History
Chutney comes from the Hindu word ‘Chatni’ which
means savouring
or relishing an appetizing taste. Chutneys originated from
Eastern India in the 15th century and quickly gained popularity
throughout Europe, absorbing influences of cuisines from the
Mediterranean to the Arabic and Northern European regions.
India is famous for its chutneys, with more than 3000 varieties,
each family with their own customized version.
What is Chutney?
A chutney is a fresh or cooked relish from the cuisine of
India. It is usually eaten in small amounts to add flavor
and to accent a meal. A fresh chutney in India is customarily
ground fresh on grinding stone and is made fresh daily. It
is made of peanuts, cashews, fresh herbs, fresh chilies, ginger,
garlic and fresh green mangoes or lime juice with spices.
Fresh chutneys are very refreshing. Cooked chutneys are made
seasonally using fruits like tomatoes, mangoes, pineapples,
tamarind, apples, pears that are combined with fresh seasonings
like ginger, hot chilies and lemon juice and cooked with spices
to create heavenly concoction of tastes.
How Is Chutney Used?
Chutney is a perfect accompaniment to East Indian food; They
are incredibly versatile. It goes with everything - fish,
roast beef sandwiches, grilled chicken and meats, pappadums
and even tortilla chips. They add an extra dimension to meals
and will satisfy the taste buds and make meals more tasty.
However, it can also be used as a side dish, sandwich spread,
dip, an accompaniment to cheese and crackers, or as an ingredient
to enhance the flavour of everyday dishes like chicken salad
or casseroles.
The difference between chutney and relish
Chutney and relish are often used interchangably as condiment
terms. The confusion is understandable. Chutneys can be savory,
and relishes can be sweet. In general, chutneys have a chunky
spreadable consistency much like a preserve, whereas relishes
are hardly cooked, use less sugar if any, and are more crunchy
to the bite.
WORLDFOODS
Gourmet Chutney range
A special range of Indian chutneys with our favourite combination
of flavours. Using fresh ingredients such as pineapple, mint,
tomatoes, coriander, chillies, garlic, onions and ginger,
cooking them together with spices like cumin, cardamom and
coriander to create a heavenly concoction of tastes, in a
relish like condiment form.
WORLDFOODS Gourmet Chutney range tastes great eaten traditionally
with curries to add flavour or to accent a meal. Also tastes
great with cold meats, sandwiches, salads, pate, cheese and
crackers, as a dip with tortilla chips or as a marinade or
glaze for meats. |
