Chutney: There was an Old Person of Putney

"There was an Old Person of Putney,
Whose food was roast spiders and chutney,
Which he took with his tea,
within sight of the sea,
That romantic Old Person of Putney."

Edward Lear, English artist and writer, known for his 'literary nonsense' & limericks (1812-1888)

Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures – The Flexible Chef

Following straight after the kick-off of the English football season is the inevitable glut of fresh and ripe Andalucían fruit and vegetables.

Friends and neighbours donate copious amounts of their surplus tomatoes, figs, plums, grapes, etc. I'm sure the kitchens and garages in my village are alive with little old ladies preserving their produce by one means or another. I know my next-door neighbour, Rosa, is busy preserving tomatoes, as she gave me a couple of jars of pulped tomatoes recently, and Encarni asked me if I wanted fig rolls. I am not fond of fig rolls, but I do adore figs – thanks anyway, Encarni.

A commenter asked me what the difference between chutney and jam is, and my view is that chutney is savoury, often sweet and savoury, whereas jam is usually sweet with fruit. Chutney uses vinegar and sugar as preservatives, and jam simply uses sugar.

Unlike pickle or jam, chutney is not usually spread on bread but served as a condiment to cheese or meat.

Jam is always made with fruit, while chutney is made with both fruit and vegetables.

A side note: chilli jam isn't spread on bread, but restaurant owners prefer to write their menus with chilli jam rather than chilli chutney. Why, because it sounds better? I don't know, but I admit to having made chilli chutney and labelled the jar with chilli jam.

I believe I've exhausted my chutney-making for the time being, until my neighbours contribute quince, prickly pears, pomegranates, and more figs.

And here is a reminder:

Dark & Sticky Fig and Grape Chutney

Sweet & Sour Tomato Chutney

Pineapple and Mango Chutney

Hot and Sweet Plum & Raisin Chutney

Spicy Carrot & Apple Chutney

Sweet Potato & Pear Chutney

Find all my homemade chutney recipes in my Curry Recipes hub — the complete guide to curries, spice blends, bases, chutneys and sides from The Flexible Chef.

Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef