Festive Chutney Recipes

Your condiments zing with unlikely combinations, such as banana and chilli. This week's theme has been the most practical and productive yet - my cupboards are now stacked with an array of pickled condiments with which to clean up Christmas leftovers. Fadime Tiskaya's pomegranate and cranberry chutney gives traditional festive flavours a modern twist with the addition of pomegranate and apricot; Shaheen's Scotch bonnet and apple chutney is perfect for anyone with a high chilli tolerance, adding kick to any cheeseboard. The rough texture of TwinnyDip's carrot chutney is a lovely break from the norm, while Myusuf's quick tomato chutney with boiled eggs, zingy ginger and chilli is just the thing you want after a Christmas of hangovers and stodgy food. Marmaduke Scarlet's winning Filipino-style banana chutney recipe was quick to make, punchy and, like all good chutneys, turned all food that accompanied it into a mere vehicle. Without a doubt, this is my new go-to for using up ripe bananas. The winning recipe: Filipino-style banana chutney I am a relatively recent convert to bananas and this is the recipe that won me over. It started out as a Filipino-style ketchup, but I prefer this chunkier version. Gorgeous with roast pork or chicken, or as an accompaniment to curries. Stir a little into egg mixture for a spicy frittata, or use with burgers and hotdogs. I like to dollop a load of chutney into mayonnaise to eat with fish and chips, instead of the classic tartare sauce. This recipe has a bit of a fascinating history, if true (I do so hope it is). The story goes that during the second world war, the Filipinos developed a love of tomato ketchup, introduced by Americans. When the troops left, the Filipinos came up with an ingenious way to compensate for the sudden lack of tomatoes - and used bananas instead. MarmadukeScarlet, via GuardianWitness Makes 2 small or 1 large jar 2 tbsp vegetable oil1 onion1 large mild green chilli2-3 garlic cloves, very finely chopped2 tsp fresh ginger, grated1/2 tsp ground turmeric1/2 tsp ground allspice4 bananas, mashed75g sultanas125ml cider vinegar2 tbsp honey2 tbsp rum (optional)1 tbsp tomato puree1 tbsp dark soy sauce1/2 tsp salt, plus more to tasteWater (optional)1 Gently fry the onion in the oil over a medium heat until it begins to soften - about 10 minutes. Add the chilli, garlic, ginger and spices. Stir through so that they are well-coated in oil and the mixture is fragrant. 2 Add the bananas, sultanas, vinegar, honey, rum (if using), tomato puree, soy sauce and salt, then bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure that the liquid doesn't catch. You may need to add a splash of water. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 3 This chutney benefits from a few days' resting time, to allow the flavours to mellow a little. Will last well for several months in an airtight container in the fridge. For ketchup, whizz the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Add a little water if a thinner consistency is preferred. Spiced cranberry and pomegranate chutney with dried apricot and caramelised onion From its colours to its flavours, this chutney just speaks of Christmas. Rich, sticky, sweet, sharp and spicy, it goes well particularly well with cheese or cold meat. Fadime Tiskaya, via GuardianWitness Makes 2 jars 250g fresh cranberries300ml pomegranate juice (the juice from 2 large pomegranates is enough)100g honey100g demerara sugar2 tbsp pomegranate molasses2 tbsp red wine vinegar4 cloves2 cinnamon sticks1 tbsp black mustard seeds100g dried apricots, chopped 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 red onions, finely sliced Salt and black pepperZest of 1 orange1 Wash the cranberries, remove any stalks and rotten ones, then set aside to drain. 2 To make the juice, slash the skin of each pomegranate in four places from top to bottom and hold it with both of your hands. Put your thumbs on top and tear it open into halves. Hold each quarter over a large bowl, seeds facing down, and with your thumb and fingertips, release the seeds. Break each quarter into smaller pieces and remove the pith as you work your way in to get all the seeds out. Discard the pith and outer skin. With a potato masher, mash the seeds in the bowl. Sieve it over the pan you will be using to make the chutney with. With a large spoon or ladle, press the fruit into the sieve to get as much juice out as possible - discard the seeds. 3 Put the honey, 70g of the sugar, pomegranate molasses, red wine vinegar, cloves and cinnamon sticks and juice in a saucepan and stir it until the sugar dissolves. Mix in the mustard seeds, cranberries and apricot, then over a medium heat bring to simmer and turn the heat down to let it simmer. The chutney will be ready after 40-45 minutes, when it is reduced almost by half and is thick. 