Chutney

Green Tomato Chutney
© Denzil Green

Chutney is a savoury relish made with fruit and/or vegetables. It can be preserved or made fresh, served raw or cooked. It usually has a combination of sweet and sour tastes.

Commercial varieties may include ingredients such as ginger, mangoes, raisins, spices, sugar, tamarind and vinegar.

Though generally the version thought of as Indian started with mangos, North American versions evolved over the years with people's mothers and grandmothers basing theirs on tomatoes, beets, apples, rhubarb or blackberries, etc.

Though usually served with Indian food, Chutneys are now also very popular with Caribbean curries.

History Notes for Chutney

Apple Chutney

The British discovered Chutneys in India and popularized them at home and throughout the British Empire.

The Victorians found that they liked their cold meats with Chutneys as much as they did with curry, and Chutneys began appearing on fashionable sideboards even when Indian-style food wasn't present.

In October, 2003, researchers at the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK tested two jars of Chutney put down in 1969 by a woman in Norfolk named Joy Tomkins, who had just found them in the back of her cupboard after 34 years. The chemists pronounced the jars still safe to eat, because Mrs Tomkins followed correct preserving procedures (take a bow, Women's Institute) and the Chutney had a very high acidity that prevented bacteria from growing. Though if that's how often she goes through her cupboards, she probably should have had everything else tested, too.

Language Notes about Chutney

Chutney comes from a Hindi word "chaatna" which means to taste. A "chatni" is either an appetizer or a side-sauce.

Recipe Suggestions

Coconut and Coriander Chutney

Also called:

Chutney (German)