Nani’s Famous Tomato Chutney
This is my nani’s famous tomato chutney – a sweet and spicy chutney that her kids would eat like ketchup or jam. They’d put it on roti, eat it with sabzi, slather it on toast, and stir it into their Maggi noodles. She and my nana (my maternal grandparents), lived in Lucknow and would make this chutney together – it was nearly a half-day process. They’d boil tomatoes, cool them down, peel them, chop them, then cook them again, strain the seeds out, add the spices in… gosh, I’m tired just writing it all out. When my nani was starting to get sick, my mom asked her for this recipe and wrote it down. This is her chutney – only, I’ve modified the method to make it simpler to make. The flavor is exactly the same, but the process of making it is very different. With my method, you dump ingredients into a pot and cook. Then you sauté to help thicken the chutney. There’s no peeling or chopping or straining necessary. I have mixed feelings about simplifying a recipe that my nani used to so lovingly make for her family. To put that much time and energy into a recipe is true devotion. But, the truth is, if it weren’t for this easier version – I wouldn’t be making this tomato chutney for my family. At least this way, I feel like we’re still able to enjoy the chutney and remember her.
Tomato Chutney Ingredients
This chutney is sweet, spicy, tangy, and goes well with everything. You only need a few ingredients to make it:
How to Make Instant Pot Tomato Chutney:
Here are a few pictures to show you how truly easy this is. Add everything to the pot and cook. Open the lid, blend until smooth, and press the sauté button to reduce the chutney to a thicker consistency.
What Kind of Tomatoes Should I Use to Make Tomato Chutney?
I suggest using Roma tomatoes because they are meaty, release less water, and have fewer seeds. You can use another type of tomato – whatever you have – you’ll just need to saute longer at the end to boil off the additional liquid they release. I tried using regular tomatoes and it took twice as long to boil the water off and there were more seeds. Still very good though!
What to Serve with Tomato Chutney
You can use this chutney the way you’d use ketchup or jam – put it on toast, spoon it over grilled chicken to add some zing, or serve it with any Indian meal. You can also serve it with any of the following: Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
