Best Date Chutney Recipes

RHUBARB & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Put the onions in a large pan with the ginger and vinegar. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the rhubarb, plus 2 tsp salt to the pan and bring to the boil, stirring. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 mins until the apples are tender.
• Stir in the rhubarb and cook, uncovered, until the chutney is thick and jammy, about 15-20 mins. Leave the chutney to sit for about 10-15 mins, then spoon into warm, clean jars, and seal. Label the jars when cool. Keep for at least a month before eating.

TAMARIND - DATE CHUTNEY ( SWEET INDIAN CHUTNEY)

Steps:

• Place the jaggery, dates and water in a deep boiling pan for about 2 hours.
• After the dates become smooth, blend in a mixer till smooth.
• Strain and transfer to the pan again.
• Add the tamarind paste and seasoning.
• Boil till thick enough to coat the back of a spoon thinly.
• Cool again. Store in clean airtight bottles and refrigerate.
• Shelf life of about a month in the refrigerator.
• * Here, I have used tamarind paste. But in case you do not have tamarind, soak the tamarind in water and extract its paste.
• What I usually do is use dry tamarind powder which I get from Indian grocery stores.

SAMOSAS WITH TAMARIND-DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the pastry: Add the flour, salt and nigella or ajwain seeds to a medium bowl and mix. Add the ghee or oil and mix in with your fingers until the dough looks crumbly. Begin by adding 3 tablespoons of cold water, then add more water a little a time to make a stiff dough. Try to knead the dough as little as possible (think flaky pie crust). Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
• For the spice blend: To roast the spices, heat a small cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the whole spices: coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, peppercorns, clove, cardamom and cinnamon and roast, shaking the skillet often, until the mixture darkens slightly and becomes toasty and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a small bowl to cool. Add the amchur powder, red chile powder and turmeric. Once cool, transfer to a grinder or mortar and pestle and grind to a medium-fine grind.
• For the filling: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cumin seeds and let sizzle until they darken slightly, about 30 seconds Add the peanuts if using and cook until crunchy, about 2 minutes. Add the chiles and ginger and cook, stirring often, until the raw aroma of the ginger goes away, about 1 minute.
• Add the potatoes, peas, roasted spice blend and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and cook until the peas soften and the mixture is well mixed and seasoned, about 3 minutes. Add the cilantro if using. Add salt to taste, amchur for additional tang and red chile powder for spice.
• To assemble and fry the samosas: Pour enough oil into a large Dutch oven or wide heavy-bottomed pot to come up the sides about 3 inches. Place over medium heat and heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil registers 340 degrees F.
• While the oil is heating, divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball (a kitchen scale is helpful here but not necessary). For smaller samosas, you can divide the dough into 8 balls. Cover all but 1 ball with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Flatten the uncovered ball into an oval patty. Lightly brush with oil and roll the patty into a thin oval (8 to 9 inches long and 5 to 6 inches wide). Cut in half widthwise into 2 semicircles.
• Set a small bowl of water beside you. Working with one semicircle at a time, fold over one end of the straight edge halfway toward the rounded edge. Using a fingertip, lightly wet the outside edge with a little water as well as the inner edge of the other half of the straight side. Then fold the other half up and overlapping the wet sides, about 1/4 inch, to form a cone. Press the edges together to form a seal. Hold the cone in one hand, pinch the seam again to make sure it's sealed and fill it with 2 tablespoons of the potato filling. Make a little pleat opposite of the sealed edge by pinching it over about 1/4 inch. This is the backbone of the samosa and will help it stand. Wet the inside of the rounded edge and fold it over the filling to enclose it. Press the edges together to seal. Repeat with a second dough ball and some of the filling to make 4 samosas.
• Double-check that the oil temperature is 340 degrees F (it's important for the oil to be medium hot; if it's too hot, the outside of the samosas will brown too quickly, while the inside dough will not be cooked enough and the samosas won't crisp up). Gently slip in the 4 samosas and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 10 minutes. If the samosas haven't browned by then, increase the temperature to 360 degrees F and cook, turning over as needed, until golden brown. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• While the samosas are frying, shape and fill 4 more samosas, then repeat until all the samosas are shaped, filled and fried. Serve immediately with Tamarind-Date Chutney.
• Stir together the seedless tamarind, date paste, jaggery, cumin powder, red chile powder, ginger powder, fennel powder, black salt, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium low so the sauce is simmering. Cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes; when you dip a spoon into the sauce and run your finger across the back of it, it should hold a line. Taste and add more salt or jaggery if needed. Remove from the heat and strain. Allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight glass jar and refrigerate.

