After a month of gallivanting around Italy, soaking up the sun and enjoying a predominantly gelato based diet... we were (strangely) pleased to feel the fresh Autumn air chill us to the core, after arriving back home in Edinburgh.
Almost instinctively, thoughts of all things warm, fragrant and spicy sprung to mind... and after such a long holiday, a tight budget had duly been put into practice.
With these two things in mind... A spicy apple chutney sounded like a winner!
Every recipe I read, called for malt, cider or red or white wine vinegar. But I already had a bottle of distilled vinegar and couldn't justify buying another. So, by using the most humble of ingredients, I managed to produce something that looks and tastes like a chutney should. I understand the storage method is quite an important step, but so long as your jars are clean, dry, hot (from the oven) and have lids with a plastic inner, your preserve should be safe and sound.
The ingredients...
900g tart apples (peeled and cut into chunks)
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1 tbsp fresh ginger (finely chopped)
400g brown sugar
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp mixed spice
1tsp chilli (I used dried flakes)
500ml vinegar
Pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper
Let all ingredients come to the boil in a heavy based pan, then lower the heat and simmer for a good 40-50 minutes. Your entire house will now smell of vinegar... but don't fret, it eventually becomes the sweet scent of successful preserve making! Give it a stir every now and then, keeping an eye on the consistency. Once it's thick enough (draw a spoon through it - no liquid should be left at the bottom of the pan), put it straight into hot sterilised jars, fill right to the top, screw on the lid and tip it upside down for a while. Not sure what that last step does exactly, but I read it somewhere once! Can't hurt...
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