This Spicy Mango Persimmon Chutney recipe is an authentic Indian style condiment made to go alongside a wonderful curry, but it’s equally at home as an appetizer with cheese and crackers, or with the turkey and ham on your holiday table.
Mango Persimmon Chutney is an exotic condiment you’ll use everyday!
If you’ve only had chutney alongside your curry in an Indian restaurant, you’ll be surprised at how many ways there are to use this sweet and spicy relish. Chutney’s can be made from all kinds of fruit, herbs, and spices, and I think of them as the Indian version of salsa. They enhance and brighten just about anything you can think of, from scrambled eggs to a fancy Indian biryani.
Persimmons are enchanting. They look like they belong in a Japanese fairy tale.
Persimmons are a winter fruit that’s just coming into season this month.ย My Fuyu persimmons are firm, even when ripe, and don’t have the bitterness associated with other types of persimmons. This is the variety you’ll most likely see in stores. They taste a little bit like an apricot, with a hint of cinnamon.
You can eat Fuyu persimmons like an apple
And their firm texture lends itself to things like salsas and chutneys. I’m going to stew them up with some mango which will become super soft and contrast in texture with the persimmons.
I use a simple chop and drop method to cook this chutney
It’s the same process as the simple jams I made throughout the summer…just chop and cook the fruit with some sugar and whatever spices you want. For a chutney you will need vinegar and lots of spices, both sweet and hot.
There are beautiful shades of yellows and oranges in this lot: the mangoes, the persimmons, and a fiery habanero pepper,ย Even after 30 minutes of cooking, some of the fruit still holds its shape, so the chutney has a nice mixed texture.
This recipe will serve you well throughout the season, you can use it alongside meats, on cheeseboards, or spread it on sandwiches. Chutney is absolute heaven spooned on some soft blue cheese, or aged cheddar.
Homemade chutney makes a fabulous gift from your kitchen
Spicy Mango Persimmon Chutney
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard seeds
- 1 Tbsp coriander seeds
- 4 cardamom pods, cracked
- 2 persimmons, peeled and chopped (approx 2 cups)
- 1 large mango, peeled and chopped (approx 2 cups)
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup water plus more if necessary
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 inch knob of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced (or grated if you want a finer texture)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 habanero pepper, minced (or use any other hot pepper)
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed pan, toast the mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and cardamom pods for just a minute or so, until fragrant.
- Add all the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 30 minutes until the mixture is thick. Stir it regularly. Add more water if the chutney gets too dry and sticks to the bottom of the pan. I simmered mine covered for part of the time, and depending on the juiciness of your fruit, you can adjust. You want it to cook for 30 minutes, and be thick at the end.
- Fish out the whole cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick.
- Ladle the chutney into two jars, let cool, then refrigerate. It will keep for at least a few weeks, probably longer.
That’s strange, Christopher, are you using whole spices? I imagine using ground spices might cloud up the mixture. That’s all I can think of, not being able to see your batch.
Just made this and it is terrific! Of all the recipes out there this one had the most appealing spice mix and proportions of vinegar, lemon to fruit. Thank you for the awesome recipe!
You’re so welcome!
I’m excited to try this! But I want to savor this recipe all year! Does this recipe freeze well? Have you tried heat processing it as in canning so you can shelve it?
Vonnie
I haven’t canned this, Vonnie, so I can’t speak to that, but you can definitely freeze it successfully.
The recipe would be much improved if after roasting, the spices are ground with mortar & pestle before adding the remaining ingredients. The whole spices are too over-powering and distract from the overall flavor.
Thanks EB, I’ll try that next time I make this.
Hi, can you make a large batch and can these as well as make a small batch? I have tons of persimmons right now and they would make great gifts.
I’m sure you can do larger batches, Janet, and as long as you can it properly, it would make a great gift!
We just did a 6x batch after an influx of persimmons. We had everything apart from the mangoes. It’s looking good so far. We played the added water by ear, starting with 2 cups instead of 4. Big batches evaporate less – learned that lesson the hard way!
Let me know how you like it, we have so many persimmons at the farmers market right now, maybe I’ll give it a try without the mango.
Ooh I adore mango chutney. I’ve no idea what persimmons are like, but I’m sure I would be very happy to eat this. The colours are vibrant and beautiful.
I’ve never cooked with persimmons – they are so beautiful – I bet the chutney’s fantastic ๐
Mary x
Sue this is just gorgeous! I love love chutney! And mango chutney in particular! I tried to recreate the TJs mango chutney about a year ago, but then added cranberries to it while it was simmering so it’s not an identical match but it sure was tasty. I love the persimmon in yours. And such beautiful persimmon at that! Cloves, ginger, brown sugar, vinegar..yes! Start selling, I’m buying!
It smelled like spiced peaches while it was cooking and it put me in a Thanksgiving state of mind. I think I’m going to make a cranberry chutney next.
ooohhh sounds wonderful! Love the photos of the persimmons. They are so interesting! I just printed a recipe for peach chutney – going to have to make some soon!
Peach chutney sounds good, I made a peach habanero jam a while ago and loved it.
This sounds amazing. I have enjoyed mangoes more than ever this year. I’ve never tried a persimmon, but you have totally peeked my interest now.
These Japanese persimmons are warm weather fruits, and they probably grow well in Arizona. They’re so pretty, I’d love to have a tree in my yard.