Star Fruit Chutney Food

STAR FRUIT (CARAMBOLA) CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir well.
• Bring to a simmer over medium high heat and cook 25 minutes
• Use your stick blender to make it smooth and simmer until thickened.

DRIED FRUIT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy 6-quart pot over moderately high heat until it shimmers and cook the cinnamon, star anise, and cloves for 1 minute. Add the brown mustard seeds and chile. When the seeds pop and are fragrant, after about 30 seconds, remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the orange juice and apple cider. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the cherries, dates, zest, ginger, apricots, cranberries, fennel, yellow mustard seeds, and vinegar. Briskly simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced and the fruits are softened and tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Stir in salt to taste. Let the chutney cool completely before serving. The chutney keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.

STAR FRUIT UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan.
• For the topping: Melt the butter, brown sugar and lemon juice together in a microwave-safe small bowl in the microwave. Spread the mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover it with the starfruit slices by nestling them next to one another and overlapping (it will look crowded). Set aside.
• For the cake: Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet, and bake until nicely toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then pulse in a food processor until finely ground. Whisk together the ground pecans, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt and allspice. Set aside.
• Beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed. Adjust the mixer speed to low, and add half the flour mixture, then the yogurt, then the remaining flour.
• Pour the batter into the pan, spread it out into an even layer and give it a few taps on the counter. Bake until golden brown, a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean in the center and the cake pulls away from the edges, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack until the pan is cool enough to handle, then run a knife along the edge and invert the cake onto a serving platter. Let cool completely before serving.

LAURA'S FRUITY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Halve, stone and chop the plums (about the same size as you would for an apple pie - not too big, not too small). Drop them into a large saucepan. Core, peel and chop the apples and pears in the same way. Peel, stone and chop the mango. Put all the fruit in the pan.
• Stir sugar, vinegar, onions, ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, coriander, crushed chillies and salt into the pan, then drop the cinnamon stick on top. Heat slowly for about 20 mins, giving an occasional stir, until the sugar has dissolved. Now leave the chutney to simmer at a steady pace, without a lid, stirring occasionally until reduced and thickened, but still with a nice balance of syrupy juice. This will take about 1½ hrs. You don't want to cook it until all the liquid has gone, as it will thicken once it cools. Discard the cinnamon stick.
• Using a heatproof jug, pour the chutney while still hot into sterilised jars. It will keep for about a year in a cool, dry place.

CRANBERRY FRUIT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cut apricots into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• In heavy stainless-steel Dutch oven, combine apricots, orange juice, dates, raisins and ginger.
• Cover and let stand for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.
• Stir in cranberries, sugar, onions, corn syrup, vinegar, mustard seeds and salt.
• Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring often.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring almost constantly, until thick enough to mound on a spoon.
• Cranberries will have popped; the process takes about 20 minutes.
• Ladle into one-cup hot sterilized mason jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
• Cover with prepared lids; screw on bands fingertip-tight.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

DRIED APRICOT CHUTNEY WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except apricots in small saucepan & turn heat to medium.
• Bring to boil, stirring occasionally, then lower heat & cook 5 minutes.
• Add apricots & continue to cook until only a SMALL amount of liquid is left.
• If mixture is not 'jammy' or apricots not quite tender, add a little more water & cook some more.
• Taste & adjust seasoning as necessary ~ add more of any ingredient desired.
• Use within 3-4 days & serve, hot, warm or at room temperature.

FRUIT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to heavy bottomed saucepan and heat over low, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
• Turn the heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes or until the fruit is cooked and thick. Check periodically to see if more liquid is needed.
• If time allows, use proper methods (check with your local cooperative extension office) to can the chutney and let sit for 6-8 weeks.
• Otherwise, cool and dig in!