Date Chutney: Sweet, Spicy, Tangy and Made for Pairing

Certain condiments are intended to provide a spicy flavour. Others are meant to add sweetness or acidity. Our date chutney does all three and thus produces a complex taste which is just as suitable with traditional Indian snacks as it is when served on a cheese board.

The chutney, which is made using dates, jaggery, tamarind and spices including ginger, garlic and green chilli, has in each spoonful a balance of sweetness, spice and sourness. 

Inspired by Indian Chutney Traditions

The recipe is inspired by two Indian chutney styles which are very popular.

The first of these is North Indian tamarind chutney, which is typically served with chaat, samosas and other savoury snacks; it is generally sweet, tangy and rich, the sharpness coming from the tamarind.

The other one is the mixture from South India of tamarind and ginger, and this tends to be bolder, spicier and more intensely savoury.

The chutney for our meal combines features of both traditions. It has a rich and full sweetness from the dates and jaggery, and sourness from the tamarind. Warmth and spice come from the ginger, garlic and green chilli.

The end product is a chutney which is sweet, spicy, sour and slightly funky, with none of the flavours dominating the others.

The fact that this balance has been deliberately achieved is that the sweetness goes well with salty and savoury foods, whereas the tamarind and chilli stop the chutney from becoming too heavy.

What to Eat With Date Chutney

Date chutney is particularly suitable for use with Indian snacks and can be served with samosas, patties, puffs, pakoras or kachoris, either on its own or together with a fresh green chutney.

It goes very well with crackers and cheese; so if you include a small bowl on a cheese platter, the bowl's sweetness and acidity will counteract the rich, salty or sharp flavours of the cheese.

You can enjoy it as an easy snack by spreading it in a cheese toastie or by serving it with cheese and crackers. The mix of melted cheese, tangy tamarind and sweet dates is simple yet deeply satisfying.