Chutney or relish? I am confused!

Chutney or relish….what is the difference? Interesting question and I certainly have never even given it some thought…..that was until I wanted to write this post. I did a bit of research and this is the conclusion I came to…..
Generally speaking, a relish is made with grated or cut up vegetables or fruit , while is chutney is almost always made with mainly fruit.

Chutney is from the East Indian word chatni. It is a spicy and aromatic condiment that contains fruit, sugar, vinegar and a whole array of spices. Chutneys can vary in texture from being smooth to rather chunky and coarse. Chutneys go particularly well with curried dishes, but for me, chutney is perfect with just about anything….cheese and crackers, sandwiches, cold meats or even grilled chicken or fish.

A relish is a chopped vegetable or fruit food item that is cooked and pickled. The fruit or vegetables are normally in a sauce, although the sauce is subordinate in character to the vegetable or fruit pieces.

All this information confused me even more, because the Beetroot, Pineapple and Currant condiment that I had in mind felt like a chutney to me. It also consists of fruit and vegetables, so in conclusion, I still don’t know if this is a relish or a chutney, but please feel free to let me know what you think it should be.

Beetroot, Pineapple and Currant chutney(relish)

Ingredients

3 big raw beets – peeled and grated
250ml crushed pineapple
100ml currants
1ooml sugar
red wine vinegar – about 3 tbsp(adjust to taste)
salt
1-2 red chilies – keep whole(it gives a subtle heat)
1 star anise
3 cloves
1 all spice

Place all the ingredients in a stainless steel pot and bring it to the boil. Let it simmer on very low heat until the chutney(relish) has a thick chunky consistency!! About 1 hour. Spoon into sterilized jars or keep in the fridge for about 1 week(if it lasts that long).

I serve my beetroot chutney(relish) on a multi-grain roll with salami, cream cheese and fresh herbs from the garden……

Category : beetroot chutney, beets, chutney, making your own chutney, relish, sauces, vegetables