Christmas cranberry and apple chutney

10/25/2011

Here is another homemade Christmas gift using up some more of the glut of cooking apples.

I used this recipe from BBC Good Food. However I changed it slightly mostly because I did not have enough cranberries. They weren't really very available in the shop when I made my batch and so they cost a lot. I therefore had to reduce the amount of the recipe. However this still made 5 and a half jars so I think this was about the right amount. I also just used more cooking apples in place of eating apples.

Ingredients

600g peeled and chopped cooking apples
300g peeled and chopped eating apples
270g of finely chopped onions
10g fresh grated root ginger
1tsp peppercorns
300g granulated sugar
150g cider vinegar
300g fresh or frozen cranberries

Method

Place all the ingredients, apart from the cranberries, in a large saucepan and gently heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Bring to the boil, then reduce and simmer until the apples and onions are tender and there are no watery juices left
Add the cranberries and cook for 10 minutes until soft but not burst.
Spoon the hot chutney into hot sterilised jars and seal
Store in a cool dark place for 6 months. Chill on opening

I was a bit worried that this looked like apple sauce with cranberries to begin with but don't worry within 3 weeks it has a very red colour. A bit like apple sauce with cranberries but the chutney has already darkened in a few days and it tastes fab. I had a little that wouldn't fit in a jar. Great with a cheese toasty!