The Tastiest Relishes from Ballymaloe for Your Burger, Hot Dog, Sandwich, or Wrap

Ballymaloe is an Irish brand renowned for its delicious tomato sauces and relishes, lovingly made by the Allen family at the beautiful Ballymaloe House in County Cork. As the importer of Ballymaloe products in the Benelux, we are proud to offer these flavor enhancers to the hospitality industry. Ballymaloe’s tomato relishes and sauces are the perfect addition to burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and wraps, adding an extra experience to every dish. We are so enthusiastic about the quality and flavor of these Irish products that we want everyone to try them. Be warned: once you’ve tasted them, you’ll never want anything else!

Words alone can't let you taste. That’s why you can experience one, several, or even all of the relishes yourself at one of the trade shows where we are present. Or simply request a sample below!

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What Exactly Is a Relish?

Although we’ve been familiar with tomatoes in the Netherlands for a long time, relish is still as new to us now as it was to the Irish back in the 1930s. We mainly use tomato ketchup or a smooth curry sauce. Terms like relish, sauce, pickle, and chutney are often used interchangeably, without really knowing the difference between them.

Enhance the flavor experience with Ballymaloe relishes

Give your dishes a flavor boost with the delicious relishes from Ballymaloe. Perfect for hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more. Whether you choose the sweet tomato relish or the spicy jalapeño pepper relish, you’ll always add a surprising twist. Check out the recipes below for inspiration and discover how these flavor boosters can take your dishes to the next level!

• Recipe: Easy smash 'n serve burger

• Recipe: Tsunami hot dog

• Recipe: Loaded festival nachos

The story of Ballymaloe's tomatoes

When you sit down for a meal with an Irish family, there’s a good chance that tomato relish will appear on the table. It makes this sweet tomato sauce seem like an age-old Irish tradition. But the Irish haven’t known tomatoes for that long; originally, tomatoes didn’t grow in Ireland. In fact, if you tried selling tomatoes to the Irish in the 1960s, they didn’t know what to do with them—something Ivan Allen discovered when he tried selling his homegrown tomatoes at the market.

Ballymaloe original relish

Together with his wife Myrtle, Ivan accidentally became the owner of a gigantic country house, hidden in the woods of Cork. They bought it from friends at an auction, as a favor. Ivan tried to drive up the price by placing a bid, but to his shock, no one else bid after him. He ended up owning the estate, named Ballymaloe.

It turned out to be the perfect place—not only for raising their family but also for pursuing Ivan’s great passion: growing vegetables. And that’s exactly what he did. He built large greenhouses behind the house, which quickly filled up with tomatoes. They were incredibly delicious but, at the time, unsellable in Ireland.

This abundance led Myrtle to experiment in her kitchen. She decided to transform the tomatoes into a relish, following a classic recipe. In their wonderful home, they started a restaurant where nearly everything served came from their own land—eggs, milk, and of course, the sweet tomato relish sauce. The food was so good that the restaurant quickly grew in popularity. The flavors from Myrtle’s kitchen became beloved, especially her sweet tomato sauce, which we now know as Ballymaloe Original Relish.

Ballymaloe in the Netherlands

By the time her daughter Yasmin—who had helped in the kitchen since she was a child—was old enough, she also joined the business, but with her own mission. She wanted to produce Ballymaloe’s tomato relish on a larger scale and make the relish sauce available to every household in Ireland.

Using the original recipe, she got to work. The pots were replaced by kettles, but everything else stayed the same: the classic recipe and delicious, high-quality tomatoes. This decision has helped the Ballymaloe family business grow into one of the strongest brands, not just in Ireland and the UK, but now also in countries beyond.

Meanwhile, the third generation has taken the stage—Maxine and Rose, Yasmin’s daughters. They are bringing their grandmother’s original tomato sauce to as many people around the world as possible. That’s how Ballymaloe’s tomato relish found its way to mainland Europe, to the Netherlands, and to us—making Ballymaloe’s tomato relish now available to the hospitality industry here.

 

Chutney or relish?

One product made familiar to us through our colonial past is atjar. Atjar is a pickled condiment from Indonesia made from sliced vegetables, preserved with vinegar and sugar. It is typically served alongside a good meal or some meat. Chutneys and relishes are used in a similar way.

We are familiar with English chutney, but did you know that chutney originally comes from India—a former British colony? In India, it was called "chatni." Chutney is a sauce made with fruit, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Sometimes it is a smooth sauce; other times, it is chunky. Because it is made with fruit and spices, chutney offers a sweet flavor with a spicy kick. Chutneys are great with curries but also work well in a sandwich or with some chicken.

Relish is a sauce made from chopped vegetables preserved with vinegar and sugar. The vinegar and sugar extend the shelf life of the vegetables. American pickle relish has been known in the Netherlands for some time. It is made from pickles, vinegar, sugar, and a little paprika for color. The taste of pickle relish is sweet and tangy.

You can eat relish with meat, but it is also delicious on a sandwich—or even on a grilled cheese.

