Chutney Cooking Tips

Chutney has an interesting history that has traveled the world and made a place for itself in more than one culture. Read more about it on our History of Chutney page.

First of all, what is Chutney and where did it come from? Chutney is a mixture of fruits or vegetables (or sometimes both at the same time!) that in its final stages, has a jam-like feel to it.

Chutney is used as a condiment or "relish" for everything from sandwiches to meat dishes and often served with cheese. Chutney originated in India.

Chutney Cooking Tips:
Chutney can be stored for well over a month. In fact, the flavor improves with age. You can actually make it and allow it to mature for a month before using it.

• Use only the freshest fruits and vegetables for making Chutney relishes and condiments.

• When you chop the vegetables or fruits, make sure you chop them up in bigger chunks than you would for making preserves and jams.

• All spices used must be fresh. If your Chutney is going to be spicy, just adjust the amount of spice for the amount of heat you want in your Chutney.

• When you cook the Chutney according to the directions you are following, make sure you cook the mixture uncovered.

• To keep the mixture (while cooking) from sinking and getting scored, add some dried fruit (if recipe calls for it) toward the end of the cook time.

• Another great tip for keeping your Chutney from scorching is to reduce your heat source as you see the Chutney beginning to thicken. Also, using a larger pot will keep the cooking more even.

• To determine if the Chutney is finished cooking, take a spoonful and place it on a plate. Test it by drawing a small spoon through the middle of the mixture on the plate. If no liquid seeps into the space, then, the Chutney is done!

• Chutney will thicken even more as it cools. But it shouldn't too thick. A good test is to mound a sample on a spoon. If it falls gently from the spoon without extra liquid or not too thickly - like a big clump, then you've cooked the perfect Chutney!



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