Tomato Chutney - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tomato chutney too runny? ›

Our answer. When you make chutney its consistency is determined by the evaporation of liquid as the chutney cooks. So if possible you should use a wide pan as this has a larger surface area which means that liquid will evaporate more quickly and should help to prevent the fruit in the chutney from becoming too soft.

About The Recipe

The first recipe helps you make spicy and hot tomato chutney with pantry staples like tomatoes, garlic, cumin, chilies, oil and salt. You can also store this in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks. The second chutney is the Onion Tomato Chutney which is also delicious, nutty, and spicy and flavorsome.

Sauces and chutneys are more or less prepared the same way, but sauce typically gets strained or blended to smooth out its texture. Compared to chutney, a sauce has a runny consistency. Based on its definition, a sauce is a liquid (or mostly liquid) blend of ingredients that are made to accompany food.

The tomatoes can be diced, mashed or pulped, and additional typical ingredients used include ginger, chilli, sugar, salt, aam papad, raisin, dates and spices and additionally onion, garlic and peanut or dal for the south Indian version. It can be prepared using ripe red tomatoes or green tomatoes.

In small cup or bowl, dissolve cornstarch in cold water. Stir into chutney until mixture begins to thicken and become clear. Microwave 2 to 4 more minutes, until chutney is thickened and clear and no starchy taste remains.

If your chutney is too runny or your recipe calls for a thickening agent, always use cornflour mixed with a little of the vinegar. Cornflour is gluten free. Always to this at the very end because thickening your chutney like this will make catch and burn easily.

Add cornstarch: Mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Gradually add the mixture to the chutney while stirring. Cook for a few more minutes until the chutney thickens. Add ground nuts: Add some ground nuts like almonds or cashews to the chutney, which will help thicken it.

Let the mixture cool before storing in the refrigerator. Note: The chutney will further thicken once it cools.

The best way to tell if opened chutney is bad is to check the smell and appearance. If it has an odd taste, an off odor, or if you see mold on it, throw it out immediately.

I find the seeds of fresh tomatoes to be the cause of the bitterness. Try to remove as many seeds as possible by squeezing tomatoes after blanching and peeling. Its hard to get them all but that is okay. Then a bit of cane sugar.

What are the benefits of tomato chutney? ›

Additionally, the tomatoes and dates used in the chutney are rich in antioxidants, which help to boost the immune system and fight off disease. The spices used in the chutney, such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander, are also incredibly beneficial for your health.

Tomato chutney: This spicy, savoury chutney made with tomatoes, onions, and spices is a good match for hard, salty cheeses like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.

Tomato chutney can be enjoyed as a condiment with cheese and crackers, as a topping for burgers or sandwiches, or as a side accompaniment to curries and Indian dishes. Its versatility and rich, savory taste make it a delicious addition to any meal.

The sugar and vinegar are essential, too, for that quintessential sharp-sweet flavour and to preserve the chutney. If the jars have been sterilised correctly (watch our video for a failsafe method), the chutney will keep in a cool dark space for more than a year.

Pairs With Gouda or Havarti

Gouda is a cheese with mild, sweet, and almost fudgey qualities. Because of it's slight sweetness, pairing this cheese with a bright tomato chutney creates the perfect balance of flavours. Havarti is equally as sweet, so the acidity of tomato chutney helps to cut through the creaminess.

Add cornstarch: Mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Gradually add the mixture to the chutney while stirring. Cook for a few more minutes until the chutney thickens. Add ground nuts: Add some ground nuts like almonds or cashews to the chutney, which will help thicken it.

Bring to boil and let the relish boil with the lid off for up to an hour (until thick). You can thicken the relish with 3 tablespoons of cornflour and a little vinegar if needed. After simmering and thickening, pour the relish into hot sterilized jars and seal.

To thicken the relish, add the cornflour to a little water and mix to a smooth paste. Add a little of the hot liquid from the relish mixture until the paste is the consistency of thin cream. Add the paste to the relish mixture and stir continuously for around 5 minutes until it thickens.