Rhubarb Chutney

Rhubarb has a special place in my life. My mother made it often and served it as a side dish the way most other mothers I knew served apple sauce. She used fresh rhubarb stalks when they were in season and boxes of frozen rhubarb during the rest of the year.

Everyone in my family loved it. My mother didn’t use as much sugar as most recipes said to do because we loved it tart and tangy. I make it the same way she did: mix 1-1/2 pounds of sliced rhubarb with 3/4 cup sugar and cook over medium heat, covered, for about 10 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for another 15 minutes. That’s it!

Recently I’ve also been making rhubarb chutney because its a great favorite at our house. It’s such a good accompaniment to grilled meats — chicken, beef, lamb — all of it, and I’ve also served it with salmon.

Rhubarb season is almost over so make this one while you still can! 

You can serve it with whatever you may be grilling outdoors over Labor Day weekend. Or with a classic roasted chicken for Shabbat or Rosh Hashanah brisket. It will keep in the fridge for awhile too, so you can save some for Thanksgiving.

Or give some away — it’s a delicious, edible gift!

Rhubarb Chutney

• 1 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch slices

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1 2-inch cinnamon stick

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

• 6 whole cloves

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 large cloves garlic, chopped

• 1 cup golden raisins

Combine the rhubarb, sugar, cider vinegar, cinnamon stick, ginger, cloves, onion, garlic and raisins in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Mix the ingredients and cook over high heat. When the liquid in the pan starts to bubble, lower the heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes or until the raisins are tender and the sauce is slightly thickened. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Makes about 3 cups

Apple and Green Tomato Chutney

So, summer’s over and the nights are cooler and I harvested all the remaining fruits and vegetables left in the garden before they either would rot or become frosted over or eaten by hungry animals that roam around the backyard.

I actually had a lot of unripe produce this year. So I made some pepper jam using the recipe I posted a few weeks ago except this time I added a few cups of green mini tomatoes and some chopped up fresh ginger.

I also made chutney using the recipe below. I’ve made this recipe several times using different vinegars. This version includes coconut vinegar, but any old kind of fruit vinegar will do.

We like chutney as a side relish for grilled or roasted meat or poultry— keep this in mind for Thanksgiving. It’s also nice in small amounts as a topping for cheese and crackers.

Apple and Green Tomato Chutney 

• 6 apples, peeled, cored and chopped

• 2 pounds green tomatoes, chopped

• 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped

• 2 small chili peppers such as serrano, deseeded and chopped

• 1 large clove garlic, chopped

• 1 cup chopped dates (about 12 large)

• 1 cup golden raisins

• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger

• 2-1/2 cups apple cider vinegar or other fruit vinegar

• 2 cups brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon ras el hanout

• kosher salt

Place the apples, tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, garlic, dates, raisins, ginger, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ras el hanout and some kosher salt (about one teaspoon) in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 2-1/2 hours or until very thick.  

Makes about 6 cups

Green Tomato, Grape and Apple Chutney

By some extraordinary piece of luck, every year a tomato plant that I never planted pops up and makes its appearance in my garden.

The plant grows and grows into a jungle with stalks that I hold up with a multitude of stakes and ties. It reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk (am I dating myself with that one?). And the stalks are loaded, absolutely loaded, with what becomes the sweetest, most delicious cherry tomatoes ever.

I am guessing that the thing grows from a seed or two that must have planted itself from either some other plant somewhere (but not my garden because I don’t have other plants with this variety of tomato) or maybe from the remains of some outdoor patio lunch or dinner at which I served that kind of tomato.

Whatever the reason, the plant comes back every year in the same place, just as thick and fecund as ever.

Nature is glorious.

But of course, after a while the cold weather comes and dozens of tomatoes are still growing and I have to harvest them before the frost. They’re green of course, so, what to do?

In past years I’ve breaded and fried the small green tomatoes. These glorious tidbits are crunchy outside and soft inside and when you bite into them you get a spurt of fresh, tart tomato juice. They are really good as hors d’oeuvre.

I’ve also used the tomatoes to make chutney. I cooked this new version recently, because I had some apples and grapes on hand.

We love chutney as a side relish with roasted meat and chicken. I also serve it on crackers spread with a bit of cream cheese and have used a thin layer on top of cheese to make a super delicious and unusual grilled cheese sandwich.

Green Tomato, Grape and Apple Chutney

• 2 cups green cherry tomatoes, halved (or use chopped green tomatoes)

• 2 cups seedless grapes

• 1 cup raisins

• 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced

• 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped

• 3 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 2 dried chili peppers (or one small chopped fresh chili pepper)

• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds

• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

Place the tomatoes, grapes, raisins, apples, onions, garlic, ginger, vinegar, brown sugar, water, salt, chili peppers, mustard seed and coriander in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until very thick.

 Makes about one quart

Pear and Green Tomato Chutney

I was always a "late-bloomer" so I was not at all surprised that my tomato plants are too. It's the way it is with me. The plants bore fruit in October rather than at the end of August, when they are supposed to (in my part of the world anyway).

As for me, well, my mother always said "what's the rush?" and of course she was right. I eventually did lose that first tooth, need a bra, learn to ride a bike.

But the tomatoes were a different story. A hurricane was coming (or so I thought). I wasn't about to let the wind and rain destroy those beautiful, slowly-ripening green things. Not after an entire summer of tending to my garden and kvelling when the tiny yellow flowers finally turned themselves into real, would-be tomatoes.

