Tamarind Chutney is one of the all time favorites amongst Chutneys. You can serve it with appetizers, make chaat with it or serve with Dahi Bhallas. We always make a large quantity and freeze it so it is readily available at all times.
Ingredients:
Tamarind Concentrate – 2 tbsp
Water – 2 cups
Jaggery – ¾ cup, powdered and packed
Salt – 1tsp or to taste
Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp or to taste
Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
Fennel Seeds ( Sauf) – 1 tsp, optional
Method:
- Heat 1 cup of water in the microwave, add in the Tamarind paste and mix well so that there are no lumps.
- In a saucepan on medium to high heat, pour in the diluted Tamarind mixture and the balance of the water. Allow it to come to a boil.
- Add in the powered Jaggery and reduce flame to Medium.
- Let the Jaggery melt and the mixture reduce to half. Keep stirring occasionally.
- While the above mixture is boiling, dry roast the Cumin and Fennel seeds and allow them to cool before you grind them to a powder.
- Mix in Salt, Fennel and Cumin Powders and Red Chili Powder. Stir and then remove from Flame.
- To get the correct consistency of the hot chutney, lift the stirring spoon out of the pan and make sure it lightly coats the spoon. Once the chutney cools, it will automatically thicken.
- Allow it to cool and store in a clean dry container.
- Makes about ½ cup of Chutney.
Tips:
- Tamarind Chutney has a long shelf life and should be kept refrigerated. It also freezes very well.
- You can also substitute Jaggery with about ½ cup of Brown Sugar or Regular Sugar.
- If you do not have Fennel Seeds, use only Roasted Cumin Powder.
- You can use 3 lime size balls of regular tamarind if you do not have the concentrate. Soak it in the 1 cup hot water and remove all the fiber and seeds from it.
Watch and learn:
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March 12th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hi,
If I am using the regular tamarind what is the amt of water to be used apart from the 1 cup used in soaking the tamarind? Also what is thh shelf life of the chutney.
Thanks.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hi Jaya,
Water amount depends on how much Tamarind are you using. If you use a golf ball amount of tamarind (with seeds), we would use 2 cups (16ozs) of water. The tamarind tastes vary by brands, so keep a close eye and you may need to adjust the jaggery, salt and the spices as well.
June 1st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
remember the 1tsp garam masala…
love your site, you have truley spiced up my life!
x0x
August 17th, 2008 at 1:08 am
An absolutely wonderful demonstration! This particular chutney is an excellent accompaniment to savoury moong bean pancakes.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Awesome imli chutney! I made this for a party recently and everyone loved it!