Date chutney is made of dates, jaggery, and a few other simple ingredients. My recipe will guide you through the process of making date chutney or khajur chutney at home. Read on.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Date chutney is a unique and versatile condiment that can alter the taste of a range of dishes and snacks.
- Refrigerate the chutney in an airtight jar to preserve its freshness and taste.
- A variety of pakoras, chaats, South Indian dishes, grilled meats, rice dishes, and Indian bread go well with this chutney.
- Date chutney is sweet, tangy, savory and little bit spicy to taste.
- Adding mango, tomato, mint, or tamarind with date will offer a similar taste.
This dish came into my life through a travel magazine. I tore out the page and kept it tucked in my kitchen journal for years. One afternoon, while it was raining and I was alone at home, I thought why not try making it and surprise others when they come. Being unfamiliar to the recipe, I followed the instructions of the blogger precisely. The result was mind-blowingly good. It looked elegant, tasted heavenly, and felt like a restaurant-level creation. Since then, I have been making this dish at every party at home. Surprisingly, everyone believe that I have ordered the dish from a restaurant! That magazine clipping was pure gold.
How to Make Date Chutney? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Take about ½ cup of good quality dates in a bowl, deseed them, and soak them in normal water for about 4 hours. It will turn soft and tender. Transfer the soaked dates to a grinder.
Step 2: Grind it nicely to a fine paste.
(Pro tip: Check the consistency of the paste. You may add a little bit of water at this stage if you do not want the paste to be too thick. Blend it again. However, it is better not to add any water at this stage because you will need to add water later on when you cook the chutney).
Step 3: Transfer the paste to a bowl when you are satisfied with its consistency.
Step 4: Add ½ cup of water to it and mix it nicely. Cook the chutney on a high to medium flame on your gas stove. Do not forget to stir it continuously.
Step 5: When the liquified paste starts to boil, add ¼ cup of jaggery to it.
(Pro tip: You can add an equal amount of sugar to the chutney if you do not like jaggery or have it at home. However, adding jaggery will add to the taste and flavor of the date chutney. You can alter the amount according to your sweet preference).
Step 6: Then add ¼ tbsp of regular table salt to the chutney.
(Pro tip: If you want your chutney to taste a bit saltier, add a bit more of salt to it).
Step 7: Follow it with ¼ tbsp of dry red chili powder and ¼ tbsp of cumin seeds powder.
(Pro tip: If you want the chutney to be a bit spicy, add more chili powder).
Step 8: Mix everything nicely. Let the chutney cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on a low flame until it changes color and becomes thicker.
Step 9: When it becomes a little denser in consistency, turn the flame of your gas stove off. Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool down. Your homemade date chutney is finally ready to be consumed with a variety of snacks and other dishes.
Recipe Card
Date Chutney | Khajur Chutney
Ingredients
- ½ cup dates deseeded
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup jaggery
- ¼ tbsp salt
- ¼ tbsp dry red chili powder
- ¼ tbsp cumin seeds powder
Instructions
- Take about ½ cup of good quality dates in a bowl, deseed them, and soak them in normal water for about 4 hours. It will turn soft and tender. Transfer the soaked dates to a grinder.
- Grind it nicely to a fine paste. (Pro tip: Check the consistency of the paste. You may add a little bit of water at this stage if you do not want the paste to be too thick. Blend it again. However, it is better not to add any water at this stage because you will need to add water later on when you cook the chutney).
- Transfer the paste to a bowl when you are satisfied with its consistency.
- Add ½ cup of water to it and mix it nicely. Cook the chutney on a high to medium flame on your gas stove. Do not forget to stir it continuously.
- When the liquified paste starts to boil, add ¼ cup of jaggery to it. (Pro tip: You can add an equal amount of sugar to the chutney if you do not like jaggery or have it at home. However, adding jaggery will add to the taste and flavor of the date chutney. You can alter the amount according to your sweet preference).
- Then add ¼ tbsp of regular table salt to the chutney. (Pro tip: If you want your chutney to taste a bit saltier, add a bit more of salt to it).
- Follow it with ¼ tbsp of dry red chili powder and ¼ tbsp of cumin seeds powder. (Pro tip: If you want the chutney to be a bit spicy, add more chili powder).
- Mix everything nicely. Let the chutney cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on a low flame until it changes color and becomes thicker.
- When it becomes a little denser in consistency, turn the flame of your gas stove off. Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool down. Your homemade date chutney is finally ready to be consumed with a variety of snacks and other dishes.
