I learnt to make this pungent, sweet, sour and totally zingy chutney from Nick many years ago. An absolute favourite in the houses along India's east coast, this version has been tweaked to suit a wider audience and palate. A great tomato chutney is the epitome of pub food accompaniments. With the right amount of tang, a tomato chutney lifts up the blandest of burgers and compliments the smokiest of sausages. For those who have read my previous posts and have an excellent memory, you will know that I am a sucker for simple recipes with 3, 4 or 5 ingredients. This is one of those recipes and I had to share!
Food Styling & Prop Alert - The hardened plastic container that holds the chutney is actually a Nespresso Coffee Cup that I saved from the Good Food & Wine Show in Sydney earlier this year. The metal plate and silver spoon were thrift store finds. The beautiful antique French linen was sourced from Grosgrain Homewares in Wahroonga, Sydney. The red metal colander was a cheap K-Mart buy. The micro herbs were $5 for a container from Pyrmont Grower's Market.
Winner of the 2nd Australia Eat Drink Blog 2011 Food Photography Awards. IMPACT Award.
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TOMATO MUSTARD CHUTNEY
Preparation Time - 10 minutes
Cooking Time - 30 minutes
Makes - 2 cups
Ingredients
6 large truss tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons black or yellow mustard seeds
1 teaspoon salt
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Method
In a heavy bottomed saucepan heat oil on medium. Add the mustard seeds. When they start crackling and spitting, add the tomatoes. Add the salt and sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered for 25 minutes. Stir it every 5 minutes to ensure the chutney doesn't stick.
Stir through the gram masala. Cook for 2 more minutes and remove from heat. Cool completely and store in sterilised glass jars in the fridge for a week.
My Notes
The original east Indian tomato chutney called tamater chatni in Bengali, the local dialect uses mustard oil which renders it even more pungent and hot.
The chutney at the end of the cooking time should be almost pulp-like and soft. Salt and sugar can be adjusted to taste.
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Can you tell me what weight 6 large truss tomatoes are? I don’t know what you mean by truss tomatoes as they all grow on trusses. Is it just 6 large tomatoes.?
yes, it is just 6 large tomatoes. Truss tomatoes are the ones still attached to the vine. Cheers!
I like your way of representing the recipe. I am going to cook this recipe for my husband for dinner. I am sure he will love it.
Thanks Anders! Cheers! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
This chutney must be very yummy & very very tasty. Will make today to enjoy the great taste. Thanks Sneh.
This looks great especially as I don't have to peel the tomatoes (hate peeling tomatoes!). This could also make a good Christmas gift - has to go onto my to-do-list!
Very smart to save the plastic cup! I might just steal your idea ;). Next time I make a burger I think I will try this.
Gorgeous and sounds delicious!! another one to add to my "must make" list!
Great pictures and this recipe looks so yummy too! I think this chutney will go so well on crostinis. Check out my recipe here: http://bit.ly/mangochutcrostini
Thanks!
Sneh this looks so delicious -- and i LOVE the moodiness of these photos. Always drool-worthy, your blog is.
Was nice to meet you in person finally on Saturday 😀
Thanks Shaun! And you 🙂 Hopefully we'll bump into each other at another foodie event soon!
Absolutely stunning!
What gorgeous photos! I also adore tomato chutneys and this one sounds delicious with the addition of garam masala. I also love your food styling and prop alert tips - thank you so much for sharing! The platter is just beautiful.
SO LOVELY!
Mmmm.... I seriously miss gorgeous tomatoes now that we are in "fall" season and temps. Gorgeous photos dear!
Sneh, this is gorgeous. I've never made chutney before because I always thought it was complicated with lots of ingredients - apparently not! Quick question: what are the flavor differences in finishing chutneys with spices at the end instead of in the beginning with the oil?
Put this stuff on my SHOE and I'll eat it!
Love the moody photos and the chutney sounds divine!
Ooh... the tomatoes are so luscious! The photos are gorgeous, Sneh!
Amazing styling! This post makes me want to give more importance to my props and styling 🙁 I really suck in that department. But your blog makes me realize how important it is.
Love this simple tomato recipe 🙂
hi sneh,this is my first time here and i love it already. how do you get your photos to appear blur fade like? do you mind sharing? I love the look of the photos,and of course your blog which is very user friendly, being a designer myself...though im still new to photography :)P
this chutney is perfect for so many dishes ! easy to make too..yayy 😀
the photos are beautiful girlfriend and so is the chutney! And that platter? WOW!
I love the mood lighting, Sneh! Looks beautiful.
I so rarely - ok never - make chutney, but so deeply appreciate a good one. Yours looks better than good, so my excuses are running dry. Time to try it!
Oh Sneh, your thrift store finds are gorgeous. And so are your photos, the mood, the chutney. Particularly loved your last shot.
Awesome photos Sneh! I'd love to try the chutney with a 100% beef grilled burger, one question though: do you think honey would work well instead of sugar?
Sounds fantastic Gaby. I think honey might work as it loosens and becomes fluid with heat (which is what sugar does to this recipe), you might need to go very low heat and keep stirring to avoid sticking I reckon.
Thanks, will give it a shot!
I love any type of tomato soup or chutney and this is SO beautifully presented. We bongs make it in a different way and Soma already said about the spice we use :)There is yet another type which my Mom makes with dried dates . I hope to share it sometime after my vacation.
I love the date version. Nick's aunts make it with dates too and for a while we did as well 🙂
wow love the simplicity of the recipe and thanks for tips on making it look like million bucks, I guess you need an eye to find the beauty be it in k-mart or garage sale. your post helps in looking for ideas
I am glad you can find some inspiration in here. There is so much of that everywhere isn't it?
OMG, that metal platter is fantastic! Great find.
really beautiful photographs.. really beautiful! and we bongs use Panch Phoron or the Five Spice mix for the Tomato Chuntey, well most of the time:) and YES mustard oil!
This looks fantastic Sneh!!! Love, love, love anything tomato. And I love the moody photos!