What is the Chutney?
It is an Indian sweet and sour condiment. This accompaniment can be made with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables seasoned with herbs, vinegar, sugar and spices. They serve as an accompaniment to everything. The word chutney is the English adaptation of the original Hindi word "Chatni". During the British Raj in India, the English were great consumers of this delicacy.
Varieties of this delicacy
There are many varieties of chutney and there is no single recipe, being the palate of the one who prepares it the one who decides.
The texture can be homogeneous or more rustic with small pieces of fruits and vegetables.The intensity of the spices can be very diverse and the cooking time can be very short or long depending on the ingredients and the finish we want to obtain.
The most popular chutneys are chutney mango chutney, cilantro chutney, tomato chutney, onion chutney and mint chutney.
How do you prepare the chutney?
You must choose the fruits and vegetables you want for your chutney and the spices that will give it its unique character.. Once you have the fruit and/or vegetables chopped (size to taste and depending on the final result you want) add them to a pot with the spices (freshly ground), sugar and vinegar. Put it over low heat until the sugar dissolves (stirring all the time). For a few minutes you can put it on higher heat to boil and then lower it again until you get the desired texture (do not forget to stir it, otherwise it will stick and will have a burnt taste).
Taste and correct until you get the chutney to your liking. Store it in jars (make sure the lids seal tightly) and you're done with your chutney . They can last up to 3 years, although I recommend that you make less amount and more frequently.
What does the chutney?
In India this sweet and sour condiment is served with everything. It goes perfectly with snacks such as papadam, to rice, chicken, fish... In their country of origin at mealtime there is always a tray with different accompaniments such as chutneys, pickles and hot sauce.
In the West it is typical to eat the chutney as an accompaniment to meats to give balance with its acidity. I love to serve it on cheese boards as an inseparable friend of sweet jams.
Buy this Indian seasoning
If you are one of those who prefer the quick version (buy it ready-made), I recommend you to go to a store specialized in products of Indian or Pakistani origin. You can also buy chutney online from the comfort of your kitchen.
Chutney Recipes
I hope that you find useful this article about chutney . If you have any questions you can write me in the comments box, I'd love to hear from you and your relationship with Indian food!
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