Garden Harvested Tomatoes Turned into Spicy Tomato Chutney

I’ve been harvesting a few fruits and vegetables in the garden.

Fruits of my labour.

The one that excites me most is the tomatoes.

Especially the black heirloom ones, so I decided to create a simple tomato recipe that would go with anything: as a dip, a side, or a spread in sandwiches, with dairy or with meat.

I love a little kick of spice, so I planned to turn these tomatoes into a spicy chutney.

Spicy Tomato Chutney

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY FULL VIDEO RECIPE

Brief Recipe:

🍅 Spicy Tomato Chutney

Ingredients

1 kg ripe tomatoes, chopped

2 medium onions, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 inch piece ginger, grated

3 green chillies, chopped

4 bsp olive oil

1½ tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin powder

2-3 tbsp brown sugar or jaggery

3-4 tbsp vinegar (white or apple cider)

1 tsp red chilli powder

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)

🍅 Method:

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds; let them pop.

Add onions and garlic; sauté until soft and golden.

Stir in ginger and green chillies.

Add tomatoes, sugar, and salt; cook until thick and jam-like.

Mix in vinegar, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric, and coriander. Simmer 5–10 mins.

Taste and adjust salt, sugar, or vinegar before serving or storing.

🍅 Canning for Long-Term Storage:

Sterilise jars and lids in boiling water for 10 minutes or in the oven at 120 °C. Keep hot.

Fill jars with hot chutney, leaving 1-2 cm headspace. Wipe rims clean and place lids on.

🍅 Process in a boiling water bath:

Small jars (≤250 ml): 10 min

Medium jars (250-500 ml): 15 min

Large jars (>500 ml): 20 min

Remove jars carefully and let cool completely. Lids should “pop” to indicate a proper seal.

Label and can be kept for a year, consume within 3 weeks after opening.

I was so pleased with how it turned out.

Delicious, slightly sweet, tangy and just the right spices.

The flavour is well-balanced. No doubt I will be turning all my future tomato harvest into chutney!

I hope this recipe inspires you to turn your own garden harvest into something delicious. Give it a try!

Have a lovely day,
Mariah 😊🍅