Green Tomato Chutney
Unripe green tomatoes cooked with apples, onions, raisins and spices in malt vinegar for 90 minutes. Twenty-four servings of a spoonful in 1 hour 50 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Open a window as the vinegar heats.
Keep the pan uncovered.
If your hob runs hot, check at 75 minutes.
Let the chutney mature for a week.
Cooking Green Tomato Chutney
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Put all the ingredients in a large pan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
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Simmer on low heat for 90 minutes, stirring often, until thick and brown.
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Spoon into clean jars and cool. Keep in the fridge.
Why It Works
Green tomatoes are what is left at the end of the season, and chutney is the best use for them. They are firm and sharp, so they hold their shape longer than ripe ones and give the chutney a bite.
Chop them small, along with the apples and onions. The apples soften the sharpness, and the raisins add a dark sweetness that rounds it off.
Keep the heat low and the pan uncovered. The vinegar fumes are strong at first, so open a window. They calm as it simmers.
It needs 90 minutes to turn thick and brown. If your hob runs hot, check at 75 minutes. Stir often near the end. When the chutney is ready, a spoon pulled across the base should leave a clear channel. Pot into clean jars while hot. Wait a week before eating. Unripe tomatoes are firmer and more sour than ripe ones, which is exactly why the chutney benefits from the extra sugar and the long, slow cooking.
Storage and Reheating
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Good With
- Mature cheddar
- Cold pork pie
- Cheese sandwiches
- Cold sausages
Questions and Answers
How long does Green Tomato Chutney take to make?
About 1 hour 50 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 1 hour 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 24.
What are the key tips for making Green Tomato Chutney?
Open a window as the vinegar heats. Keep the pan uncovered. If your hob runs hot, check at 75 minutes. Let the chutney mature for a week.
What should I serve with Green Tomato Chutney?
Mature cheddar; Cold pork pie; Cheese sandwiches; Cold sausages.
How should Green Tomato Chutney be stored?
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Is Green Tomato Chutney suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Green Tomato Chutney Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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