FOOD AND TRAVEL

Monday, May 9, 2011

Fire Roasted Tomato Chutney

Fire roasted tomato chutney

I have been trying very hard for last 3 years in making M (the husband) into a more adventurous eater.

This involves emotional blackmailing or warnings however you like to interpret it. And he was improving. He eats eggplant gleefully, enjoys pasta once in a while and reluctantly eats bottlegourd and bittergourd. I mentioned before my in laws are visiting us for couple of months, and M has started acting up, demanding to eat only what suits his taste buds believing he will get away with it as I won't argue in front of his parents. And damn its working. And he's got his sister on his side. I'm trying to find a way out of this and your suggestions are welcomed. The more vicious, the better!

Fire Roasted Tomato Chutney

This chutney is one of our family favorite - one that makes it to almost every party we organize and people are always asking for the recipe. Sweet caramelized tomatoes, fresh herbs, slight kick from the chili and tang from lemon makes this chutney a great dip or spread. We often serve it up with grilled chicken, or deep fried appetizers as well. While we dinned on some delicious, simple and light bottlegourd soup, M and his sister ate the chutney with crisped roti. I did hide some of it for me though!  There is no reason I should be a good girl with this man, agreed?  I like it spread on baguette, where the sweet  juices from the fire roasted tomatoes are soaked by the bread while the herb studded pulp adds texture to the chutney. Sure, the beautiful roasted tomatoes turn a dark almost ugly green when blended with herbs but you need to taste it to know it just doesn't matter.

Fire Roasted Tomato Chutney
Serves : 2-3
Click here for printable recipe

Ingredients

3 red tomatoes, medium size*
1 green chilly
1/2 cup coriander leaves (roughly chopped)
1/2 cup mint leaves (roughly chopped)
1/4 tsp cumin seeds/1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt to taste

Note
* Use the kind which are less juicy and have dense flesh.

Method

Skewer the tomato with a fork and hold it over high flame on (smallest) gas stove burner. The fork will help you move the tomato around, in case you didn't know. I'm not doubting your intelligence by the way, I just doubt mine. You can also fire roast tomatoes on gas grill, charcoal grill or under a broiler. The skin will start to char and split while you rotate the tomatoes on all the sides. You want to totally blacken the skin. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Repeat with rest of the tomatoes. Once cool, slip off the skin from tomatoes.

IMG_0910_1

Blend tomatoes, herbs and spices together to get a smooth chutney. Finish with lemon juice.

It is best served on the day its made but can be refrigerated up to 2 days.
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36 comments

  1. My DH likes only tomato chutney ...I do something similar ..n this looks so so gud ...

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  2. Oh that's a tough one, seems like he's got you outnumbered. Thing is, the cook rules the roost, so unless he's planning on cooking for himself he might want to make sure he doesn't get on your bad side! I love the weathered background in the first two images by the way.

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  3. What I would do: let him excited about showing off new dishes to his family, that you think they'd like this or that, and they don't want the same things they'd be eating 'back home' everyday.
    Your tomato chutney looks AMAZING! And those fire-roasted tomatoes, gorgeous...

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  4. Thank you everyone!
    Sylvie - Since the kitchen is being shared with my mother in law - he's also acting like 15 year old!Mom being mom is spoiling him for the little time they are here.

    Indie.Tea - True. I think I should do that. But even though we try to make new things everyday - some days you such want to fall back on simple home food. Glad you like the chutney :-)

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  5. The chutney is a staple in my home..but the idea of roasting and then grinding is lovely...can't wait to taste the smoky flavored chutney :)
    Please let me know how did you handle the said situation...have been looking out for a solution for the last 15 years ;-)

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    Replies
    1. I did not understand your q at all. Do you want to get rid of the charred skin? The skin needs to be peeled. You may dip the burned tomato in normal water and remove the skin.
      Or do you wish to know how to grind? A pestle and mortar will do.

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  6. What beautiful photos, and such an interesting, seemingly simple recipe.

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  7. I'll say, till your MIL is cooking let them both have their way. Once she goes, you can feed him whatever you want and with a vengeance! I make something similar sans the mint leaves and cumin seeds but with lots of garlic.

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  8. lucky u have a fire hob..i have an electric one and sadly cant use food directly on it..id however like 2 grill it and probably follow ur procedure?? u think it would work?