APPLE, DATE & TAMARIND CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Tip all the ingredients, into a preserving pan. Warm over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat a little, then let the mixture boil until the Bramley apples have broken down to a pulp, but the eating apples still hold their shape. Stir occasionally to stop the chutney from sticking. This can take from 45 mins to 1 hr. You can tell that it is ready by running your wooden spoon through the mixture. Your spoon should briefly leave a channel in the mixture, and there shouldn't be liquid pooling into the space.
• Whilst the chutney cooks, sterilise your jars (see tip, below). When the chutney is ready, pot the mixture into the jars. Can be eaten within a few days, but is best left for a few weeks to mellow and mature. Will keep for at least a year.

TAMARIND - DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place the sugar, dates and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for about 7-8 minutes, until the dates are very soft.
• Stir in the tamarind.
• Very carefully, pour the ingredients into a blender, clamp the lid down tight and blend until smooth (or blend in the pot with an immersion/stick blender).
• Return the mixture to the pot and boil until thick enough to thinly coat the back of a spoon (the chutney will thicken more as it cools).
• Stir in the spices and salt.
• Taste for seasoning: the chutney should be equal parts sweet, salty and sour.
• Add more tamarind, sugar or salt if any of these needs a boost.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

SPICED COFFEE WITH LIQUEUR AND DATE NUT BREAD WITH CHUTNEY SPREAD

Steps:

• Pulse ingredients for the cheese spread in food processor until mixture is combined. Transfer spread to a small serving dish and garnish with shaved crystallized ginger. Serve with the date nut bread.
• Brew a pot of coffee, putting the orange rind, cloves, and cinnamon in with the grounds before brewing. Top off coffee with cognac or liqueur. Dip rims of coffee mugs in warm water, then coat in sugar.

APRICOT AND DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cover apricots with water and set aside to soak for one hour. Drain the apricots.
• Combine apricots, sultanas and vinegar in a large saucepan. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the liquid as almost evaporated.
• Stir in all of the remaining ingredients and add one cup of water. Simmer for 5 minutes, until the chutney has thickened.
• Pour into jars and seal. Makes approx 6 cups of chutney.

TAMARIND AND DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the tamarind and 1 cup of the water over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Occasionally stir with a fork to break up the pulp. Remove from the heat, cover, and set aside to steep and further soften for 5 minutes, or until the tamarind solids have expanded. When you stir the mixture, the pulp should easily combine with the water.
• Position a coarse-mesh sieve over a bowl and pour in the tamarind mixture. Using a rubber spatula or metal spoon, vigorously stir and press the solids against the mesh to force as much of the pulp through as possible. If necessary, return the pulp to the saucepan, add some of the already-strained liquid, stir to loosen up more of the pulp, and then work it through the sieve again. When the pulp is spent, discard the fibrous left overs. The resulting liquid will resemble chocolate cake batter. You should have 2/3 to 3/4 cup.
• Combine the tamarind liquid, dates, the remaining 1/3 cup water, the brown sugar, salt, and cayenne in a food processor. Process to a smooth, thick texture. Occasionally pause the machine and scrape down the sides. The ideal texture is thick enough to mound on a spoon, but you can add extra water for a thinner sauce. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cumin for a pungent finish. Taste and adjust the flavors, as necessary, especially if you thinned the chutney. Set aside for a few hours for the flavors to blend and bloom. Serve, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for a month.

CRANBERRY, PINEAPPLE & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Peel, core and roughly chop the apples and pineapple. Peel and roughly chop the onions. Mix together the apples, pineapple, onions, cranberries, dates, raisins, garlic and ginger.
• Put the mix of fruit and vegetables in batches through the food processor until finely chopped. Tip into a large wide pan or preserving pan.
• Add the spices, salt and vinegar and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 mins until the apple is pulpy, then add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Bring to theboil, then simmer for about 40-45 mins, until the chutney is thick and pulpy.
• Pot into warm, sterilised jars. Seal, label and store for at least a month in a cool dry place.

DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown at edges, 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and cook, stirring, until beginning to pop, 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 6 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before serving.

TAMARILLO AND DATE CHUTNEY (NEW ZEALAND)

Steps:

• Slice tamarillos in half lengthwise and place in microwave dish and cook for five minutes.
• This enables one to remove skins with ease.
• (Depending on size of dish this will take several lots to microwave the 24 tamarillos).
• Place all ingredients in a large pot or preserving pan and bring to the boil stirring frquently.
• Simmer covered stirring frequently for approximately 2 hours or until thick.
• Pour into hot sterilised jars and cover when cold.

