Tomato and apple chilli chutney (2024)

Home > Christmas gift recipes > Tomato and apple chilli chutney

By: Cherie Denham

• Published:25 Sep 23
• Updated:25 Mar 24

• Test kitchen approved

When summer ends and autumn begins, there are a few fleeting weeks when the last tomatoes and first apples are both in season. Our new preserving expert Cherie Denham captures that moment with this incredible chutney. It’s gently spiced yet fruity enough to stand up to the most mature of cheddars. Give it a go!

Find more chutney recipes here.

Ingredients

• 1kg ripe tomatoes
• 500g eating apples
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 500g onions, finely sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• Thumb-size piece ginger, finely grated
• 2 small red chillies, finely chopped
• 3 tsp black mustard seeds
• 1 tsp mild curry powder
• 1 tsp sea salt flakes
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 500g soft light brown sugar
• 290ml malt vinegar

Specialist kit

• Sterilised jars with lids (see our video for how to sterilise your jars and lids)

Method

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Meanwhile, cut a small cross in the base of each tomato. Working in batches if needed, lower the tomatoes into the boiling water for 20-30 seconds, then scoop out with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Once cool enough to handle, peel the skin off the tomatoes – it should come right off.
2. Roughly chop the skinned tomatoes and add them to a large bowl. Peel, core and roughly chop the apples and add them too.
3. Toast the cumin, fennel and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for a few minutes until they smell wonderfully aromatic. Remove from the heat, grind into a powder using a pestle and mortar (or spice grinder), then set aside.

Recipe continues after advertising

Advertisem*nt

4. Heat the oil in a sterilising pan or another pan large enough to hold all the ingredients. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and cook over a low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes until softened and slightly caramelised. Stir in the garlic, ginger and chillies and cook for another 3 minutes, then add the mustard seeds, curry powder and ground spices. Give a stir and cook for 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes, apples and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 1 hour, stirring every so often.
5. Add the vinegar, bring back to the boil, then cook for another 20 minutes, stirring every so often until the mixture is thick and pulpy – when you drag a wooden spoon through the mixture you should be able to see the base of the pan.
6. Use a jam funnel to transfer the hot chutney to sterilised jars, then cover and seal. When cool enough to handle, store in a cool place for at least 6 weeks before opening. Once opened, keep in the fridge and eat within 2 weeks.

Nutrition: per serving

Recipe By:

Cherie Denham

• Published:25 Sep 23
• Updated:25 Mar 24

Subscribe

Fancy getting a copy in print?

Subscribe to our magazine

Rate

You must be logged in to rate a recipe, click here to login.

Reviews

Related collections