Choice Indian Chutneys and Pickles

There aren't many Indian dishes which you can consider complete without a chutney or pickle. This pungent fruit-based accompaniment is more than mere jam - it is a jamboree of nourishing tang.

Chutney and is full of any or all of fruit, vinegar, sugar and spices, but that dry description hides a continent of variety.

Chutneys and pickles can be made with mangos, plums, peaches, tamarind, lime, lemon... even cranberries or coconut! In other words, any pulpy fruit is a tremendous base for chutney or pickle. The spices can vary from red chilli powder, coriander, cardamon, cinnamon or caraway seeds. They may include mace and masoor or indeed, almost any other spice.

They can be salty or sweet, hot or mild, completely pureed or left a little chunky or a combination of some or all of these but in the main, chutneys are sweet and pickles are salty or sour.

I'm sure you'll be unable to resist making your own chutney after reading the above.

Ingredients:

1/2lb tamarinds
1/2lb jaggery or brown sugar
5 cups water
1 tsp Garam masala

Notes: Jaggery is a rich brown palm sugar. Garam masala is a mixture of spices, including cumin, chllli powder, garlic, ginger and a few others. It is best to buy it, because grinding the spices and getting the proportions precisely right can be difficult.

Method:

Peel and mash the tamarinds unless you prefer a little rougher texture. Add the tamarind pulp to the water in a large saucepan.  Heat slowly and allow to cook on medium for approximately 10 minutes. Strain most of the thinnest liquid out and pour into a bowl.

Add the jaggery and continue heating until it is entirely dissolved, stir in the garam masala.  During this operation the chutney will thicken considerably.

Alternative recipe:

Ingredients:

All of the above, plus:

1 cup coconut
3 garlic cloves
3 dried red chillies

These make for an much spicier chutney, but one that is also sweeter, with extra body. The coconut should be as dry as possible (roasting is one good way to accomplish this) and grated the day before preparation. The chillies should also be dried and ground (a coffee grinder takes the hard work out of this).

Serving:

Unlike American jams, chutneys and pickles are not intended to be spread on bread. Instead, they make for a delicious accompaniment to dosa, lamb, or just as something rich spicy and fruity to put on rice.

Because it is so adaptable chutney and pickle can be served cold or warm, depending on the dish they are being served with. Sweeter chutneys are nicer cold, but spicier ones are just wonderful for a hot dish like a rich curry.