What is chutney?

Chutney is a sauce or sauce base with roots in Indian cuisine, containing ingredients such as aromatic spices, vegetables or fruits, vinegar and sugar. When it was adapted to Anglo-Indian cuisine it started to contain fruits such as classically apple and mango and others, and became softer and sweeter with the addition of sugar. Vinegar was later added so that it could be preserved better and for longer periods. The Indian version usually contains mustard oil to preserve it while the Anglo-Indian version has vinegar which makes it milder in taste.

Chutney is usually eaten with cheeses, meats and poultry.

How is it used?

Chutneys can be used as a dip for vegetables, bread, cheeses and cold meats or they can also be used in cooking. They can work as spices giving extra flavor and aroma to any food they are added to.