This apple chutney flavoured with butter and star anise is perfect as a dip, a spread and an ideal addition to your grazing plate for parties

Not every kitchen experiment is a success. But it isn’t necessary that the ‘not success’ dish is unpalatable. In fact, some of these end up being delightful, tasty surprises, like this apple chutney.

Inspired by a friend’s superwoman-like ability to make relishes, I’d set out to make an apple relish but with the wrong core ingredient – the apples I’d picked (or rather, found piled on the fruit tray) had a strange texture. Rather than being crisp and crunchy, they were of a soft, brittle variety that started to crumble when peeled. But hey, no one called me a quitter! I forged ahead, determined to make something out of the apples I’d peeled to the tune of Kishore Kumar’s ‘Mere saamne wali khidki mein’ – please note, tunes are important during the act of peeling because ‘good mood is important to make ‘good food’!

The mini mound of roughly chopped apples ready to be dealt with, I reached for butter, because darlings, irrespective of what it does to your arteries and your hips, it makes the world right. In went all the goodies into the pan and with a little bit of this and that thrown in, I had this apple chutney which eventually got a huge thumbs up from the parents. It has now been made twice, is being used to slather on butter-toasted sourdoughs sprinkled with sumac powder or smoked cheese shavings. It is also being used generously on rotis and parathas to make rolls for the instant hunger moments.

NOTE: If you aren’t in a rush, then let the apple chutney rest for a day. It tastes so much more deliciouser the next day.

Give it a shot and stick around for when I get the apple relish right! Until then, happy cooking.

Do let me know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram at from.the.corner.table and hashtag it #fromthecornertable. I’d love to see it

For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.

Apple Chutney

A mushy apple chutney flavoured with butter and star anise

• 1¾ cups Peeled & chopped apples
• 1.5 tablespoon Butter
• ½ tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 Star anise
• ¼ teaspoon Paprika

1. Wash, peel and roughly chop the apples. Do note, the measurement noted in the recipe is of apples AFTER the peel-chop process.
2. Place a non-stick saucepan on low heat.

3. Add the butter and sugar in the pan and stir until the sugar has melted.

4. Add the chopped apples and give it a good stir.
5. Drop in the star anise, cover and cook till the apples have nearly melted and the mixture is leaving the sides of the pans.
6. Add a pinch of paprika and do a quick taste test.
7. Adjust the amount of sugar and paprika if required.
8. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
9. Store in a glass container with a tight lid; if you have the willpower, let it rest for a day before you dig in.

Chutneys, Side Dish

apple, chutney, relish

This apple chutney flavoured with butter and star anise is perfect as a dip, a spread and an ideal addition to your grazing plate for parties

Not every kitchen experiment is a success. But it isn’t necessary that the ‘not success’ dish is unpalatable. In fact, some of these end up being delightful, tasty surprises, like this apple chutney.

Inspired by a friend’s superwoman-like ability to make relishes, I’d set out to make an apple relish but with the wrong core ingredient – the apples I’d picked (or rather, found piled on the fruit tray) had a strange texture. Rather than being crisp and crunchy, they were of a soft, brittle variety that started to crumble when peeled. But hey, no one called me a quitter! I forged ahead, determined to make something out of the apples I’d peeled to the tune of Kishore Kumar’s ‘Mere saamne wali khidki mein’ – please note, tunes are important during the act of peeling because ‘good mood is important to make ‘good food’!

The mini mound of roughly chopped apples ready to be dealt with, I reached for butter, because darlings, irrespective of what it does to your arteries and your hips, it makes the world right. In went all the goodies into the pan and with a little bit of this and that thrown in, I had this apple chutney which eventually got a huge thumbs up from the parents. It has now been made twice, is being used to slather on butter-toasted sourdoughs sprinkled with sumac powder or smoked cheese shavings. It is also being used generously on rotis and parathas to make rolls for the instant hunger moments.

NOTE: If you aren’t in a rush, then let the apple chutney rest for a day. It tastes so much more deliciouser the next day.

Give it a shot and stick around for when I get the apple relish right! Until then, happy cooking.

Do let me know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram at from.the.corner.table and hashtag it #fromthecornertable. I’d love to see it

For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.

