What to do with Chutney?!

Twice in the last few years I’ve chosen to have a chutney workshop. This year we will have a Spicy Tomato Chutney workshop on August 6. Because I choose the foods that we can at workshops, you may assume chutney is one of my favorite condiments. That may be the case now. However, when I first decided to do it, I had never had any before—or at least didn’t think I had. So, before the first workshop, I had to do a bit of research. I didn’t even know what to do with chutney!

Through my research, I discovered that chutney offers a lot of opportunity—it can be used for many different dishes. I figured maybe I wasn’t alone in feeling helpless with a jar of chutney. That is why I chose to write about it for the blog this month.

I’d recommend trying a few different types of chutney. I’ve found that though they all contain a lot of different flavors, the different combinations lend themselves to different foods. For the suggestions below, think about what type of chutney you have or are making and decide what suggestions would be best.

What chutney can be used for

One of the easiest ways to use chutney is as a condiment to cook on meat. You can puree the chutney and dilute it a bit with water then add to meat as a glaze while cooking. The flavor combinations will infuse into the meat to create a very delicious dish. This is the primary way that I have used my chutney.

Add chutney to lamb, venison, chicken, beef, or pork just before serving or on the side. The flavors will add to the natural flavors of the meat. You could mix chutney with mayonnaise and spread on a sandwich to jazz up a regular lunch meat sandwich.

What if you don’t eat a lot of meat?

There are plenty of options for you as well.

Put chutney over some cream cheese and serve with toasties or crackers as a quick, sweet and savory treat. This can be a great way to use any type of chutney because cream cheese has a very neutral flavor.

Add chutney to the inside of a grilled cheese sandwich before grilling. The chutney and the cheese will combine to make a great sandwich.

These are just a few options of what you can do with chutney. Because of the brilliant array of flavors, it is a very versatile condiment.