Tomato Chutney - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Tomato chutney is a sweet and savory condiment bursting with tomato flavor, delicious spices, vinegar, and brown sugar. Best known for being the perfect pairing for Indian cuisine, tomato chutney is a great addition to curries, naan bread, and charcuterie boards.

I sure do love a good sauce on the side of my meals for dipping! It just makes the meal so much better because who doesn’t love to dip? You should definitely try my yum yum sauce, my homemade cheese sauce, or this buffalo sauce. I want to drizzle these sauces on everything and I know you will too!

Tomato Chutney - The Recipe Critic (1)

What Is Tomato Chutney?

Tomato chutney is the combination of tomatoes, spices, and vinegar slowly cooked down to create a thick and flavorful sauce. If you have never had tomato chutney, then you are in for a treat! It’s the best because it can be served with many different dishes or even as an appetizer! It has a great combination of sweet and savory, and the flavors really make the tomatoes stand out!

Not only is this recipe super easy to make, but it stores so well in your fridge and will last up to 3 months! Which makes it a great recipe to make ahead of time for all of the yummy dishes that you can use it in. You can eat this warm, cold, or at room temperature. I absolutely love eating this with some delicious naan bread. It makes a great snack or even a side dish to some tikka masala!

Ingredients Needed For Tomato Chutney

If you are like me and your garden is bursting with tomatoes during the fall, this recipe is perfect for you! And the best part about it is that it will last you a few months, especially if you make more than one batch! To find all of the ingredient measurements, check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Olive Oil: Olive oil helps cook and soften the shallot and garlic.
  • Shallot: I love using shallots, but feel free to use a white onion if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Garlic: Garlic always adds the best flavor. It’s a MUST!
  • Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes are my favorite, but you can use canned ones if you would like.
  • Brown Sugar: Just a little brown sugar adds a delicious caramelly sweetness.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Vinegar is a must in chutney because it adds tanginess and helps preserve the chutney. Substitute with red wine vinegar!
  • Ground Ginger: Ginger is a delicious spice used in a lot of Indian cuisines.
  • Cumin: I love the smoky flavor of cumin!
  • Chili Powder: Chili powder is a delicious spice in this recipe!
  • Salt: Salt helps balance and enhance the flavors.

How to Make Tomato Chutney

This one-pot tomato chutney recipe easily comes together for you to enjoy! Just allow yourself time for the chutney to cook slowly and simmer on the stove. It can be cooking and doing its thing while you focus on the other things in life that keep you busy! Just set your timer and come back when it’s cooked and ready to be mashed!

  1. Saute the Shallot and Garlic: In a large skillet, add the olive oil, shallot, and garlic and heat over medium-high heat. Gently sauté until they begin to soften.
  2. Add the Tomatoes, Sugar, Vinegar, and Spices: Add in the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, ginger, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Then stir to combine.
  3. Simmer and Cook: Simmer for 1 hour, occasionally stirring, until the chutney reduces to a jammy consistency.
  4. Mash or Blend: Once cooked, remove from heat and mash by hand or pulse in a food processor or blender. I prefer chutney on the chunkier side, but feel free to make it chunky or smooth.
  5. Serve: Allow to cool and serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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Tips and Variations

Tomato chutney is easy, and you can tweak it to be less sweet or even spicier! Everyone can enjoy this dip, and I even serve it to my vegan and gluten-free friends. I hope you find my tips helpful!

  • Reduce the Sugar: The sweetness of your chutney can depend on how sweet your tomatoes are. Simply taste and adjust the sugar if you prefer it sweeter. Start out by adding a little less sugar because you want to be able to control the sweetness. You can also use honey, agave, or granulated sugar if you prefer.
  • Make it Spicy: Feel free to add red chili pepper flakes to add some heat!
  • Use Any Tomatoes: I use large vine-ripened tomatoes, but Roma tomatoes or canned tomatoes work great too!
  • Thicken it Up: Chutney has a similar consistency to jam. In order for your chutney to thicken, just be patient because it has to cool in order to thicken! You can also mix two tablespoons of cornflour with one teaspoon of vinegar and stir into your chutney until it has thickened.
  • More Serving Ideas: Not only can you serve this with Indian dishes, but you can use it as a spread on burgers, sandwiches, or on crackers. I also love adding it to a cheese board and spreading it on toast.
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Storing Leftovers

Storing tomato chutney is easy, and you can use it again and again for as long as it lasts! Pull it out of the fridge whenever you need a spoonful. Follow my simple tips below for storing this lip-smacking condiment.

  • In the Refrigerator: Once your chutney has cooled, then you can store it in an airtight jar or container. Chutney stays fresh for up to 3 months in the fridge!
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More Tomato Recipes To Enjoy

Garden grown tomatoes are my favorite to use in recipes! You should definitely try some of these recipes that my family loves. Gardens are the best, and I wish we were neighbors so I could share my tomatoes!

Side Dishes

Parmesan Garlic Roasted Tomatoes

30 mins

Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

35 mins

Dinner

Baked Caprese Chicken

35 mins

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Tomato Chutney

5 from 3 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Tomato chutney is a sweet and savory condiment bursting with tomato flavor, delicious spices, vinegar, and brown sugar. Best known for being the perfect pairing for Indian cuisine, tomato chutney is a great addition to curries, naan bread, and charcuterie boards.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, add the olive oil, shallot, and garlic and heat over medium-high heat. Gently sauté until they begin to soften.

