The Second Lunch header image 4

Entries Tagged as 'Indian'

(Not Quite) Trader Joe’s Tomato Chutney

January 14th, 2011 · 9 Comments · Indian, Pantry Staples

Last week, I had a mini-tragedy.

I was eating my way through half-filled jars in the fridge, and finally came to the end of an excellent tomato chutney that I had acquired from Trader Joe’s. I really liked the stuff, and I decided that it was well worth getting a replacement jar. When I went back to the store to do so, I was shocked – SHOCKED! – to find out that they had discontinued it. “We loved it here, but our tastes in the Bay Area don’t always translate to the rest of the country,” the manager said, shaking his head.

I’ve seen people wither into depression after TJ’s sends their favorite product to the graveyard. I was on the verge of a chutney-less meltdown. I assure you that this was a great tomato chutney. A little sweet, a little spicy, a little tangy. I used it to stir fry greens, to serve with curries, and as a chicken marinade. It was good with toast, topped with melted cheese. It was also a great complement to roasted cauliflower. What was I going to do without it?

And then I remembered that I spent the past year working on my friend Karen’s mostly-condiment cookbook, and I could probably  make my own version at home. I knew the ingredients (I wrote them down off the back of the jar), and all I had to do with fiddle with the proportions. It couldn’t hurt to try?

After an hour of tinkering, I present to you:

(Not Quite) Trader Joe’s Tomato Chutney
makes about 1.5 cups
time: 40 minutes

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (no salt added), with juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1 large pinch Maldon salt (or kosher salt)
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

In a small saucepan, add all the ingredients and stir well. [I used an immersion blender in the saucepan before cooking to break it down into a chunky paste, but you could wait until after cooking to process in a food processor or blender.]

Bring to a boil (it will bubble and splatter, so be careful!) then turn the heat down to low, and cover. Simmer for thirty minutes, making sure to stir every five to ten minutes, so that the chutney does not stick to the bottom.

Spoon into a glass jar. This is a fresh chutney and should be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months. You could probably can it, but I find that it’s so quick to put together, that it’s probably easier to just make a fresh batch when you want it.

Tags: ·······

Chickpea Curry with Fresh Dill Leaves + a Review of ‘5 Spices, 50 Dishes’

March 3rd, 2010 · No Comments · Books, Indian, Pantry Staples

image

For the past few weeks I’ve been cooking up an South Asian storm. I love the flavors and spices in all types of South Asian food – and use many traditional ingredients in my everyday cooking – a lot of ginger, turmeric, cumin, and coconut milk to name a few.

I just wrote my first review up at The Good Taste Review for Ruta Kahate’s book ‘5 Spices, 50 Dishes’. Head on over and let me know what you think!

I didn’t want to leave you all hanging, so this chickpea recipe is one of my favorites that I tried from the book. I love chickpeas in any permutation, but this recipe was particularly fresh and light. It could either make a nice side dish, or a good vegetarian meal if served over rice. When I first made it, I ate it as my dinner, and was quite satisfied.  Although the recipe called for canned chickpeas, I made this with Rancho Gordo chickpeas that I had soaked overnight and cooked.

Chickpea Curry with Fresh Dill Leaves

from ‘5 Spices, 50 Dishes’, page 42

Serves 4

This recipe traditionally uses a split and skinned Indian chickpea called chana dal, but I’ve found that canned chickpeas work just as well – which makes it possible to create this dish in minutes. The other interesting thing is that it uses dill leaves in the typical Indian style – as a vegetable, rather than as an herb. Serve with Marathi Yellow Fried Rice (page 103), and Roasted Onion Raita (page 98) for a hearty vegetarian meal.

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne (or less)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, finely ground
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated garlic (about 2 large cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger (about 2-inch piece)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cups finely chopped dill leaves and tender stalks (about 2 bunches)
  • One 15.5 ounce can low-sodium chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onion over medium heat until it has softened, about 5 minutes. Add the cayenne, coriander, garlic, ginger, and turmeric and stir for 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the tomato and cook until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the dill, chickpeas, water, and salt, and simmer until the dill is soft and tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve warm.

Tags: ····