How to Turn Those Pantry Leftovers Into Something Delicious: Easy Pantry Chutney.

Let’s be real - no matter how often we Marie Kondo our kitchens, there’s always that shelf in the pantry.

You know the one. It’s filled with half-empty bags of dried fruit, random spices, and ingredients we totally forgot we had. Sound familiar?

If your pantry is giving off those “what can I even do with this?” vibes, I’ve got a solution that’s going to save you from a throwaway frenzy. Say hello to Easy Pantry Chutney - your new secret weapon for turning forgotten ingredients into something amazing.

It's lovely served as part of a Ploughman's Lunch, with a sharp cheese on a cheese platter, or add a couple of tablespoons to a curry.

Why Chutney?

First things first: chutney is a total pantry hero. It’s super versatile, adds a pop of flavor to just about anything (cheese board, anyone?), and - wait for it - you probably already have everything you need to whip it up.

Plus, it’s one of those recipes that’s so simple, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making it all along.

What You'll Need

Now, don’t stress. This recipe is all about using what you’ve got. Got dried apricots? Perfect. A mix of raisins and cranberries? Awesome. Pretty much any dried fruit will work, and the rest is just spices, vinegar, and a little sugar to tie it all together.

How to Make It

Making this chutney couldn’t be easier. Here’s the breakdown:

Raid Your Pantry: Find those half-full bags of dried fruit. No shame in the game—we all have them.

Chop and Simmer: Dice up the dried fruit, throw it in a pot with the rest of the ingredients and let it bubble away.

Stir Until Magic Happens: Let it simmer until everything softens and the flavors mingle like they’re at a fabulous dinner party.

Jar It Up: Pour it into warm sterilised jars, let it cool, and boom - you’ve got chutney!

Perfect for Homemade Gifts

And here’s where it gets even better: this chutney makes a perfect homemade gift. Seriously, if you’re looking to impress friends and family this Christmas (without blowing your budget or spending hours in the kitchen), this is it.

Pop your chutney into cute jars, tie them with a ribbon, and you’ve got a thoughtful, delicious gift that’ll make you look like a domestic goddess.

Final Thoughts

So, next time you’re giving your pantry a clean-out and thinking," what am I supposed to do with this stuff?", just remember: Easy Pantry Chutney is here to save the day.

Whether you’re clearing out ingredients or getting ahead on your homemade Christmas gifts, this recipe is the ultimate win-win.

Happy chutney-making!

Of all the preserving methods out there, making chutney is the easiest place to start...mainly because it's pretty fail proof.

You just throw everything into a pot and let it bubble away until it's reduced, then bottle! 🍅🍅🍅

The only thing you have to take pay particular attention to is to sterilise your jars. A step that is also dead easy, but super important to make sure your beautiful jars of chutney don't spoil. 

➡️If you haven't sterilised jars before, you can see how to do it here. 🫙🫙🫙

Easy Pantry Chutney

(Makes approx. 1kg)

Ingredients

• 670g mixed dried fruit (use whatever you have in the pantry – Dates, figs, sultanas etc)
• 1.3kg Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped into 1cm dice
• 2 large brown onions
• 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 5cm piece of fresh ginger, grated
• 1 - 2 dried red chillies, crushed (optional)
• 670g brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 litre apple cider vinegar

Method

1. Cut the dried fruit up into even sized pieces, about 1cm in size.
2. Place all the ingredients into a large heavy based pot and stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally making sure it doesn't catch on the bottom and burn.
4. Cook for approx. 1 hour or until the mixture is thick. (A good guide is if you run a spatula through the middle of the mixture and it stays separated.)
5. Pour into hot sterilised jars, seal with lids and label.

Storage

• If stored in sealed sterilised jars the chutney should last for 1 year stored in a cooled dry place.
• Once opened store in the fridge for up to 4 months.