  • Add in the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, ginger, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Stir until combined.

  • Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally until the chutney reduces to a jammy consistency.

  • Once cooked, remove from heat and mash by hand or pulse in a food processor or blender. I lprefer chutney on the chunkier side, but feel free to make it chunky or smooth.

  • Allow to cool and serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 301mgPotassium: 252mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 797IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: condiment

Cuisine: Indian

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Tomato Chutney - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between tomato relish and tomato chutney? ›

Tomato chutney is thicker and chunkier, whereas tomato relish is usually thinner. The taste of a tomato relish is more vinegary, too. Chutney is usually softer in texture and is cooked longer, but the veggies in a relish still have some crispy crunch to them.

Why is my tomato chutney too runny? ›

If the chutney is too runny then in our opinion the best solution is to put it into a pan and bring it back to the boil, then simmer rapidly until it is the required thickness. If you can do this in a couple of deep frying pans (not aluminium) then it should help to speed up the process.

Which vinegar is best for chutney? ›

Vinegar used in making chutney must be good quality and have at least 5% acetic acid content. Any good brand white, malt, wine or cider vinegar should possess the correct qualities. Brown sugar is used for darker coloured chutney but where a lighter colour is required granulated sugar is recommended.

What is the preservative in tomato chutney? ›

Expert-Verified Answer. The chemical preservative used in Chutney is vinegar. Vinegar is high in acidic content as it contains 5-8% acetic acid by volume. Due to the high acidic content of vinegar the acidity of the Chutney increases, which inhibits the growth of several spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.

Why is my tomato chutney bitter? ›

That bitterness could be acid from the tomatoes and one way people typically fix that is by adding a small amount of sugar. Completely unnecessary. That acidity is usually caused by the use of crushed canned tomatoes. As opposed to whole, then hand-crushed.

Which is better, relish or chutney? ›

The Chutney offers a sweet yet savoury flavour and the Sweet Relish a tart, fresh and tangy one. The Coconut Chutney's Indian flavours go well with grilled meats or vegetables and the Sweet Pickle Relish is a play on our ballpark favourite.

What is a thickening agent for chutney? ›

If your chutney is too runny or your recipe calls for a thickening agent, always use cornflour mixed with a little of the vinegar. Cornflour is gluten free. Always to this at the very end because thickening your chutney like this will make catch and burn easily.

Should you cover chutney when simmering? ›

3. Allow for a long cooking time. It is essential that chutneys are allowed a long and slow cooking period in a pan that is not covered with a lid.

How long should you leave homemade chutney before eating? ›

Leave the jars and lids to dry, upside down, in the oven. (Or you can clean the jars by putting them through the hot cycle of a dishwasher.) Carefully spoon the chutney into the sterilised jars and seal while hot. Store in a cool, dark place for about a month before eating, to let the flavours mellow.

What is chutney called in America? ›

Relish. Chutney and relish are two popular condiments, and the names are often interchanged. The confusion is understandable because chutneys can be savory, and relishes can be sweet. In general, chutneys have a chunky spreadable consistency much like a preserve and are usually made with fruit.

How do I know when my chutney is ready? ›

How do I know when the chutney is ready? There's a very simple test. When the chutney appears thick enough, make a channel with a wooden spoon across its surface. If it leaves a channel imprinted for a few seconds without being filled by spare vinegar, it is ready.

Do you put chutney in jars hot or cold? ›

Fill the hot dry jars right to the top – preserves shrink slightly on cooling and a full jar means less trapped condensation. Seal the jars while still hot. This rule applies to all jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys.

Why is my tomato chutney not thickening? ›

If the chutney seems too runny, cook it for another 5-10 minutes and test again. You may also like to give the chutney the odd stir as you cook it, to prevent the mixture at the edges of the pan from catching.

How do you make tomato chutney less sour? ›

2. Baking soda to eliminate tomato sourness. Grandma's method, the infallible one; using baking soda. Also in this case, while cooking the sauce, you just need to add a pinch to avoid that your plate of spaghetti with tomato leaves you an annoying hint of sour.

Can I freeze tomatoes to make chutney later? ›

Yes! You sure can - if you know what recipe you are going to make, prepare the tomatoes according to the recipe before freezing, otherwise just freeze them whole and then thaw them out and go from there when you are ready to make your recipe!

What do you use tomato relish for? ›

Tomato relish is often cooked down to a thick consistency, which helps to concentrate the flavors. It is commonly used as a topping or accompaniment for burgers, sandwiches, grilled meats, and cheese platters. It can also be added to salads, wraps, and even used as a base for homemade pizza.

What is a good substitute for chutney? ›

For me the best substitute of any type chutney is actual, fruit vegetables or herb, for example you can use tomato paste or tomatoes instead of tomato chutney powder, for mint chutney powder you can use fresh mint, for coriander chutney powder you can use fresh coriander, instead of mango chutney powder you can use raw ...

What are the differences between a salsa, a chutney, and a relish? ›

Relish adds a delightful crunch and a balanced blend of sweet, tangy, or spicy notes. Salsa brings the festivity of Mexican cuisine, with its fresh and zesty character, while chutney showcases the rich and diverse flavors of South Asia.

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