4 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and sweat them for about 7 minutes, stirring every now and then with a wooden spoon. Add the remaining sugar to the onions and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the sugar caramelises and blends in with the onions. Add the onion mixture to the chutney pan and cook for 10 minutes before you take it off the heat. 5 Once cooked, turn the heat off, then mix in the orange zest. Take the cinnamon sticks out and transfer the chutney into sterilised glass jars. Let it cool completely before you put the lids on. Store it in the fridge and use within a month. Baba's express tomato chutney with hardboiled eggs Father would make his tamartar ki chutney on lazy sunday afternoons. It would often appear at a time that was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, upsetting the balance of the day's meals, but it did not matter because it is a firm family favourite. This express tomato chutney is great topped with boiled eggs and best eaten with hot naan bread. Myusuf, via GuardianWitness Serves 2 1 kg tomatoes, such as roma, roughly sliced4 tbsp sunflower oil, plus extra if needed2 tsp salt1 tsp black peppercorns, roughly crushedA splash of water2 eggs, hard boiled2cm piece of ginger, julienned1 fresh green chilli, preferably bird's eye, sliced into thin rounds1 Place a karahi or wok on a medium to high heat, then dry fry the tomatoes. They should soften and release all their moisture - around 10 minutes. Allow some of the moisture to dry out with the heat before adding the oil and salt. 2 Continue to fry the tomatoes until all the moisture evaporates, the oil separates from the tomatoes and the contents of the pan looks like a very thick set jam - 15-20 minutes. Add half of the coarse pepper to the chutney, then reserve the rest for serving. 3 The chutney is ready when it seeps oil and has a jam-like consistency. If it is very thick you can add a splash or two of water to loosen it. 4 Halve the eggs and place them on the chutney, then scatter the julienned ginger, chilli and remaining pepper over the top. Serve it with hot naan, barberry or pitta bread. Extremely simple, failsafe carrot chutney This recipe calls for the most basic of ingredients, but it never fails to impress. Invitingly orange in colour, mildly spiced and with the delicious sweetness of the humble carrot, this chutney sits really well on a cheese platter. Great served with a sharp and mature cheddar, a slightly acidic but mild Wensleydale or other sharp cheeses. Without being overpowering, mustard seeds add a mild but uplifting fragrance. If you want a spicier chutney, add a little bit of spice to the mix (see suggestion below)! TwinnyDip, via GuardianWitness Makes 2 jars 2 tbsp vegetable oil2 tbsp mustard seeds2 large onions, finely sliced750g carrots, grated300g caster sugar300ml cider vinegarSalt and black pepper, to taste For the optional spice mix 1 tsp turmeric1 tsp cumin1 tsp corianderA small pinch of chilli flakes1 Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a saucepan. When hot, add the mustard seeds. As the seeds start to pop and fragrance fills the room, add the sliced onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the carrots. Cook for a further 5 minutes or so and add salt and pepper, to taste, and, if using, the spice mix. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the sugar and vinegar. 2 Bring to the boil and let it all simmer on a low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced to the desired consistency. Season to taste, then transfer the chutney to sterilised jars. Scotch bonnet apple chutney What happens when the red hot Caribbean Scotch bonnet kisses the sun-blushed British apple? You get fiery Scotch Bonnet apple chutney. You will need a slow cooker for this recipe. Shaheen Allotment-Kitchen, via GuardianWitness Makes 4 x 245ml jars 150ml vegetable oil1 large onion, finely sliced2 tbsp finely minced fresh ginger1 head of garlic peeled and finely chopped2 tbsp yellow mustard seeds1 tsp fenugreek seeds1 tsp whole black peppercorns1 tbsp cumin seeds225ml malt or cider vinegar1kg cooking apples, peeled and cored and diced5 scotch bonnets, pierced120g granulated sugar1 tbsp salt1 Heat the oil in pan and gently fry the onion, ginger and garlic until it starts to colour, then add the spices and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer to a slow cooker. 2 Add the vinegar, apples, Scotch Bonnet, sugar and salt. Cook on high for 1 hour, then turn down to low and cook for 5-7 hours. Halfway through cooking, when the chillies have softened, take them out, cut them open, scoop out and discard the seeds. Mince the chilli skins and return them to the pan. You can leave them whole with the seeds, but I prefer to tread carefully with the chilli at first. When done, put into hot, sterilised jars and seal at once with lids. Legend has it that the Filipinos developed their own take on ketchup after the Americans introduced it during the 1940s. Photograph: Jill Mead/Guardian This article was originally published on The Guardian