Apple-Onion Chutney

How much simpler can this recipe be? I imagine untold potential for future chutneys of my own creation, using this recipe as a starter. I’d done many chutney recipes in the past, some certainly more complex and time-consuming than this one. I must say, this was a surprise for me. It’s the perfect marriage for breakfast sausage, and something tells me it’ll go extremely well with a grilled pork chop or a broiled loin, too. I made two variations — spicy and non-spicy. I loved the taste, which was sweet (yet not overly so), full of flavor (you could still make out what some of the ingredients were), and an amazing condiment (for all your future cooking).

I thought this was an easy recipe and the flavor profile worked wonderfully with the Picnic Puffs. Some may want to reduce the amount of vinegar used, but I personally enjoy the tang that it provides to the chutney.

I made a quarter batch of this chutney, but would make a half batch next time. I had no trouble dividing the recipe; everything worked perfectly, so long as I kept a careful watch on the timing. My small volume needed just over half the specified two-hour cooking time. At one hour and five minutes, it was ready! I had no trouble determining when it crossed over from a sauce to a chutney. This is a keeper for home use and entertaining, and a great gift idea at any time of year! I made it and spooned it into a glass canning jar and into the fridge, bypassing the formal canning process since I knew it wouldn’t last long in my house. The aroma while cooking was so wonderful that I didn’t wait till it cooled to try it. Then I did eat it, with a sharp white cheddar and a fresh loaf of crusty white bread. As stated, the combination was wonderful! But this would also be wonderful as a complement to eggs, vegetables, or as an hors d’oeuvre, either as a dip with crackers or as part of a cheese plate. And what a great use for apples just passing their prime — a batch of chutney seems much more interesting than another batch of applesauce, which is generally my go-to when I need to use up some apples! Though the recipe calls for few non-pantry ingredients, malt vinegar was a new one for my pantry: I’d gamble with apple cider vinegar on the next batch if I didn’t already have the malt vinegar on hand. And heed the word of warning! I wore an apron as I usually do, and I stirred likely more than the “every so often” described, plus, after I turned the heat off briefly, I placed a flame tamer between my pot and the burner, which seemed to solve the bubbling volcano problem noted. Would I make the Feisty version with the addition of chili peppers? Absolutely, yes! Since mild peppers are specified, I’ll unhesitatingly include them in my next batch.

I didn’t think that I wanted three quarts of chutney, so I quartered the recipe. But I almost wished that I had made the full recipe. This was my first attempt at making chutney, and it won’t be my last. This recipe is so good that I’ve put it on my Christmas to-make list. I used a medium pot and it took about one and one-half, rather than two, hours to complete. The apples didn’t fall apart as I thought they would. I put in one minced Thai chili, and it added just enough heat, not overpowering. Excellent!

I would definitely make this again with the chilis. It worked very well, although I think I would reduce the sugar to two cups. But overall, it had a great flavor.