The flavor of Ballymaloe

Ballymaloe products are authentic, made according to the original recipe with only the best ingredients—without E-numbers or artificial preservatives. Ballymaloe’s original relish is made with tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, onions, and raisins. Although tomatoes are naturally acidic, the relish’s flavor is sweet, thanks in part to the raisins. The delicious taste of Ballymaloe’s relish pairs well with almost anything. We find the sweet tomato sauce perfect for hamburgers and hot dogs.

Today, Ballymaloe also produces other types of relish, like the Ballymaloe Pepper Relish, made with red peppers and jalapeños, offering a spicy-sweet flavor.

The Ballymaloe Stout Beer Steak Sauce is made with tomatoes, sugar, apple, vinegar, and Irish stout beer. It can no longer really be called a relish—it’s a hamburger sauce with an exceptional taste.

 

Who are Ballymaloe’s sauces and relishes for?

When visiting trade shows and restaurants, we notice a growing market for street food. Think of NY deli style, the BBQ trend, and Mexican street food with rich flavors in quick bites. These trends don’t have to be complicated. A hallmark of both street food and deli style is the easy method of preparation.

Simple products with surprising flavors and combinations. Food served at festivals, from food trucks, or at trendy beach bars. With the right sauces, a simple dish becomes distinctive. Relish is one of those key sauces.

Where relish was traditionally served on the side, products like Ballymaloe, especially when combined with a pickle relish, create a defining flavor. Whether you use it in your restaurant on a burger or in a grilled cheese on your lunch menu, it makes a difference. The flavor of the dish you serve becomes so unique that guests will remember your place specifically—the burger or grilled cheese from that one spot. A taste that sets you apart from all the other establishments.

Imagine this: you're sitting on the beach, drinking a beer, and enjoying some nachos, topped with melted cheese. Maybe some guacamole, and then Ballymaloe Pepper Relish. Sounds good, right? 

How to use Ballymaloe's sauces and tomato relishes

Relish is served cold. You can use it as a sweet tomato sauce on a hamburger or hot dog, but also on the side—in a little bowl for dipping your sandwich or grilled cheese. Given the trends in street food and NY deli style, we find the use of relishes on hamburgers and gourmet hot dogs particularly interesting. While the quality of the meat certainly defines your burger, it's the sauce that makes the flavor unforgettable, especially when all the flavors are perfectly balanced.

Mexican burger with Ballymaloe jalapeño pepper relish

Take a 100% Irish beef burger and pair it with a beautiful handmade bun. That’s your base. Naturally, you add some fresh green lettuce, a bit of burger sauce, maybe some cheddar cheese, along with tomato and onion. That’s how everyone makes a burger. But you want to stand out. You do that by using an American pickle relish combined with Ballymaloe's jalapeño pepper relish. Now you no longer have a standard burger like everyone else. This Acapulco Beach Burger, served with some nachos, is a simple but unique creation that nobody else offers.

NYC street food burger with Ballymaloe original relish

Essential to getting that true New York street food flavor is American sweet pickle relish. The fresh, finely chopped pickled cucumber pieces, with a hint of dill and other spices, already elevate your burger. Want a truly spectacular result? Add Ballymaloe original relish to your burger. What you’ll taste is the sweetness of the tomato relish playing with the tangy freshness of the pickles—a true flavor sensation.

Irish brewery style burger with Ballymaloe's Irish stout beer sauce

This burger is all about rich Irish flavours and that warm, brewery-style atmosphere.
Start with a juicy, high-quality beef burger — simply seasoned with salt and pepper to let the real meat flavour come through. Serve it on your favourite soft burger bun to keep the focus on the toppings and the bold Irish taste.

Finish it with Ballymaloe's Irish stout beer sauce.
Made like a relish with tomatoes, sugar, apple and vinegar, this sauce gets its signature depth from mustard, pickles, spices and Black Rock Stout from the Dungarvan Brewing Co. The result is a truly authentic Irish specialty sauce with a malty, savoury kick.

The combination of juicy beef, soft bun and rich stout sauce makes this burger perfect for brewery-inspired concepts — think craft beer, hearty comfort food and bold, satisfying flavours.

Ballymaloe: it goes with everything

The first thing we told you about Ballymaloe relishes is that we want everyone to taste them. But beware—there's no going back. Once you know the taste of Ballymaloe, you won’t want anything else.

Although we’ve talked a lot about these delicious sweet tomato sauces for burgers and hot dogs, there’s so much more to show—and taste.

Our team would love to show you the possibilities. So, if you want to try these successful international combinations for your restaurant, make an appointment. We'll review your menu so we know exactly what to bring. Then we'll work with you right where it all happens—the heart of your business: the kitchen.

Recipes with sweet tomato relish

We have a few more delicious recipes using Ballymaloe:

• BBQ chicken with chorizo and Ballymaloe original relish on a bun—easy to prepare with chicken breasts, chorizo sausages, and fresh herbs.

• The Ballymaloe club sandwich with chicken, bacon, delicious mayo, and of course, relish—simple and satisfying.

• A bit of Mexican flair with bacon and cheese quesadillas featuring Ballymaloe jalapeño pepper relish—made with corn tortillas, cheddar, ham, and the spicy relish.

Ballymaloe: the products

LA Food imports the following sauces and products for you: