Different Chutneys Can Complement Different Dishes

Perhaps you’ve heard about chutneys being served along with Indian dishes, snacks or appetizers. But you may still have questions as to their specific purpose and proper use. Or maybe you have no idea at all what Indian chutney is, and it’s your first time to learn about this condiment.

Chutney recipes are somewhat similar to relish or jam, except different of course, in taste. They are savoury bottled preserves and are usually fruit-based. They serve as a great complement to curries and other Indian dishes.

Indian chutneys are usually made with a whole range of ingredients, from yogurt to peanuts, and infused with a combination of spices that are the trademark of Indian food. Some chutneys are smooth, and others are chunky. Some are cooked, and some are raw. Some are eaten as a condiment, some as a side dish, and still others as breakfast. But despite the many differences in ingredients and purpose, the unifying feature of traditional chutneys is that they’re originally made by grinding fresh ingredients together.

Different chutneys can complement different dishes. Here are a few examples:

Mint chutney: The fresh flavour of this chutney perfectly complements fried foods like Samosa.

Coconut chutney: This chutney includes grated coconut, lentils, tamarind and spices. It is often used as an accompaniment for steamed rice cakes at breakfast.

Peanut chutney: This is a paste of peanuts and ground chillies that adds a satisfying kick to simple white rice.

Chutney recipes can also vary from region to region in India, depending on the most available ingredients. Coconuts and peanuts grow abundantly in southern India, while mint is abundant in the north. Taste can also differ slightly per region. Bengali tomato chutney is sweet, due to the addition of dates or mangoes, while Hyderabadi chutney packs more heat from its dried chillies.    

These days, it’s hard to find authentic Indian chutney, since other cultures like the British have also added their own version and largely manufactured it, due to their own love for the Indian chutney. The British version adds sugar and vinegar to its chutneys for more sweetness and longer preservation. This version also makes use of widely available fruits in the Western part of the world, like apples, plums, cranberries or peaches, which are not native to India.

The versatility of the chutney is perhaps its best feature. Try it with cheese, bread or cold meats. It especially goes well with sandwiches, and we highly recommend it as an addition to grilled cheese sandwich. Once you try your grilled cheese sandwich with chutney, you may never go back to your usual, plain old sandwich.

While many versions of chutney are delicious and readily-available at supermarkets, you may actually want to try the original Indian version to give you that sense of the roots of chutney. At Curry Corner, we offer a wonderful selection of these authentic Indian chutneys in our grocery shelves, along with many other Indian food items. For decades we have been the favourite grocery, curry place and takeaway shop for fresh Indian home-cooked food in Melbourne. Shop in our website, contact us, or visit our store today.   

Curry Corner

Shop 3/292 Victoria St., North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia

Email: enquiries@currycornermelbourne.com.au

Phone: 0406 238 094

Landline: 03 9663 4040