sweet-and-sour flavor profile. Nutritionally, it's almost entirely carbohydrate, with nearly 30 grams of sugar per 100 grams.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 96% carbs · 3% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its ability to cut through richness and add a bright, sweet counterpoint to savory foods. Its versatility makes it a staple topping for everything from hot dogs to potato salad.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its very high sugar content can contribute to blood-sugar spikes if consumed in large amounts. To counteract this, use it sparingly as a flavor accent and pair it with protein or fat-rich foods (like a hot dog or bean salad) to slow sugar absorption. Some brands are also high in sodium.
Key benefits
- Adds a burst of sweet and tangy flavor to dishes
- Low in fat and protein
- Provides a small amount of dietary fiber
- A classic, shelf-stable condiment for quick meal enhancement
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The bright, almost neon-green color of many commercial sweet relishes comes from artificial dyes like Yellow 5 and Blue 1, not from the cucumbers themselves.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 62.1 g |
| Energy | 130 kcal |
| Energy | 544 kj |
| Protein | 0.37 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.47 g |
| Ash | 2.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 35.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 29.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 3.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.87 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 5.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 14.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 25.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 811 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.14 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.09 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 1.0 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg |
| Niacin | 0.23 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.01 mg |
| Folate, total | 1.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 1.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 4.9 mg |
| Betaine | 0.40 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 61.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 519 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 129 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 296 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1218 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 271 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.58 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 83.8 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.05 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.21 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.09 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.01 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.01 g |
| Leucine | 0.02 g |
| Lysine | 0.02 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.01 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.01 g |
| Valine | 0.01 g |
| Arginine | 0.02 g |
| Histidine | 0.01 g |
| Alanine | 0.01 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.02 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.09 g |
| Glycine | 0.01 g |
| Proline | 0.01 g |
| Serine | 0.01 g |
FAQ
What is the difference between sweet and dill relish?
The primary difference is the seasoning. Sweet relish is made with a significant amount of sugar and often milder spices, while dill relish is flavored primarily with dill, garlic, and vinegar, with little to no sugar.
Is sweet pickle relish gluten-free?
Most are, but it's essential to check the label. Some brands may use malt vinegar (derived from barley) or add thickeners that contain gluten.
Can I use sweet relish in cooking, not just as a topping?
Absolutely. It's a key ingredient in classic Southern pimento cheese, can be mixed into meatloaf or burger patties for moisture and flavor, and is the base for many sweet relish-based dips.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.30 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 1.1 g fiber · 29.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 32.44 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.