Mint- Cilantro Chutney

Mint-Cilantro Chutney

This is the most popular chutney in India, hands down. It can be found in many Indian-American homes, in restaurants, and now in jars on grocery store shelves. Its charm lies in how simple it is to prepare. My father always adds a little yogurt to his chutney to make it creamy and then pairs it with lamb kebabs. My mom-in-law adds a hearty dose of roasted peanuts and serves it with savory snacks; Mom adds pomegranate seeds—you get the idea—to each his own.

This versatile chutney has so many uses; thin it a little and use it as a salad dressing for a crisp green salad; use it in the consistency provided as a spread on a baguette topped with fresh cucumber slices; or simply drizzle it on some freshly grilled fish for a fresh flavor.

One word of advice here: Green chutneys have a short shelf life. Make them in small batches and make them often—they only take a few minutes but the rewards are well worth the effort (which isn’t much).

Makes 1 cup
Prep/Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup packed cilantro (leaves and stems; see Note)
1 cup packed mint (leaves only, please)
1 green serrano chile (optional; if you don’t like too much heat, remove the seeds)
1/4 small red onion, sliced
1 tablespoon dried pomegranate seeds, fresh or dried (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon table salt
Up to 2 tablespoons water

Directions:
1. Blend cilantro, mint, chile, onion and pomegranate seeds (if using), lemon juice, and salt into a blender to a smooth paste. To aid in the blending process, you can add up to 2 tablespoons water, if needed. Taste and add more salt if needed.
2. Transfer to a covered container and chill for about 30 minutes.
3. Serve cool. This chutney will keep, refrigerated, for 4 days.

Note: If you are using fresh, young cilantro sprigs, the stems are tender and are fine to use in the chutney. If the sprigs are older, the stems tend to be tough and should be discarded.

Complementary Wines: Gewürztraminer Late Harvest, Gewürztraminer Late Harvest, Gewürztraminer Late Harvest, Gewürztraminer Late Harvest

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