Intro to Indian, Part 3 - Pickles and Chutneys: Green Chutney
It’s often believed that no Indian meal is complete without a good helping of tangy chutney and a touch of spicy pickle on the side. Delicately spiced, these Indian condiments range in taste, texture and colour to suit every palate, be it hot, sour, salty or sweet. Since chutneys and pickles hold a very prominent place on every Indian thali, a large round steel tray traditional used to serve a selection of different dishes, including rice, lentils, vegetables, rotis and a sweet dish, I couldn’t help but dedicate a section to its own individuality.
Pickles
Unlike the classic dill pickle found in almost every refrigerator in every home in North America, Indian pickles are fiery hot condiments that are often eaten in minute quantities. They can be seen as preserves, with salt being the most common preservative and can be stored up to many months. While most Indian pickles tend to be sour, you can also find a good range in the sweet varieties. Earlier pickles were most commonly made from mangoes that are available in abundance throughout, but now one can easily find a jar of pickle of any vegetable desired, or even a combination of them.
Most pickles are made by sun drying the fruits and vegetables, and then storing them in a jar of salt over a period of time. Mixed in oil and spices and they are then flavoured, some even simmered for hours. Over the hot summer months, it’s very common to find a family gathered out on the patios or terraces, sitting in a circle preparing the ingredients for pickling, while at the same time sharing in idle gossip. Each family prides in its own secret recipe passed on from generations, making this a family event to look forward to.
Chutneys
Chutneys can be classified in two basic categories. The fresh chutneys, those that are blended with fresh ingredients and spices, and require no cooking whatsoever, and the cooked chutneys, that are simmered over a low heat till all the flavours are blended well. While chutneys are enjoyed and eaten in almost every home throughout the country, it is as diverse in its flavour as the number of hands that make it everyday.
Some of the most popular chutneys include:
Coconut Chutney: A favourite accompaniment to the spicy Masala Dosa, this fresh chutney is made by blending freshly grated coconut with generous amounts of green chillies, fresh ginger, curry leaves, Urad dal and mustard seeds.
Tomato Chutney: This refreshingly sweet chutney is made by slowing cooking fresh tomatoes with an added flavour of curry leaves, ginger and spices. Eaten hot or cold it brings a wonderful additional dose of flavour to any simple meal.
Tamarind Chutney:A slow simmering chutney of tamarind pulp, jaggery (unrefined sugar) and a mix of spices, this tangy chutney is always a welcome companion to many Indian snacks. It is a wonderful blend of sweet and sour flavours with a hint of spice and adds that much needed zing to many popular street foods.
Mango Chutney:This chutney is easily made by sautéing diced mangoes with an array of different spices and lemon juice. As much as it is enjoyed with a traditional Indian meal, it also serves as a great topping for any regular sandwich.
Onion Chutney:A personal favourite, onion chutney is a quick two-step process. First, sliced onions are sautéed in a skillet with red chillies. Then, once cooled, it is blended to a touch of tamarind and sugar to a smooth fine paste. A perfect blend of spicy, sweet and sour, this delicious relish is good enough to enjoy on its own.
Previous installments of the Indian 101 series:
- Intro to Indian
- Part 1: Know your Spice
- Part 2: A Lesson in Lentils
HARI CHUTNEY
MINT-CORIANDET CHUTNEY
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 10 min2 cups fresh coriander, chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1-inch piece fresh ginger
1-2 green chillies, roughly chopped
1 raw mango, roughly chopped
1-2 tbsp fresh lime juice
salt, to taste
water, as neededBLEND all ingredients till it forms a smooth fine paste, adding a little water if necessary.
STORE in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator and enjoy as desired.
June 29th, 2007 18:24
Nice article. BTW, Is that breadsticks or pizza dough baked with that chutney in the pic?
June 30th, 2007 06:04
Great post….great pics….thanks for providing a learning experince
June 30th, 2007 08:31
A very imformative post, you’ve taught me a thing or two.
Gald you enjoyed it Trig!
June 30th, 2007 13:27
Can you please post a recipe for Tamarind Chutney? I adore that stuff and I have some tamarinds at home and would love to make some!
Thats next on my list of to-do’s Jenn, let’s see how fast I can make it through!
June 30th, 2007 14:52
That looks so good, It’s my favorite chutney…and after trying your Chicken and Potato Curry recipe I bet this recipe is awesome! I look forward to trying it.
Thanks Meeso, let me know when you try it and how it turned out.
July 1st, 2007 04:45
Nice post. I add dates also to the tamarind chutney.
July 1st, 2007 12:40
As always, it’s a pleasure hanging around here. You keep changing the place up every time we visit
Thanks Cynthia, glad you enjoy it!
July 2nd, 2007 10:48
That green chutney looks terrific. I am a big fan of mango pickle myself but I have never attempted to make it from scratch.
M
x
Me too, Mallika! Somehow the idea of picking a jar of pickle and paying for it seems so much easier than toiling days over dried mangoes!
July 2nd, 2007 13:17
Hi, thanks for the recipe.
Btw, I love your blog. However, the recipes are not that easy to go through, and to find. It would be great if you had a recipe index listing the names of the dishes. That would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Maninas, I do have a recipe index and it can be found here - http://www.hookedonheat.com/recipe-list
July 4th, 2007 10:06
oh great! sorry, i must have been ‘blind’!
July 4th, 2007 10:09
oh god, i’ve been embarassingly blind… now i see where it is… sorry about this
July 5th, 2007 12:25
Hi, Its been a little while since I visited your site. It looks yummy and delicious as always. But am I correct in observing that the background colour changed again. No matter what colour, it looks amazing and I really enjoy visiting you here.
Take care,
m.
Thanks Monika, you’re absolutely right about the colour! The previous background kind of wore me down and I needed to pep things up a bit, glad you enjoy the change.
July 9th, 2007 20:04
This is a wonderful post for someone like me, who, don’t know anything about pickles and chutneys but to eat and enjoy them!
This is also the first time i’ve heard of Mint and Coriander chutney. I learn everyday…
Thanks Meena.
July 10th, 2007 07:28
I love mango chutney - I’ll have to branch out and try others. I haven’t even tried Coconut Chutney yet!
July 23rd, 2007 15:06
so many different varieties of chutney and it has become a part of our life. I add little tamarind to my hari chutney!
August 29th, 2007 01:47
Chutneys are an inseparable part of an Indian Meal, be it Corriander, Mint, Coconut, Onion, Garlic or be it anything under the sun. Blv me I know of people who use the skin of veggies like bottlegourd to make them into excellent chutneys.
Nice post & nice pics & nice work.
Keep it up.
You have a very interesting blog
August 30th, 2007 13:05
this may seem silly… but i don’t really know where i would put a chutney. they seem like they have such unique flavors that putting them on top of some other dish might be a battle on the pallet.
Chutney would be great in sandwiches. Some of my favourites include spreading it in a cucumber and tomato sandwich, as well as a potato sandwich. You can also use it as dipping sauce for many appetizers such as fritters. Hope you like it!