Chutneys and Pickles

I only began to enjoy chutneys after my first visit to India — the dark brown sticky mush which was called chutney at school had never captivated my taste buds. Away from India, chutney is less dry and sweeter, often more like a sweet and sour jam. Chutneys are made from a mixture of vegetables or fruits, or a combination of both, which is cooked with vinegar, sugar and spices that act as the preservatives. The ingredients are finely chopped or sliced and then cooked slowly to produce a smooth texture, whereas the ingredients in relishes are cut larger, the cook ing time is shorter, and therefore the finished texture is chunkier. Use uneven or misshapen ingredients because their appearance is not important in the finished preserve.