Peach Chutney recipe/Indian Food

Last week I posted a video of me making Peach Chutney as part of a larger Indian Feast - Indian food is so complex and delicious; it's also easy to make at home. It also is a great way to cook vegetarian - I never think I'm missing anything (like fish or meat) when I have a good Indian meal.

my Peach Chutney- this is something I make from my head but here is guideline to follow.

Peaches in season are so wonderful you want to have them all year around, making and putting up this chutney is one way to do that. Not only is it great as an accompany to meat, fish or curries it is great with a grilled cheese sandwich or just a piece of cheddar.

In a cast iron skillet add:
2tsp cumin seeds, 2tsp black mustard seeds and cook over medium heat until the cumin seeds brown and the mustard seeds start to pop.
Add:
1/4 cup of  canola oil or ghee (Indian clarified butter) to the frying pan with the seeds in it.
Stir in:
2 medium onions chopped roughly
Saute until the onions have wilted and become translucent - about 10 minutes over a medium heat. Add:
4-6 finely mined garlic cloves. Cook for two minutes until the garlic has been incorporated and wilted but not browned.

Stir in:
2 hot peppers chopped roughly with seeds in (I use Jalapeno but Serrano or Thai would be fine. If you are heat sensitive remove seeds - the Thai peppers are the hottest of the three list Jalepeno the mildest.)

A generous portion of grated fresh ginger - approx 2 T

Cook to incorporate (a minute or so), then add:
1/2 tsp Tumeric powder, 1 T ground Coriander, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper,
1 tsp Chunky Chat Masala (or just regular curry powder)
Over medium heat stir this mixture of aromatics and spice until the oil starts to separate - a few minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. Mix in:
1 Cup raw or brown sugar 1 Cup apple cider vinegar
6 cups peeled  and roughly chopped peaches
(you can use apricots, plums, mango or any variation depending on what is in season in your area)

Simmer over medium low heat for about an hour or until the mixture has gotten thick and jam like. I like for there to still be chunks of fruit so the spicy sour sweet chutney has a burst of fresh fruit flavor every time you bite into some Peach.

TASTE IT and re-season to your liking. You may want to add a titch of salt or adjust the sugar/vinegar ratio. This is my basic guideline I encourage you to take it and run. I like to add freshly grated black pepper at the end and if I use Peaches 1 Teaspoon of dried ginger as well as the fresh.

It is a great staple - don't let the Indian ingredients scare you off. Here's a great resource:

Kalustyan's
123 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10016
TEL : 212-685-3451
FAX : 212-683-8458