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Make Caramelised Onion Chutney

Make a delicious caramelised onion chutney




Make Caramelised Onion Chutney

preserving | vegetables | grow your own | recipes

If pickled onions are not your thing, but you want to preserve some of your onion crop, a delicious caramelised onion chutney is a definite winner. It's easy to make, keeps for months if left somewhere cool and dark, and it tastes great whether mixed into gravy, eaten on the side with meat dishes, or with barbecued food.

Caramelised red onion relish

Caramelised onion chutney and relish is now available in all the major supermarkets and many other stores (see Tesco Finest relish above), but homemade always tastes better and is much much cheaper.

Caramelised Onion Chutney

Onion chutney requires only a few ingredients - onions of course (any will do, but red onions give the nicest colour and sweet taste), a vinegar - sherry, red wine, or balsamic are all ideal, and brown sugar, together with some bay leaves and peppercorns for flavour.

Chop 6 large onions as coursely or finely as you like and heat with a small amount of sunflower oil in a stainless steel pan until they are soft. Add 3 cups of your chosen vinegar (or a mixture of vinegars) and 3 cups of brown sugar, and drop in a couple of bay leaves and 15-20 crushed black peppercorns. Bring the mixture to the boil and then simmer gently for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until the onions have gone translucent and all the liquid has evaporated.

Red onion chutney

Pour the hot mixture straight into small (200g) sterilised jars, seal, and store somewhere cool and dark or in the fridge. The chutney should keep for at least 6 months. To ensure the chutney can keep even longer (1 year plus), put the sealed jars in boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes. Line metal jar lids with greaseproof paper to protect them from the vinegar in the chutney.

Chutney should be left for 4-6 weeks to mature allowing all of the wonderful flavours to develop and mix.

Chutney Recipe Variations

Additional ingredients can be added to this recipe according to your personal taste. A couple of garlic, cumin, thyme, redcurrant jelly, cloves, sultanas, mustard, apple, and tomato puree all work well. Add a tablespoon of cornflower to thicken up the chutney if desired.

Here are some links to onion chutney recipes online:
Tangy Onion Chutney - BBC Goodfood Magazine.
Traditional Onion Chutney - Recipe Zaar.
Indian Onion Chutney
Onion Chutney Recipe - Belly Bytes

Article Published: 08:33, 22nd May 2010


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