Date Chutney Food

DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown at edges, 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and cook, stirring, until beginning to pop, 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 6 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

TAMARIND - DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place the sugar, dates and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for about 7-8 minutes, until the dates are very soft.
• Stir in the tamarind.
• Very carefully, pour the ingredients into a blender, clamp the lid down tight and blend until smooth (or blend in the pot with an immersion/stick blender).
• Return the mixture to the pot and boil until thick enough to thinly coat the back of a spoon (the chutney will thicken more as it cools).
• Stir in the spices and salt.
• Taste for seasoning: the chutney should be equal parts sweet, salty and sour.
• Add more tamarind, sugar or salt if any of these needs a boost.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

APPLE-DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion, ginger, cardamom and salt, and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in apples, dates, sugar and vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce to a vigorous simmer, and cook, partially covered, until apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature.

PLUM & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Preheat grill and line the grill pan with foil.
• MIx the onions and oil and spread them out in the pan.
• Grill for 12-15 minutes or until soft and charred.
• Put the plum slices into a large bowl and add the hot onions with all the reamining ingredients.
• Leave to marinate for 1 hour, then taste and add salt and pepper, plus a little extra sugar if you like.
• Goes great with cold meats or stuffed into a pitta bread with a strong cheese.

APRICOT AND DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cover apricots with water and set aside to soak for one hour. Drain the apricots.
• Combine apricots, sultanas and vinegar in a large saucepan. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the liquid as almost evaporated.
• Stir in all of the remaining ingredients and add one cup of water. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the chutney has thickened.
• Pour into jars and seal. Makes approx 6 cups of chutney.

RHUBARB & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Put the onions in a large pan with the ginger and vinegar. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the rhubarb, plus 2 tsp salt to the pan and bring to the boil, stirring. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 mins until the apples are tender.
• Stir in the rhubarb and cook, uncovered, until the chutney is thick and jammy, about 15-20 mins. Leave the chutney to sit for about 10-15 mins, then spoon into warm, clean jars, and seal. Label the jars when cool. Keep for at least a month before eating.

LEMON & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Mix together lemon, zest, extra lemon juice and salt. Let sit overnight.
• Combine all ingredients, except sugar and dates, in a heavy pan.
• Bring to a boil.
• Then lower temperature and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add sugar and dates, stir well and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until thick and reduced.
• Stir regularly to prevent sticking.
• Pour into sterilised jars.
• Let the chutney mature for 6 weeks.

TAMARIND - DATE CHUTNEY ( SWEET INDIAN CHUTNEY)

Steps:

• Place the jaggery, dates and water in a deep boiling pan for about 2 hours.
• After the dates become smooth, blend in a mixer till smooth.
• Strain and transfer to the pan again.
• Add the tamarind paste and seasoning.
• Boil till thick enough to coat the back of a spoon thinly.
• Cool again. Store in clean airtight bottles and refrigerate.
• Shelf life of about a month in the refrigerator.
• * Here, I have used tamarind paste. But in case you do not have tamarind, soak the tamarind in water and extract its paste.
• What I usually do is use dry tamarind powder which I get from Indian grocery stores.

RHUBARB & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat and simmer gently until the chutney has a jam-like consistency and there is no excess liquid on the surface.
• Stir from time to time to prevent sticking.
• Spoon into hot sterilized jars and seal down.
• Label and store for 6-8 weeks before use.