I left a couple on the vine -- just in case the storm passed us by. (It did!)

But with the rest? Some are on the windowsill waiting to ripen. The others became chutney.

Late-bloomers do hold their own in the world in some magnificent way.

 

Pear and Green Tomato Chutney

• 3 pounds ripe but firm pears (about 6), peeled, cored and sliced

• 1 pound yellow onions, peeled and chopped

• 3 large green tomatoes, cut into chunks (or use 3-4 cups halved green cherry tomatoes)

• 1-1/2 cups raisins

• 3 stalks celery, sliced about 1/4-inch thick

• 3 cups brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 2-1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

• 6 whole peppercorns

Place the pears, onions, tomatoes, raisins, celery, brown sugar, ginger, cayenne pepper, salt and apple cider vinegar into a large saucepan. Wrap the peppercorns in cheesecloth (or inside a muslin bag) and add to the pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to mix the ingredients. Lower the heat, cover the pan partially and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 hours or until thick.

Makes about 5 cups

Dried Apricot, Pear and Raisin Chutney

I love when one recipe serves several purposes.

Like this one for Dried Apricot, Pear and Raisin Chutney.

I am using this (placed in pretty jars) as gifts to my friends for Purim. But I made enough for me too and am going to serve it along with the roasted lamb I am going to make for my Academy Award dinner. We always watch the event, red-carpet stuff and all, with my brother Jeff and sister-in-law Eileen. Eileen will not eat this because it has hot pepper in it and she doesn’t like anything spicy (she’ll get a different homemade chutney with her dinner).

I’ve been thinking lately that we don’t eat enough chutney. It’s one of the most versatile and flexible of foods. You can use all sorts of fresh and dried vegetables and fruits, spices, herbs, other flavorings (like vinegar, citrus peel, Port wine) and the delicious concoctions you can make are endless.

I mean, there is life beyond ketchup, right?

Dried Apricot, Pear and Raisin Chutney

12 ounces dried apricot halves

boiling water

4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger

12 whole cardamom pods

2 cups sugar

1 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 pears, peeled, cored and cut into small chunks

3/4 cup golden raisins

Cut the apricots into quarters, place in a bowl and pour in enough boiling water to cover them. Let the apricots soak for 30 minutes. Drain and place them in a saucepan. Add the garlic, ginger, cardamom pods, sugar, vinegar, Balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper and salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add the pears and raisins and cook for another 20-25 minutes or until the fruits are tender and the mixture is thick. Let cool.

Makes about 3 cups

Pear and Green Tomato Chutney

I goofed. Really, really goofed.

This past summer I decided to plant tomatoes. Just one plant, because in years gone by the deer came and ate everything, flowers, tiny green fruit and all. So I gave up for a while, but this year risked it with one plant.

But I did it too late. So in late August when everyone was harvesting gorgeous red fruit from their vines, my plants were flowering. I got some lovely green tomatoes by mid-September and thought I had a chance to get some good red ones — if only there was time and temperature. Well it got colder at night. And the earth is in a different place with respect to the sun (thanks Galileo!).

The tomatoes were getting bruised looking and ratty. Some had soft spots. 

I realized I would not get one red tomato this year.

Never mind. This became the perfect opportunity to make green tomato chutney, don’t you agree?

Next year I’ll start earlier. The deer have found greener pastures than my back yard.

Btw, if you prefer, make this with apples instead of pears.

Pear and Green Tomato Chutney

• 6 medium pears, peeled, cored and chopped

• 2 pounds green tomatoes, chopped

• 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped

• 2 small chili peppers such as serrano, deseeded and chopped

• 1 large clove garlic, chopped

• 1-1/2 cups chopped dried apricots

• 1 cup golden raisins

• 1/2 cup chopped crystallized ginger

• 3 cups apple cider vinegar

• 2 cups brown sugar

• 1-1/2 tablespoons curry powder

• 1 tablespoon mustard seed 

Place the pears, tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, garlic, apricots, raisins, ginger, vinegar, brown sugar, curry powder and mustard seed in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 2-1/2 hours or until very thick.

Makes about 2-1/2 quarts

Kumquat-Date Chutney

Aren’t these beautiful? They’re kumquats, which I mentioned yesterday. They’re small, oval and bitter and most people don’t like them raw. But they’re good stuff when you cook them. Kumquat chutney is a real winner. Goes very well with roasted chicken, turkey or lamb, so you can use it as a special little side dish for New Year’s dinner if you’re entertaining at home.

You can also use it as an hors d’oeuvre: serve it with mascarpone cheese, cream cheese or Brie and crackers. 

Kumquat-Date Chutney

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon anise seeds

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

6 whole cloves

1 2-inch cinnamon stick

1 cup sliced, deseeded kumquats

8 large Medjool dates, halved

1/2 cup raisins or dried cherries

1-1/4 cups orange or tangerine juice

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoon chopped crystallized ginger

Place the mustard seeds and anise seeds in a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Let cool slightly, then place the seeds in a small muslin spice bag (or use a few layers of cheesecloth) with the peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon stick (fold the cheesecloth over the spices and secure with string or a plastic bag tie). Place the spice bag in the pan. Add the kumquats, dates, raisins, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, sugar and ginger. Bring the ingredients to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, stir and simmer the ingredients for 35-40 minutes or until the chutney is thick. Let cool. Remove the spice bag. Makes about 2-1/2 cups