In my quest to dismiss the myth that Indian cooking is not for the faint-hearted and to help spread my knowledge on some simple and traditional Indian food recipes, like this Green Chutney or Cilantro Chutney, I have started this series called Indian Cooking 101. To make it more interactive and as helpful as I can for my readers, I welcome you to email me any questions that you may have in the process. I will try and respond to the questions personally through email, or in the next part if it’s connected to what I have already planned to discuss.
It's often believed that no Indian meal is complete without a good helping of tangy Cilantro 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 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 highlight its importance in Indian food.
What are Indian 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 tiny 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 any pickled 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.
What are Indian Chutneys?
Chutneys can be classified into two basic categories. The fresh chutneys, those that are blended with fresh ingredients and spices - like this Cilantro Chutney, require no cooking whatsoever. The cooked chutneys, however, are simmered over 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 every day.
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.
Green Chutney (Cilantro Chutney)
Ingredients
- 2 cups roughly chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1-2 green chillies roughly chopped
- 2-3 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- salt to taste
- water as needed
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a blender with a splash of water and grind into in smooth paste, slowly increasing the amount of water as needed.
This tangy lip-smacking Cilantro Chutney is best enjoyed with Samosas, Chaats, Pakoras, or even as a sandwich spread.
This post was originally published in June 2007 and has been recently updated.
Made this recipe? Rate it by clicking the number of stars on the recipe card. Want to share your version with me? Tag me on Instagram @hookedonheat
MORE POSTS ON INDIAN COOKING 101
- Kitchen Essentials
- Part 1: Know your Spice
- Part 2: A Lesson in Lentils
- Part 3: Pickles and Chutneys
- Part 4: Indian Street Food
- Part 5: Cooking Curry for Beginners
- Part 6: Quick Cooking Tips for Indian Food
- BONUS 1: How NOT to Cook Indian Food
- BONUS 2: How to Cook Indian Meals in 20 Minutes
MORE POSTS ON INDIAN COOKING: A-Z
- A is for… Achari Mushrooms
- B is for… Bhuna Chicken
- C is for… Chatpati Bharwaan Bhindi
- D is for… Dhabewali Dal Tadka
- E is for… Egg Curry
Anthony Rizzi says
Very informative guide. You're right, the chutneys are key! Gonna whip myself up some Hari Chutney soon. Would it be wrong to blend in some yogurt/curd?
Randolph Carter says
How are you supposed to eat Indian Pickles? Put them on your curry or eat them seperately?
Maxine says
I love your blog and have a question about chutneys...how do you store them and what is the shelf life?
Thanks for sharing.
zian says
great website.. chutney luks yummy
Samantha says
I love this green chutney! it's our favorite at home and I always make it with samosas. Our recipe calls for desicated coconut instead of mango though. I might give this version a try and compare the flavor.
Thanks for sharing
imposterpockets says
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!
Shella says
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
sharmi says
so many different varieties of chutney and it has become a part of our life. I add little tamarind to my hari chutney!
Steamy Kitchen says
I love mango chutney - I'll have to branch out and try others. I haven't even tried Coconut Chutney yet!
Mae says
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.
Monika Korngut says
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.
Maninas says
oh god, i've been embarassingly blind... now i see where it is... sorry about this
Maninas says
oh great! sorry, i must have been 'blind'! 🙂
Maninas says
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 - https://www.hookedonheat.com/recipe-list
Mallika says
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! 🙂
Cynthia says
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!
Jyothsna says
Nice post. I add dates also to the tamarind chutney.
meeso says
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. 🙂
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
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!
Trig says
A very imformative post, you've taught me a thing or two.
Gald you enjoyed it Trig!
Dilip says
Great post....great pics....thanks for providing a learning experince
Suganya says
Nice article. BTW, Is that breadsticks or pizza dough baked with that chutney in the pic?