Hog plum chutney is a combination of freshly cooked hog plums with Indian five spice blend, ginger, garlic, and a few other spices. Follow my guide to learn the simple steps and follow them to make hog plum (Ambada) chutney easily and quickly at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Hog plum chutney is very easy to make at home and needs only a few basic ingredients.
- Extend the shelf life and freshness of the chutney by storing it in a clean airtight jar in your fridge.
- Serve the chutney with chaat and snacks items, tandoori dishes, salads, sandwiches, wraps, or a cheese platter.
- Hog plum chutney tastes sweet and spicy with an earthy undertone.
- Amla chutney, green mango chutney, and jalpai chutney will render a similar taste as hog plum chutney.
This recipe came to me via a street food vendor in Pune. I struck up a conversation and asked him how he made the dish that had me hooked. He smiled and gave me a quick rundown. I memorised it and recreated it the very next day. It wasn’t exact, but it was close enough to bring that same joy. Now I make it whenever I miss the chaos and colours of that city. A little street flavour now lives in my kitchen.
How to Make Hog Plum Chutney? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Take 4 standard pieces of fresh hog plums, wash them, peel them, and slice them into small pieces, with the ones with the seeds a bit larger. Keep them side.
Step 2: Now, take a wok or a frying pan and heat it on a medium flame on your gas stove. When the wok is hot enough put 1 tsp of mustard oil in it. Let the oil heat up. Now put 1 tsp of Indian Five Spice Blend (panch phoron) in it and stir it nicely to cook for about 10 to 15 seconds. Then add ½ tsp of red chili flakes to the oil.
(Pro tip: You can use any type of cooking oil, including white oil, to make this chutney. However, I prefer using mustard oil because it adds to the eventual flavor and taste of the chutney).
Step 3: When the chili flakes stop crackling, add the sliced pieces of hog plum to the wok. Stir it nicely to mix the oil and spices evenly with all the pieces, small and large. Now add 1 tsp of turmeric powder to it and follow it with 1 tsp of black salt. Mix them nicely. Now, add 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste and mix it nicely with the other ingredients in the wok. Add a little bit of water, just enough to immerse the hog plums, and mix it nicely.
(Pro tip: You can use regular table salt in place of black salt if you do not have it at home. However, adding black salt, once again, will add to the final taste and flavor of the chutney).
Step 4: Then cover and let it cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on a high flame.
Step 5: When the hog plums are cooked nicely and have become softer, add 1 cup of sugar to it. Mix it.
Step 6: Let it cook for another 4 to 5 minutes till it comes to a boil. Check for your desired consistency. Let it boil for some more time if you want so that it becomes thicker.
Step 7: Now, turn off the flame of your gas stove, let it cool down, transfer it to a bowl, and finally your sweet, tasty, homemade hog plum chutney is ready to be consumed with a wide range of dishes and snack items.
Recipe Card
Hog Plum (Ambada) Chutney
Ingredients
- 4 pieces hog plum medium size
- 1 tsp mustard oil
- 1 tsp Indian Five Spice Blend panch phoron
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp black salt
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- Water as needed
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Take 4 standard pieces of fresh hog plums, wash them, peel them, and slice them into small pieces, with the ones with the seeds a bit larger. Keep them side.
- Now, take a wok or a frying pan and heat it on a medium flame on your gas stove. When the wok is hot enough put 1 tsp of mustard oil in it. Let the oil heat up. Now put 1 tsp of Indian Five Spice Blend (panch phoron) in it and stir it nicely to cook for about 10 to 15 seconds. Then add ½ tsp of red chili flakes to the oil. (Pro tip: You can use any type of cooking oil, including white oil, to make this chutney. However, I prefer using mustard oil because it adds to the eventual flavor and taste of the chutney).
- When the chili flakes stop crackling, add the sliced pieces of hog plum to the wok. Stir it nicely to mix the oil and spices evenly with all the pieces, small and large. Now add 1 tsp of turmeric powder to it and follow it with 1 tsp of black salt. Mix them nicely. Now, add 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste and mix it nicely with the other ingredients in the wok. Add a little bit of water, just enough to immerse the hog plums, and mix it nicely. (Pro tip: You can use regular table salt in place of black salt if you do not have it at home. However, adding black salt, once again, will add to the final taste and flavor of the chutney).
- Then cover and let it cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on a high flame.
- When the hog plums are cooked nicely and have become softer, add 1 cup of sugar to it. Mix it.
- Let it cook for another 4 to 5 minutes till it comes to a boil. Check for your desired consistency. Let it boil for some more time if you want so that it becomes thicker.
- Now, turn off the flame of your gas stove, let it cool down, transfer it to a bowl, and finally your sweet, tasty, homemade hog plum chutney is ready to be consumed with a wide range of dishes and snack items.
