Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2024)

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Indulge in the rich flavors of our Balsamic Tomato Chutney made with fresh, ripe tomatoes. A delightful blend of tangy and sweet in every spoonful.

Create a delicious fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney with this easy-to-follow recipe! Try this tasty chutney as a topping on these juicy Lamb Burgers, Shrimp BLT sandwiches, and more. Get started now and make a delicious, sweet and tangy chutney in just 20 minutes!

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM 9/14/17 TO IMPROVE READER EXPERIENCE.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (1)

Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney is a great way to use fresh tomatoes. This recipe only uses 6 ingredients and is delicious loaded on a burger, grilled brats, or scooped with your favorite veggies.

Every once in a while John and I’ll try a dish that has us thinking “Oh my gosh, we’ve got to make this”. We recently had a Balsamic Tomato Chutney that fell into that category.

On vacation, we drove from Pacific Grove California down the 17-mile highway. We were told about a great restaurant on the Big Sur called Nepenthe that we just had to try.

Some of the bridges were out due to a landslide, so we would have to drive, shuttle, and hike to get there but were told it was a doable hike and worth it. We exerciseregularly so we were up for the adventure.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2)

Well, the hike was like scaling a mountain. Killer folks a real killer! The hike was on a dirt path which I was totally prepared for in my white capris pants and gigantic bag which John ended up carrying.

I may have done a little (a lot) of whining too. What kept me going was thinking we were almost there. That and my competitive desire not to be passed.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (3)

Once we’d arrived I was revived with an amazing margarita. Our waiter said their Shrimp BLT was the best he’d ever had.

You never know how someone else’s “best” compares to yours but we gave it a try.

It was the best sandwich we’ve ever had. In our opinion, what made it so amazing was a Balsamic Tomato Chutney and knew that it would be one of the first things that we tried to recreate once we got home.

When we got home, we had several beautiful tomatoes ready for picking and knew it was a sign…to get busy in the kitchen.

I can’t even tell you how amazing this Tomato Chutney is. Balsamic infuses fresh tomatoes and onion mixed with fresh herbs. It’s as sweet and flavorful as if Mother Nature made it herself.

Once the Balsamic Tomato Chutney was made, making the most Amazing Shrimp BLT Sandwich recipe followed. You guys, this combination is a culinary work of art, I promise!

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (4)

What is Chutney?

The India subcontinent is credited for chutney as a way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chutneys could either be dried or pickled and were rarely sweet. They were often used as a condiment like a jam which is what we’ve done with this easy tomato chutney recipe. According to The Virginia Chutney Company, they’re a savory jam.

What’s the difference between Jam and Chutney?

Jams are usually cooked down and preserved with sugar and pectin. Chutneys are chopped. They can contain a mixture of vinegar and sugar and a combination of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.

Commercial versions of chutneys can really blur the lines between Jams, Chutneys, Relish, and Pickling. Unfortunately, commercial versions often taste like vinegar and sugar. If you think you don’t like chutney, try this Tomato Chutney Easy Recipe!

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The best tomatoes for fresh tomato chutney are any fresh tomato you can get your hands on and the variety that you enjoy.

This Tomato Chutney recipe contains only 6 ingredients and is so much more healthy than commercial versions. It tastes so fresh and compliments anything you use it with.

Uses for Tomato Chutney

  • Condiment on an Amazing Shrimp BLT sandwich!
  • Topped over scrambled eggs
  • As a relish over grilled swordfish, or seafood.
  • Served as a Bruschetta
  • Piled on a hot dog or on top of a burger
  • Mixed into a fresh vegetable or pasta salad

You can freeze or can Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney so you can enjoy it when those beautiful tomatoes are gone for the season.

Items you may need to make Tomato Chutney:

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  • 4 oz Mason Jars – I love these little jars. They make a great jam size and the perfect size gift jar. They’re also perfect for organizing items like paper clips in my office.
  • Saute Pan – I prefer stainless steel pans. I love how this pan has a flat bottom so more food can sit on it directly. I also like the glass lids so I can see how it’s cooking.

Time Saving Tip: This recipe can easily be made in a food processor. Process each ingredient separately and combine them in a bowl to prevent over-chopping on any ingredient.

Other great tomato recipes!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (6)

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney tastes like Mother Nature made it herself. It makes a delicious Bruschetta or a condiment over fish, chicken, burgers & brats.

Print Recipe Collect Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword: Balsamic Tomato Chutney, Tomato Chutney

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups tomatoes diced
  • 1 yellow onion diced (2 cups)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • In a skillet over medium heat drizzle 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Add remaining ingredients. Keep at a low boil until liquid evaporates and balsamic thickens approximately 20-30 minutes.

  • Serve immediately or refrigerate once cooled in an airtight container.

