Wednesday 14 May 2014

Mango Chutney : AFF Indian Subcontinent


This Mango Chutney had me licking the spoon, the spatula and if I could, the wok. It was so good that when I closed my eyes, I was transported back to the banana leaf restaurant hah..hah...


I had been wanting to make this chutney for two weeks already but couldn't because I was not able to get green mangoes. The mangoes at Aeon were either semi-ripe or ripe. Then last Sunday I found green mangoes but not the variety I was looking for. I was not sure what type of mangoes are used for making chutney. The recipe did not mention so I assumed that any green mango would do.


The recipe called for 4 green mangoes but did not specify the weight. So I took a shot and bought 3 Waterlily mangoes (not my favorite) because these were the only ones that were still green. The rest of the ingredients were all readily available at home - whole spices, ground spices, green chillies, onions and curry leaves. The method is very straight forward and was a breeze compared to cooking curry.


Before I started cooking, I dry roasted the whole spices first. It made a lot of difference because the aroma of the spices were intensified. The cinnamon stick, cloves and cardamom are left whole while the aniseed are coarsely pounded.  Then it was in to the wok with the rest of the ingredients.


When I peeled my mangoes, I realized that one of them was already semi-ripe. But it didn't really matter as the flesh was still firm. Mangoes happen to be one of my favorite fruits besides pineapples. I am not much of a fruit person as I prefer vegetables. But put mangoes or pineapples in front of me, I will eat them with gusto! But seriously, I don't like Waterlily mangoes. 


As I was cooking the chutney, the aroma of the spices and curry leaves were so authentic that I felt so proud I was cooking like an Indian hah..hah...these were the smells of an Indian kitchen and if I could eat Indian food everyday, I would be so very happy :) 


When the chutney was done, I had another taste. Yum! The fact that I used a variety of mangoes that I did not like did not matter at all. It was so good! You can be sure Mango Chutney will be a regular condiment in my house whenever I feel like eating Indian curry.









Mango Chutney
Recipe source : Banana Leaf Temptations (page 39)
(My notes and adaptations in red)

Ingredients :
- 4 green mangoes, cut into quarters, seed and skin removed (I used 3 mangoes weighing 1.2kg before peeling)
- 5 tbsp oil
- 2 green chillies, sliced
- 1/2 onion, sliced (I used 1 whole big onion)
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 2 pieces cinnamon (I used 1 piece measuring 7cm)
- 3 cloves
- 2 cardamoms
- 1 tsp aniseed, slightly pounded
- 1 cup water (I added water as I went along and used 3/4 cup)
- 1/2 tsp salt (I added more at the end of cooking)
- 1 level tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 cup brown sugar (I tasted as I went along and used 3/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup thick coconut milk (I omitted)

Note : I dry roasted the cinnamon, cloves and cardamom before proceeding.
Note : Ingredients in blue are for frying.

Method :
1. Heat oil. Fry ingredients for frying till fragrant.
2. Add crushed aniseed.
3. When aniseed is slightly browned, add mangoes, water, salt, turmeric powder and cumin powder.
4. Cook till mangoes are soft.
5. Add brown sugar and stir well.
6. When brown sugar has dissolved, add coconut milk and cook for another 5 minutes.
7. Serve.


I am submitting this post to Asian Food Fest - Indian Subcontinent hosted by Chef and Sommelier.




This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #12 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

31 comments:

  1. Hi Phong Hong,

    I'm also a pineapple and mango person... but having said that, I eat mostly all fruits except durian and some tropical fruits :p

    Oh! I can imagine the sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste of your mangoes chutney must be exploding in your mouth... One taste is never enough :D

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! Oh, no durian for you? What a shame hee..hee...This chutney gets my thumbs up. It made a great condiment to go with curry or any spicy fried food.

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  2. Ooooo...my favourite. Mango or pineapple chutney - a must-have when I go for banana leaf!!!

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    1. At the restaurant they only give us a tiny little bit. Have to ask for top up :)

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  3. Call me jakun.. I thought mango chutney is a sweet thingy.. Like mango sauce.. After reading your post, then only I know there are spices, chilies and onions inside wor.. Looks like dhall curry.. As dip? Or gravy for the rice? I think up to us, aiya, who cares, as long sedap.. If me, I would eat it with tortillas or chips.. Yummzzz.. Oohh, I like your first sentence – lick the spoon clean.. Sounds so like me, teehee..

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    1. Hey Loiuz! This mango chutney is sweet, sour, salty and slightly spicy. I think you will like it as a dip with tortillas or chips. It is usually eaten as a condiment (like sambal belachan lah) with rice and curry. Highly recommended!

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  4. Hi PH, I am a big fan of mango chutney but have not tried making them myself..Yours looks delish..

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    1. Cecilia, if you love mango chutney then you should go buy some mangoes and make some in your kitchen. It is not difficult at all and totally worth it!

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  5. Wow, is it that really good that you wouldnt even want to waste that few drops in the wok? I never had mango chutney before but love to give it a try. I am sure I will love it too and not wasted a drop in my wok if I cook it.

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    1. Hi Mel! If you love something sweet, salty, sour and a bit spicy, you will love chutney! Must try!

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  6. oh mango chutney, this is interesting.. but then i don't think i quite fancy this one, many that i have tried tasted so sour i cannot take it.. but then again, yours should not be sour as i cannot find any sour ingredients you added in (besides the natural sourness of the mango itself, if any).. yeah, this one looks appetizing because of the color too, and yes, would be great to go with Indian dishes.. :)

    p/s: i was thinking, can this mango chutney make some juice?? like put two tablespoonful and add a cup of water kind of thing like the Korean grapefruit drinks?? haha..

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    1. With chilies, onions and spices wor?

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    2. SK, I know you skip the recipe section that's why our Princess Ribbon had to tell you that this chutney got chillies, onions and spices! Cannot drink lah. This chutney has well balanced flavours of sweet, salty, sour and spicy. You might like it :)

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  7. Last week, my house smelt like an Indian home too. Spices have such a lovely aroma. Love your mango chutney, sounds simple to make.

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    1. Hi Yen! This chutney really goes well with curries. I love it a lot!

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  8. yes...mango season is here already can certainly make this

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  9. Hi Phong Hong, the aroma fragrance of all the spices flew to my house liao. 好香! ^-^

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    1. Karen, you are so cute :) Yes, the wind carried the aroma all the way to Singapore hee..hee..

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  10. Pretty sure fingers will be licked too when this chutney is eaten with some curry and rice :-))

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    1. Oh yes! I was practically licking everything from the spoon, spatula, bowls etc hah...hah...

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  11. Now is the season for mangoes. So many varieties and at very reasonable prices. I love mango chutney, too. I think I'll give it a go.

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    1. Kimmy, I hope that you try it because I was very impressed with myself hee...hee...

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  12. Phong hong, this mango chutney look very tempting!

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  13. The mango season is over here. Looks like we are mango kaki, hehehe!

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    1. Jessie, I feel that mango is the best fruit! I also love pickled mangoes and mango salsa. And not forgetting mango kerabu and raw mango with sambal belacan. Aiyooo!!!

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  14. Oh man. I am drooling over this. This looks so good!!

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    1. Hi Cathleen! This chutney is great not only with curries but with roast meats too.

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  15. Hi Phong Hong,
    Your mango chutney looks delish! I adore Indian cuisine and love the chutneys!
    Mangoes and pineapples are the absolute favourite in my house too! Yum!

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    1. Hi Joyce! This is actually my first time eating chutney :)

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