SPICE- CRUSTED PORK TENDERLOINS WITH BANANA- DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Chutney:.
• In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking; add the onions and saute', stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, until soft.
• Add the ginger and dates and saute' for 1 minute more, stirring a couple of times; add the bananas, red pepper flakes, molasses, and lemon juice, bring to a boil and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated (about 7-10 minutes).
• Remove from heat, stir in the mint, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Tenderloins:.
• Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Combine olive oil, garlic, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and cinnamon and mix well; coat tenderloins generously with this mixture.
• Grill over a hot fire, turning once or twice, until they develop a nice brown, crusty sear on the outside (about 5 minutes); once they are well seared, move to a side of the grill where the heat is low.
• Cook, turning occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes (mine took longer, but they were on the large side for tenderloins); the meat should be light pink in the center.
• Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes; slice on the bias and serve with Banana-Date Chutney.
• Note: The chutney will keep, covered and refrigerated, for about a week.

RHUBARB, DATE & APRICOT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine rhubarb, dates, apricots, onion, brown sugar, vinegar, candied ginger, nutmeg, curry powder and salt in non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes or until thickened and fruit is soft, stirring frequently.
• Ladle into sterilized, hot pint jars to within 1/2-inch. Seal and process in boiling water canner for 15 minutes (10 minutes if using 1/2-pint jars).

TAMARIND-DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine the dates, water, tamarind concentrate, cayenne pepper, and salt in a blender; blend until smooth.

LEMON & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Mix together lemon, zest, extra lemon juice and salt. Let sit overnight.
• Combine all ingredients, except sugar and dates, in a heavy pan.
• Bring to a boil.
• Then lower temperature and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add sugar and dates, stir well and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until thick and reduced.
• Stir regularly to prevent sticking.
• Pour into sterilised jars.
• Let the chutney mature for 6 weeks.

LUXURIOUS FIG AND DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Finely chop the dates, figs and onion.
• Scatter onion into a hot pan, using just enough golden sugar to coat the onion well, and cook for just a few minutes. Do not allow to stick or burn.
• Add the dates and figs and stir regularly, turning down to a medium heat. Add just a little vinegar to prevent sticking.
• This chutney will absorb the vinegar and dry out quite quickly, so keep a watchful eye on it; stir gently, and continuously, topping up with vinegar as required, and add a little sugar if it becomes too moist. Once you have approximately double the depth in the pan that you had when it contained just the fruit and onion, and it is moist enough to not risk sticking to the pan, leave to cook.
• After about 15 minutes, the chutney should be thick and bubbling. Remove from the heat and pour into clean, pre-heated glass jars.
• Store for 1 month or more before using; ripens and improves with age.

TAMARIND-DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place the cumin seeds in a small, dry skillet over medium heat. Shake the skillet gently to move the seeds as they toast so they don't burn; continue until aromatic, about 5 minutes. Transfer seeds to a spice grinder, and grind to a fine powder.
• Place the dates in the bowl of a food processor; process until finely chopped. Remove and discard any seeds to make 3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate. Add concentrate, ginger, and ground cumin to food processor. Add 2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water, or enough to make the mixture a spreadable consistency. Process until smooth. Add the cayenne and salt; adjust to taste.

PLUM & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Preheat grill and line the grill pan with foil.
• MIx the onions and oil and spread them out in the pan.
• Grill for 12-15 minutes or until soft and charred.
• Put the plum slices into a large bowl and add the hot onions with all the reamining ingredients.
• Leave to marinate for 1 hour, then taste and add salt and pepper, plus a little extra sugar if you like.
• Goes great with cold meats or stuffed into a pitta bread with a strong cheese.

RHUBARB & DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat and simmer gently until the chutney has a jam-like consistency and there is no excess liquid on the surface.
• Stir from time to time to prevent sticking.
• Spoon into hot sterilized jars and seal down.
• Label and store for 6-8 weeks before use.

CILANTRO-DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place cumin in a small skillet and set over medium-high heat. Toast for 2 to 3 minutes, or until seeds just begin to change color and emit a faint aroma. Immediately dump seeds into a spice grinder or mortar, and grind to a powder.
• Place dates, lime juice, jalapeños, ginger, garlic, salt and cumin into the bowl of a food processor and pulse, stopping periodically to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula as needed. Try to get this mixture as uniformly puréed as possible, though a little texture is fine.
• Add the cilantro and continue to pulse to break it down. Then, add as little water as possible - about a tablespoon - to get the blades moving and turn the mixture into the sauce. Continue scraping the sides and pulsing until no large bits of stem or leaf remain and the sauce is a lovely, almost-but-not-quite-smooth texture. Taste, and add lime juice and salt as needed. Cover and refrigerate until serving. This sauce will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge.