Recipe- Chatpati Tomato And Dates Chutney

Chutneys and Pickles are an integral part of Indian meals. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner time, we like to have one or the other chutney/pickle. And I love homemade chutneys. Anytime you will find one or two seasonal chutneys decked in my refrigerator. My personal favourite are chutneys with slight sweet, a bit spicy and a bit tangy taste.

This a bit tangy, a bit sweet and spicy Tomato Dates Chutney is loaded with goodness of juicy ripe tomatoes, dates. For a bit tangy touch I have also added cranberries. This chutney is commonly made in Bengali and Odia Cuisine.

Ingredients

4 medium Tomatoes (Red ,Ripe and Juicy)
4-5 Dates (seedless)
1-2 tbsp Dried Cranberries optional
1-2 Green Chilies or Jalapeno Peppers
1" Ginger Piece
½ tsp Cumin Seeds
1-2 Dry Whole Red Chilli
¼ tsp Fenugreek Seeds
¼ tsp Fennel Seeds
¼ tsp Onion Seeds/Kalonji
1-2 tbsp Mustard Oil or any Plant based oil
Black Salt as per taste
Jaggery /Jaggery Powder or any Raw Sugar

Method

* Nicely wash tomatoes.

* Arrange Tomatoes on skewers . Roast on medium flame. You can also grill tomatoes in oven or on grill.

* Also, roast green chili or jalapeno.

* Then chop roasted tomatoes and crush roasted chilli and ginger coarsely in mortar and pestle.

* If not roasting tomatoes, then chop roughly.

* In a kadhai/heavy bottomed pan, heat oil on medium flame.

* Add whole red dry chilli, cumin seeds, once seeds crackle, add other spices(fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, onion seeds). Sauté for few seconds.

* Add coarsely crushed ginger and green chilli., and sauté again for few seconds.

* Add chopped tomatoes, also add chopped dates and cranberries.

* Cook for about 2-3 mins then add coriander powder, salt, jaggery.

* Add about ¼-½ Cup water. Mix, cover and cook till tomatoes are soft and mushy and cooked well.

* Cool and store in an air tight container. Serve with meals as required.