Spicy plum & apple chutney

Spicy plum & apple chutney

This multi-purpose chutney can add zing to sandwiches or makes a great dip for poppadums

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Makes 4-5 jars

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr 10 mins

Low-fat

Method

  1. Start by getting the ingredients ready. Peel the garlic cloves and cut them into slivers. Peel and thinly shred the ginger. Halve, peel and thinly slice the onions, then put them in a large, wide saucepan or a preserving pan with the garlic and ginger. Peel, core and chop the apples, then add to the pan with the spices, vinegar and salt.
  2. Bring the pan to the boil over a gentle heat, give everything a good stir, then turn down the heat and cover the pan (if you don't have a lid use foil). Simmer for 30 mins until the apples are cooked and pulpy.
  3. While the apples are simmering, stone and quarter the plums, then add them to the cooked apples with the sugar. Stir well and leave to bubble away, this time uncovered, for another 40 mins stirring regularly until the plums are cooked but still retain some of their shape. Ladle into the sterilised jars, seal and label. This chutney is best kept for about a month before eating as the vinegar needs a bit of time to mellow. If you don't want the flavour of the spices to develop any more, then take out the cinnamon and star anise before potting. It will keep for 1 year in a cool place but once opened store in the fridge and use within a month.
Try

OUR DOWNLOADABLE LABELS

Download our printable preserves labels - perfect for writing cook's notes and gift messages. You can find them here.

STERILISING YOUR JARS

Run jars with the lids and any rubber seals through the hottest cycle of your dishwasher. If you don't have a dishwasher, give the jars a good wash, then heat them in the oven at 150C/130C fan/ gas 2 for 30 mins. Don't bake seals - boil them in a pan of water for 10 mins. If you don't have lids you can buy jam pot covers from cook shops which you can then cover with fabric.

38 kcalories, protein 0g, carbohydrate 10g, fat 0 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 1g, sugar 9g, salt 0.22 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2009.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 23 August 2009

    Lindamay's commented on this recipe

    I made this today. Very good chutney but no way does it cook in 40 minutes. It took about 2 hours to thicken.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 24 August 2009

    Jennie commented on this recipe

    This recipe was easy to follow. I added some 'lazy chillies' because we love spicy food! Now, the chutney is tucked in the cupboard, maturing. Should be good with cheese and oatcakes...

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 27 August 2009

    vivkim commented on this recipe

    I am an experienced chutney maker this tasted lovely but even after cooking for an hour wouldn't thicken. I personally would only add half the vinegar and cook more rapidly for longer.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 29 August 2009

    sheena commented on this recipe

    i made this a couple of days ago, i followed the recipe but i feel that this chutndey isn't thick enough. any suggestions?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 30 August 2009

    clareyfairy commented on this recipe

    Just made this yesterday. My apples seemed to cook down to nothing (i'd prefer to keep a slight chunk of them i there) - so personally i'd reduce the apple cooking time. and i agree with the other comments - it wont thicken in 40 mins - i agree with vivkim - add half the vinegar - i felt the taste was like sweet and sour sauce - i'd prefer it sweeter so adding less vinegar would hopefully help this.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 31 August 2009

    FastAl commented on this recipe

    Could I suggest that the reason some of us are having problems making this chutney set is because (as with jam) the fruit might be too ripe and there is a lack of pectin. Lemon juice could be used instead of some of the vinegar to solve the problem.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 31 August 2009

    Matty rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This is the first time I have ever made chutney and I think its absolutely delicious! I didn't really expect it to 'set' like jam - that would be more like the commercial chutnies wouldn't it? I followed the timing exactly and I'm delighted. Thank you GoodFood

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 03 September 2009

    gbgbella rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    certainly easy to make, but I had problems reducing the liquid even though I didn't use 500ml of vinegar.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 04 September 2009

    roblewis07 rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I agree with many of the comments here. It took a lot longer to reduce the liquid and it is a bit too acidic - it overwhelms the flavour of the spices.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 September 2009

    Winks commented on this recipe

    I made this chutney today and it was my first ever go at making chutney. I first made it to the letter and bottled it, not knowing what the consistency should have been, then decided as it cooled that it was far too liquid, so put it all back in a clean pan, washed and sterilised the bottles etc and set about reducing the "chutney". I simmered it for another hour and a half and lost my patience, so turned the heat up so it was boiling away, however the heat was too high and it burnt - what a waste of my day! Will not make again, have never before followed a recipe and failed! The jam I made came out a treat which made me feel slightly better. Wish I had read the website to see it would take longer to set than stated - got the recipe from the mag.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 September 2009

    Winks rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    PS - forgot to rate. Also the over ripe fruit wasn't a factor as the plums were the same I used in the jam on their own with sugar whereas the plums in the chutney had the cooking apples with all their pectin to help them.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 September 2009

    Winks commented on this recipe

    Now you could call this a rant .........I can't believe this was a tested recipe.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 20 September 2009

    SammieN rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    What a delicious chutney! Easy to make and gets better with time. Every person I've given some to has wolfed it down and begged for me to soon make some more. Lovely recipe.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 20 September 2009

    sunshine-fairy commented on this recipe

    I've found that quite a few chutneys often take longer to reduce than their recipes suggest. I've tried using a wider, flatter pan, which means the chutney reduces in less time. However, it's then in danger of burning on the bottom if you don't watch it like a hawk and I've finally concluded that a longer slower cook with an occasional stir is better in the end. After all, you only have to make it once for an entire winter's worth of yummy chutney, though usually the entire house does end up stinking of vinegar. Oh well, no pain, no gain.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 20 September 2009

    sunshine-fairy commented on this recipe

    Ooops. Forgot to say. We have a plum glut and I've just tried this one. I did cook it for quite a bit longer (about 1 hr 40 mins in total), but it was worth it for the results. It is truly yummy and so say all of my neighbours! It's not possible to buy Bramley apples where we live (in Turkey), so I used grated eating apples. It worked absolutely fine, though the texture might be slightly different, as they don't pulp down in quite the same way.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 09 October 2009

    Jackie M rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Tastes great....took a little longer than the recipe said...but well worth the wait. Will be making this one again soon

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 13 October 2009

    MarKettle rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I made this chutney a month ago, following the recipe to the letter, and after opening it yesterday I can honestly say it has turned out lovely. I was very worried as there are a lot of negative comments on here, so I was relieved when I opened it and tasted it. I was concerned that the consistency was too runny when I was spooning it into jars. However, when I opened one yesterday the consistency was perfect and not at all runny.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 10 November 2009

    winniethewitch rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Hmm, kind OK � didn't come out anywhere near as chunky as the pic suggests, mine was more like a pink mush! It's tasty but a tad too vinegary. Not sure I'd make it again.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 24 November 2009

    globaholic rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made this a couple of months ago and wasn't sure - but two months on and it now tastes fantastic! Chutnies do need a little maturing to improve them and this one is no exception. I will make this one again next year.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 August 2010

    KateWhite rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Cant believe the negative comments that I have just read, made it last year and its the best and most versitlie chutney I have ever made. I addeed it to currys, used as a dip with popodoms. Just looked for the recipe again to use some of the glut of plums we have got

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Makes 4-5 jars

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 1 hr 10 mins

Low-fat

Ingredients

Print this recipe
Add to your binder

38 kcalories, protein 0g, carbohydrate 10g, fat 0 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 1g, sugar 9g, salt 0.22 g

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close