Recipe- Vibrant And Flavorful Mango Chutney

Asa huge Indian food fan I love exploring and creating a wide range of chutneys out of fruits, nuts, vegetables and a whole host of spices. This mango chutney recipe is one of our very favorites.

Chutney dates back to 500 BC. Chutneys are endless in variety and ingredients, but they generally consist of fruit, vinegar, and sugar cooked down to a reduction. The word “chutney” is derived from the Sanskrit word caṭnī, meaning to lick. In other words, finger-lickin’ good!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cooking oil (neutral tasting)
2 teaspoons fresh ginger , finely minced
2 cloves garlic , finely minced
1 red chili , sliced (optional: remove seeds and membrane for less heat)
2 teaspoons whole nigella seeds (optional but HIGHLY recommended for incredible flavor)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4-5 large mangoes (about 250-300 grams each), peeled and diced
2 cups white granulated sugar
1 cup white vinegar

Method

- Heat the oil over medium-high in a medium stock pot. Saute the ginger, garlic and red chilies for a minute.

- Add the spices and saute for another minute. Add the diced mangoes, sugar, salt, and vinegar and stir to combine.

- Bring it to a rapid boil and reduce to medium-low. Steady simmer for 1 hour.

- Remove from heat and allow it to cool. If you prefer smaller chunks, use a potato masher to mash the mixture to the desired consistency.

- For storage, chutney will keep for a while because of the high acidity content.

- A conservative time frame would be up to 2 months in the fridge (in a sealed jar) or for several months in the freezer.

- Canning Instructions (for even longer shelf-life): Pour the hot mixture directly into sterilized jars and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

- Let sit undisturbed for 24 hours, then store in a dark, cool place. Will keep for at least a year.

- This makes roughly 2 1/2 pints of mango chutney.