Notes

Time Saving Tip: This recipe can easily be made in a food processor. Process each ingredient separately and combine them in a bowl to prevent over chopping on any ingredient.

This recipe can be canned or frozen in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 48kcalCarbohydrates: 6gFat: 1gSodium: 298mgPotassium: 214mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 11.2mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (7)

UPDATE: If you are in the Big Sur area, the road has been fixed! Unfortunately, they’ve changed their shrimp BLT recipe, so I guess our Tomato Chutney recipe is now the best!

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Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Which vinegar is best for chutney? ›

Vinegar used in making chutney must be good quality and have at least 5% acetic acid content. Any good brand white, malt, wine or cider vinegar should possess the correct qualities. Brown sugar is used for darker coloured chutney but where a lighter colour is required granulated sugar is recommended.

What's the difference between chutney and relish? ›

So how does a relish differ? Generally, they are thinner in consistency with more “pickled and vinegary” flavours. They usually contain vegetables rather than fruit and only one variety whereas chutneys are mostly fruit and often a mixture of fruits. Perhaps you are more confused than ever!

Do you cook chutney with lid on or off? ›

It is essential that chutneys are allowed a long and slow cooking period in a pan that is not covered with a lid. This will allow your chutney to become rich and smooth.

Why is my homemade chutney not thickening? ›

If the chutney seems too runny, cook it for another 5-10 minutes and test again. You may also like to give the chutney the odd stir as you cook it, to prevent the mixture at the edges of the pan from catching.

What are the main ingredients in chutney? ›

Chutney is made from fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs with vinegar, sugar, and spices. It's used to provide balance to an array of dishes, or highlight a specific flavor profile. Broadly, the word chutney is now applied to anything preserved in sugar and vinegar, regardless of its texture, ingredients, or consistency.

How long should you leave chutney before eating? ›

With dried spices you need to leave the chutney to an absolute minimum of 6 weeks but the longer you leave the better is will taste as the spices mature. A 6 months old chutney will taste very food. With the fresh spices it need only be 6 weeks old. Always cook your chutneys on a low heat, slowly, don't rush.

What is chutney called in America? ›

Relish. Chutney and relish are two popular condiments, and the names are often interchanged. The confusion is understandable because chutneys can be savory, and relishes can be sweet. In general, chutneys have a chunky spreadable consistency much like a preserve and are usually made with fruit.

How do I make my chutney thicker? ›

The best way to thicken up a chutney is to add flour. Flour can be added with the spices in-ground or mixed through.

What is chutney called in English? ›

(ˈtʃʌtni) noun. a sauce or relish of Asian origin, often compounded of both sweet and sour ingredients, as fruits and herbs, with spices and other seasoning. Also: chutnee.

What is the best pan for making chutney? ›

For chutney making

However, you should always ensure that your chutney or jam pan is made from stainless steel, as copper, brass or iron pots can react with the acidity of the fruit and vinegar in the chutney. Still, my advice is to get yourself a Maslin Pan.

Do you put homemade chutney in jars hot or cold? ›

Fill the hot dry jars right to the top – preserves shrink slightly on cooling and a full jar means less trapped condensation. Seal the jars while still hot. This rule applies to all jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys.

What does vinegar do in chutney? ›

The sugar and vinegar are essential, too, for that quintessential sharp-sweet flavour and to preserve the chutney. If the jars have been sterilised correctly (watch our video for a failsafe method), the chutney will keep in a cool dark space for more than a year.

Why is my chutney so vinegary? ›

If you made a double quantity it may take longer for the acid in the vinegar to mellow, unless you used a particularly wide pan that would help the vinegar to evaporate more easily. So it is worth tasting the chutney before you transfer it to jars, to make sure that the mixture is not too acidic.

Why is my tomato chutney watery? ›

If the chutney is too runny then in our opinion the best solution is to put it into a pan and bring it back to the boil, then simmer rapidly until it is the required thickness. If you can do this in a couple of deep frying pans (not aluminium) then it should help to speed up the process.

Can I use cider vinegar instead of white wine vinegar for chutney? ›

Spices, too, can be switched, as can the vinegar – a cider vinegar would complement an all-apple chutney beautifully. But stick to the given weights and method.

Which vinegar is best for Indian food? ›

White vinegar - this kind of vinegar comes from grain-based ethanol or acetic acid, which is diluted with water. It has a strong flavour and is a popular part of Indian cuisine. White vinegar also makes a great all-purpose cleaner!

What kind of vinegar do you use in Indian curry? ›

Vinegary tartness is as important an ingredient to Indian cooking as chilli or spice. Nearly all genuine Indian cooks call for the addition of fruit vinegar to their recipes and a generous slosh of real Cider Vinegar will make all the difference to your efforts!

What can I use instead of malt vinegar in chutney? ›

Malt vinegar substitute: Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice are your best options for malt vinegar substitutes.

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