[recipe] Cranberry chutney

[magid]

I got this recipe from C, a former coworker who's also a quilter and photographer. It makes an amazing chutney, which is even better if it has time to sit a while after canning.

1. Boil water and blanch 2 limes for 2 minutes, then seed and dice.
   
2. Put 2 3-inch cinnamon sticks and 12 whole cloves in a cheesecloth bag. Boil them with the following until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally: 1 cup apricot preserves, 1 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1.5 teaspoons curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 3 cups water.
   
3. Add the diced limes, also 2 firm pears, peeled and diced, and 2 firm apples, peeled and diced.
   
4. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
5. Add 6 cups cranberries (2 bags), picked over, and 1 cup raisins.
   
6. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
7. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup chopped walnuts. [This can be skipped if nut allergies are an issue. However, the walnuts are a lovely texture balance if they're not a health problem. Also, take out the spices in cheesecloth now.]
   Makes 6 pints. Will keep 3 weeks in the fridge, though it doesn't last that long in my house! (more if canned, obviously)

This is the first chutney I ever made, without onions or garlic or really intense heat, so later chutney experiments were not as intuitive. This one will always be the uber-chutney to me, wonderful pretty much any way I use it.

Comments

[fetteredwolf.livejournal.com]

I don't understand the first instruction. 2 whole limes? How do you blanch them? Do you keep the water?
Can I make this without the cheesecloth bag and hope people don't eat the cloves?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Two whole limes, boiled for 2 minutes, then chopped up and seeded. Don't keep the water.

I've tied the spices in a piece of cheesecloth. I think in this recipe I'd not leave them for people to avoid, just because I'd want to take them out when the cooking is done, rather than letting them stay and continue intensifying, which would throw the balance of flavors off a bit. If there's no cheesecloth to be had, I think I'd put in some ground cloves instead, and call it a night.

[megmuck.livejournal.com]

Consider investing in a tea ball - those little metal balls with holes used for steeping loose tea. They work as well as cheesecloth, and they're easier to wash.


m.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Oh, snap! Finally, a reason to get one (I don't do much with loose teas). And the cinnamon sticks are fished out pretty easily.

[fetteredwolf.livejournal.com]

I've got like 15x10^6 of those. Thank you! I wouldn't have thought of it!