Apple Chutney

A mushy apple chutney flavoured with butter and star anise

• 1¾ cups Peeled & chopped apples
• 1.5 tablespoon Butter
• ½ tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 Star anise
• ¼ teaspoon Paprika

1. Wash, peel and roughly chop the apples. Do note, the measurement noted in the recipe is of apples AFTER the peel-chop process.
2. Place a non-stick saucepan on low heat.

3. Add the butter and sugar in the pan and stir until the sugar has melted.

4. Add the chopped apples and give it a good stir.
5. Drop in the star anise, cover and cook till the apples have nearly melted and the mixture is leaving the sides of the pans.
6. Add a pinch of paprika and do a quick taste test.
7. Adjust the amount of sugar and paprika if required.
8. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
9. Store in a glass container with a tight lid; if you have the willpower, let it rest for a day before you dig in.

Chutneys, Side Dish

apple, chutney, relish

 NELLIKKAI GOJJU 

Gojju also known as Menskai is a sweet sour traditional dish popular in Karnataka . It is one of the mandatory dishes included in a festive spread . Gojjus can be prepared using vegetables as well as fruits. Tamarind is used in the preparation of Gojjus with vegetables like capsicum, okra or bitter gourd. But the same can be omitted while preparing Gojjus using sweet sour fruits like Pineapple, Mango or Gooseberries . Here is a recipe to prepare a sweet sour finger licking Nellikkai Gojju / Gooseberry relish . 

                                                                                

INGREDIENTS

Gooseberries - 10

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Jaggery - a plum size ball 

Salt - 1 tsp

INGREDIENTS FOR THE GOJJU MASALA

Split Black gram dal - 2 tbsps

White Sesame seeds - 2 tbsps

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp

Red chillies - 3 ( Broken)

Grated coconut - 2 tbsps

Oil - 1/4 tsp

TO MAKE THE GOJJU PASTE

1. Dry roast sesame seeds and keep aside.

2. Roast Black gram dal, Fenugreek seeds , Cumin seeds and Red chillies in hot oil till they emanate a very pleasant aroma and allow them to cool . 

3. Grind all the roasted ingredients with coconut gratings into a smooth paste adding little water .

TO MAKE THE GOJJU

1. Cover the gooseberries with water and cook adding turmeric powder, salt and jaggery.

                                                                                                             

2. When the berries are cooked blend in the ground Gojju masala . 

3. Stir well and cook till the Gojju thickens and switch off flame. 

                                                                                  

 Add a seasoning with mustard seeds and curry leaves if you wish to. 

                                                                                

Enjoy the flavoursome Nellikkai Gojju with  steaming hot rice as a main course or relish it as a side dish with your meal.

Gojju also known as Menaskai is a Karnataka delicacy. A wedding feast is never complete without this sweet-sour relish. Gojjus can be prepared using any sweet sour fruit. But Pineapple Gojju / Menaskai is the most popular relish. Here is a unique Gojju / Menskai prepared with Star Fruit known as Kamarakshi in Kannada.

                                                                                                   

 Ripe Star Fruit slices - 2 cups

Tamarind - 1 plum size ball ( Extract juice )

Jaggery - 1 plum size piece

Turmeric powder - 1 pinch

Salt - 1 tsp

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THE GOJJU PASTE

                                                                                                    

Split Black gram dal - 2 tbsp

Red chillies ( Broken) - 3

Fenugreek seeds - 1 pinch

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Fresh coconut ( Grated) - 2 tbsps

Sesame oil - 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds and curry leaves for seasoning

TO MAKE THE GOJJU PASTE

1. Dry roast Sesame seeds and keep aside . 

2. Roast split Black gram dal, Fenugreek seeds , Cumin seeds, Red chillies and Asafoetida in 1/4 tsp of oil till they emanate a pleasant aroma.

3. Cool the roasted ingredients and grind with roasted sesame seeds and fresh coconut into a smooth paste adding water.

TO MAKE THE GOJJU

1. Lightly scrape the rinds and cut the Star fruits into star shaped slices.

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                    

2 . Cook the Star fruit slices in tamarind juice adding salt, turmeric powder and jaggery.

3. Blend in the prepared gojju paste and cook for few more minutes till the gojju thickens and switch off flame. 

4. Splutter a pinch of mustard seeds and curry leaves in 1/4 tsp of oil and season the gojju.