In Mumbai, green chutney is a condiment similar to ketchup, but completely different in taste profile. This hot and tangy sauce is served alongside a multitude of dishes and can be spooned onto nearly anything, including grilled vegetables, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, or really grilled meats of any kind. It’s also great with samosas. One of Nick’s favorite ways to eat chutney is in a chutney and cheese sandwich, as served up at the Willingdon Sports Club (that recipe is at the end of this post).
Green chutney is really easy to make: just a few ingredients and a blender and you’re all set.
Ingredients to make Indian green chutney
Ingredients
1 bunch fresh cilantro, rinsed
Juice of 1 lime
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1-2 small green chilli peppers (you can use serrano peppers if you can’t find the small ones. I highly recommend you start with one, and then add another to taste if you need it)
Salt to taste
How to:
Roughly chop up cilantro (stems included) and add to a blender along with all the other ingredients. Blend. Salt to taste. If the mixture is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water. Blend until you have a smooth paste.
Your chutney is ready.
Now, if you want to take it one step further and make a chutney and cheese sandwich, here’s what you need:
2 slices white bread (it cannot be fancy bread, Wonder Bread is perfect. If you’re gluten free, please use gluten free white bread)
Butter, at room temperature
Laughing Cow cheese wedge (yes, it needs to be this brand. Please don’t get fancy with it. In Mumbai, you would use Amul cheese, which you may find at your local Indian store. But if not, Laughing Cow is a perfect substitute)
Green Chutney
How to:
Cut the crusts off the bread.
Butter one side of both slices of bread.
Spread one laughing cow wedge across one bread slice, on top of the butter
Add 1-2 teaspoons chutney on the other bread slice (on top of the butter) spreading it around.
Put the two slices of bread together and slice in half.
Voila. Your Chutney Cheese sandwich is ready.
Chutney Cheese sandwich made on gluten free bread.
This is a great mid-afternoon snack to tide you over to dinner time!! Enjoy!!!