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  9. An Open book - Yes I mentioned in the notes that you can certainly grill it or use broiler. It works perfectly well. I hope you try it and like it ;-)

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  10. This chutney looks delicious and your photography props accent the green color. Your husband sounds funny with his "pouting" behavior. I would act so sweet and kind right there in front of his parents and then just sweetly go off and cook whateve my heart desires...all delivered back with grace and ... did I say...sweetness? heh, heh, heh

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  11. I love the chutney recipe. Sounds awesome. I'm no help with your husband's pouting though!

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  12. I like this kind of spicy tangy chutney and with herbs.. that would a winner for me :) I was planning to make dosa sometime this week .. i will try this chutney with that !!

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  13. Those charred tomatoes looks wonderful and chutney is so good...and now see all those bunch of most flavour herbs making it green can imagine the freshness!

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  14. I love the flavor of mint in the chutney...looks like a great recipe!

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  15. Great pictures! That chutney looks FABULOUS!!

    New to your blog! Happy I found you!

    Mary xo
    Delightful Bitefuls

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  16. If you succeed in making M eat your way some day, please share some tips with me too.I m in the same boat hon :) P is nasty with eating habits.I love the picture of roasted tomatoes inside the pot.And I already told you chutney looks yum-my all time fav!

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  17. The truth is that if I could cook like you I wouldn't blame my husband for demanding your amazing food! But usually, when my husband tries to act a certain way in front of his parents I ignore him and then lecture him later on. He gets the message!

    Love this chutney! It looks delicious.

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  18. This sounds really aromatic and tasty! I'm so fortunate that my partner can eat anything!

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  19. This looks fantastic Kulsum, so aromatic and delicious! I'm pretty lucky with my boyfriend as he eats most things. Once upon a time he wasn't keen on mushrooms or chickpeas though, but he's grown to like them over time, thankfully!

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  20. This looks AMAZING! So fun and I haven't tried anything like it. beautiful pictures as well!

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  21. I can tell that this chutney is full of flavours!! Well done!

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  22. This is new for me and I am definetly going to bookmark this.

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  23. my husb was the same-when I first met him wasn't very adventurous with food. I am a cheeselover and he isn't much of one, but I force feed him cheeses all the time. :)

    I love your tomato chutney, I would eat it the same way--on baguette. I wish I had a gas burner in my place (it's a flat top electric one). Maybe it would work under the broiler in the oven?

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  24. Ah! aren't husbands the same everywhere! Bring the mother into the picture and there are suddenly as difficult as 5-year olds!

    You picture of the roasted tomatoes made me want to put on my coat and go and buy tomatoes rightaway to try out the recipe... Do you have any suggestion as to the kind of tomatoes to use? Will it get all soggy and drip if i use the juicy plum tomato variety? or should i go for something that is more firm?

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  25. @The weight watcher

    Exactly. A 5 year old. As for the tomatoes, roma tomatoes work well, or any variety which has dense flesh and less juicy. Hope you try it :-)

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  26. lovely chutney! Im sure it goes very well with anything. My husband is also not an adventurous eater nor a foodie and not too fond of my constant quest of new and exciting food. Pls let me know if you find a solution to this common problem of ours

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  27. Hubby should realize how lucky he is to have such an amazing cook for a wife. ;) I think most men would kill for that...

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  28. If your husband doesn't like what you cook for him, then maybe he should cook for himself? Just an idea... ;-) This chutney sounds fabulous!

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  29. Mmm yummy! Love the flavor from roasting things.

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  30. This looks so flavoursome and tasty! Great shots.

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  31. What fantastic flavor in this chutney. As for your husband - well, if your in-laws aren't picky eaters, I would cook whatever you please for them. Serve it with a smile!

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  32. Your blog is delightful. I'm enjoying the recipes and the comments. I'm 74 and divorced for many years. I have felt alone all these years without knowing that many other women have bouncing baby boys for husbands as I did. I lost mine 36 years ago to a young woman who was years and years his junior. There is justice in the world. I was told by a person who did not know I was his ex that his wife talked about him behind his back all the time and literally hated him. The past few years I have finally begun feel sorry for him and to remember some of the good things about him and that is nice. . . to not resent him any more - though he seldom comes to mind.

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  33. Kulsum,

    I learn a very similar version from my hubby n I make it often for dinners.

    Rashmi

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