In the past, I have always bought chutneys from the shop as I thought they were probably a time-consuming thing to make. I had never even looked up a recipe for a chutney to give it a try. However, I have now found out just how easy it is to make caramelised red onion chutney, which is one of my favourite chutneys of all.
I was making several varietiesof tartlets the other day, includingcheese and tomato tartlets, cheese and onion tartlets, and cheese, tomato, and caramelised onion tartlets. For two of these recipes, I needed some chutney, and I realised I had run out. So, I turned to Google.
Although I found a recipe online easily, I adapted it to suit my tastes, as that chutney recipe was a little tart for my liking. I prefer a sweeter onion chutney.
You may notice above that I have used a credited stock photo. I took photographs while making the chutney (see below), and forgot to take some of the finished product! I was in the middle of making tartlets and used up all the chutney before I remembered.
Caramelised Red Onion Chutney Recipe
Course: Accompaniments, Vegetarian and Vegan RecipesCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy5
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An easy recipe for caramelised chutney that you can serve as an accompaniment to a multitude of meals.
Ingredients for Caramelised Onion Chutney
3 medium red onions, thinly sliced
3 tbspbalsamic vinegar
2 tbsp denerara or light brown sugar
5 tbsp water
1 tbsp oil
Directions to Make the Caramelised Red Onion Chutney
- Thinly slice your red onions.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onions to the pan and sauté for a few minutes until they begin to soften.
- Add 2 tbsp of the water to the pan to prevent the onions from sticking and cook for a few more minutes.
- Next, add the balsamic vinegar and sugar to the pan and stir.
- Cook for 5 minutes so that the ingredients begin to caramelise, and then add the remaining 3 tbsp of water.
- Continue stirring the chutney until all the water is cooked out and the chutney thickens into a sticky mixture.
- Your caramelised red onion chutney is now ready to use or store in jars.
- If storing for a later date, leave the chutney to cool before transferring to glass jars.
Using Your Chutney
There are many ways that you can use your caramelised red onion chutney, as it is a fantastic ingredient. Some ideas include:
- As a dip or accompaniment, such as with our chicken liver and brandy pate
- In cheese and caramelised onion tartlet
- On paninis, sandwiches, and toasties
- Add some to the curry if you have overspiced it, as the chutney will give some sweetness and tone down the spice.
Additional Tips
- Add more or less balsamic vinegar and sugar to suit your tastes.
- Add a chopped chilli to make the chutney spicier.
- Try adding some sultanas for a fruity red onion chutney.
- You can use white onions if you prefer. The chutney will have a different flavour and lighter colour.