| There aren't many Indian dishes which you can | | | | Peel and mash the tamarinds unless you prefer a little |
| consider complete without a chutney or pickle. This | | | | rougher texture. Add the tamarind pulp to the water in |
| pungent fruit-based accompaniment is more than mere | | | | a large saucepan. Heat slowly and allow to cook on |
| jam - it is a jamboree of nourishing tang. | | | | medium for approximately 10 minutes. Strain most of |
| Chutney and pickles are full of any or all of fruit, | | | | the thinnest liquid out and pour into a bowl. |
| vinegar, sugar and spices, but that dry description hides | | | | Add the jaggery and continue heating until the it is |
| a continent of variety. | | | | entirely dissolved, stir in the garam masala. During this |
| Chutneys and pickles can be made with mangoes, | | | | operation the chutney will thicken considerably. |
| plums, peaches, tamarind, lime, lemon... even cranberries | | | | Alternative recipe: |
| or coconut! In other words, any pulpy fruit is a | | | | Ingredients: |
| tremendous base for chutney or pickle. The spices | | | | All of the above, plus: |
| can vary from red chilli powder, coriander, cardamon, | | | | 1 cup coconut |
| cinnamon or caraway seeds. They may include mace | | | | 3 garlic cloves |
| and masoor or indeed, almost any other spice. | | | | 3 dried red chillies |
| They can be salty or sweet, hot or mild, completely | | | | These make for an much spicier chutney, but one that |
| pureed or left a little chunky or a combination of some | | | | is also sweeter, with extra body. The coconut should |
| or all of these but in the main, chutneys are sweet and | | | | be as dry as possible (roasting is one good way to |
| pickles are salty or sour. | | | | accomplish this) and grated the day before |
| I'm sure you'll be unable to resist making your own | | | | preparation. The chillies should also be dried and ground |
| chutney after reading the above. | | | | (a coffee grinder takes the hard work out of this). |
| Ingredients: | | | | Serving: |
| 1/2lb tamarinds | | | | Unlike American jams, chutneys and pickles are not |
| 1/2lb jaggery or brown sugar | | | | intended to be spread on bread. Instead, they make |
| 5 cups water | | | | for a delicious accompaniment to dosa, lamb, or just as |
| 1 tsp Garam masala | | | | something rich spicy and fruity to put on rice. |
| Notes: Jaggery is a rich brown palm sugar. Garam | | | | Because it is so adaptable chutney and pickle can be |
| masala is a mixture of spices, including cumin, chllli | | | | served cold or warm, depending on the dish they are |
| powder, garlic, ginger and a few others. It is best to | | | | being served with. Sweeter chutneys are nicer cold, |
| buy it, because grinding the spices and getting the | | | | but spicier ones are just wonderful for a hot dish like a |
| proportions precisely right can be difficult. | | | | rich curry. |
| Method: | | | | |