The Big Chutney Question

Anyone who reads this and watched "Kirstie's Homemade Christmas" over the last few nights will have been delighted by the content of the programme and VERY annoyed that Channel 4 (in their infinite wisdom) didn't publish the promised Boxing Day Chutney recipe on their website!! Luckily I have a good memory for trivia (and pen and paper) and was in Morrisons first thing buying cranberries. I'm afraid I had to take a trip to Tesco to get the apricots, but sometimes you just have to do it!!

I apologise to any C4 execs who are making noises about copyright and all that fluff, but they should have got there first!! My fruit has been soaking overnight so I'll post the photos later!!

For anyone who didn't watch the programme but loves making chutney, this is one of those rare recipes you can eat straight away!!!!! So get cooking, there's still plenty of time!!

Kirstie's Homemade Christmas Boxing Day Chutney

Fresh ingredients

2lbs onions, peeled and chopped
2lb Bramley cooking apples, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch chunks
12oz fresh cranberries
2 pints cider vinegar
Zest of 2 oranges
1oz fresh ginger chopped finely
1tblsp coarse sea salt
½ tsp allspice (the original recipe calls for mixed spice, but this is SO nice!!)

Dried ingredients

2lb sun dried apricots coarsely chopped
1 box of dates pitted and chopped (8oz)
1lb raisins
Juice of 8 oranges or juice of the oranges you got the zest from and make it up to one pint with fresh OJ.

You will also need:

2lb granulated sugar

Method

First place all the dried fruit into a bowl and pour the orange juice over it. Cover and soak overnight.

Place the the fresh ingredients in a large pan and cook gently for about 30 minutes until the onion is pale and transparent and the cranberries have popped and start turning the mixture pinky.

Add the soaked dried fruit - which should have absorbed nearly all the orange juice - to the pan with the sugar.

Gently bring to the boil - keep stirring to prevent the mixture sticking to the bottom.

As the liquid thickens, lower the heat slightly and reduce. Don't forget!! Chutney doesn't set like jam so the consistency you pour into sterilised jars will be the consistency it stays!!! Seal.

Sterilising jars can be really easy!! In the microwave, put about 1/2" water in each jar and zap on HIGH for 2 minutes - DON'T do the lids this way!!! OR heat a regular oven to about 180C and pop in the jars with the water in and the lids very loosely on and leave in there for about half an hour. Simples!!!

Open on Boxing Day and enjoy with all those succulent hams and cheeses!!!