Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2024)

JUMP TO RECIPEPRINT RECIPE

Indulge in the rich flavors of our Balsamic Tomato Chutney made with fresh, ripe tomatoes. A delightful blend of tangy and sweet in every spoonful.

Create a delicious fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney with this easy-to-follow recipe! Try this tasty chutney as a topping on these juicy Lamb Burgers, Shrimp BLT sandwiches, and more. Get started now and make a delicious, sweet and tangy chutney in just 20 minutes!

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM 9/14/17 TO IMPROVE READER EXPERIENCE.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (1)

Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney is a great way to use fresh tomatoes. This recipe only uses 6 ingredients and is delicious loaded on a burger, grilled brats, or scooped with your favorite veggies.

Every once in a while John and I’ll try a dish that has us thinking “Oh my gosh, we’ve got to make this”. We recently had a Balsamic Tomato Chutney that fell into that category.

On vacation, we drove from Pacific Grove California down the 17-mile highway. We were told about a great restaurant on the Big Sur called Nepenthe that we just had to try.

Some of the bridges were out due to a landslide, so we would have to drive, shuttle, and hike to get there but were told it was a doable hike and worth it. We exerciseregularly so we were up for the adventure.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2)

Well, the hike was like scaling a mountain. Killer folks a real killer! The hike was on a dirt path which I was totally prepared for in my white capris pants and gigantic bag which John ended up carrying.

I may have done a little (a lot) of whining too. What kept me going was thinking we were almost there. That and my competitive desire not to be passed.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (3)

Once we’d arrived I was revived with an amazing margarita. Our waiter said their Shrimp BLT was the best he’d ever had.

You never know how someone else’s “best” compares to yours but we gave it a try.

It was the best sandwich we’ve ever had. In our opinion, what made it so amazing was a Balsamic Tomato Chutney and knew that it would be one of the first things that we tried to recreate once we got home.

When we got home, we had several beautiful tomatoes ready for picking and knew it was a sign…to get busy in the kitchen.

I can’t even tell you how amazing this Tomato Chutney is. Balsamic infuses fresh tomatoes and onion mixed with fresh herbs. It’s as sweet and flavorful as if Mother Nature made it herself.

Once the Balsamic Tomato Chutney was made, making the most Amazing Shrimp BLT Sandwich recipe followed. You guys, this combination is a culinary work of art, I promise!

What is Chutney?

The India subcontinent is credited for chutney as a way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chutneys could either be dried or pickled and were rarely sweet. They were often used as a condiment like a jam which is what we’ve done with this easy tomato chutney recipe. According to The Virginia Chutney Company, they’re a savory jam.

What’s the difference between Jam and Chutney?

Jams are usually cooked down and preserved with sugar and pectin. Chutneys are chopped. They can contain a mixture of vinegar and sugar and a combination of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.

Commercial versions of chutneys can really blur the lines between Jams, Chutneys, Relish, and Pickling. Unfortunately, commercial versions often taste like vinegar and sugar. If you think you don’t like chutney, try this Tomato Chutney Easy Recipe!

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (5)

The best tomatoes for fresh tomato chutney are any fresh tomato you can get your hands on and the variety that you enjoy.

This Tomato Chutney recipe contains only 6 ingredients and is so much more healthy than commercial versions. It tastes so fresh and compliments anything you use it with.

Uses for Tomato Chutney

Condiment on an Amazing Shrimp BLT sandwich!
Topped over scrambled eggs
As a relish over grilled swordfish, or seafood.
Served as a Bruschetta
Piled on a hot dog or on top of a burger
Mixed into a fresh vegetable or pasta salad

You can freeze or can Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney so you can enjoy it when those beautiful tomatoes are gone for the season.

Items you may need to make Tomato Chutney:

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to mydisclosure pagefor more information about these affiliate programs.

4 oz Mason Jars – I love these little jars. They make a great jam size and the perfect size gift jar. They’re also perfect for organizing items like paper clips in my office.
Saute Pan – I prefer stainless steel pans. I love how this pan has a flat bottom so more food can sit on it directly. I also like the glass lids so I can see how it’s cooking.

Time Saving Tip: This recipe can easily be made in a food processor. Process each ingredient separately and combine them in a bowl to prevent over-chopping on any ingredient.

Other great tomato recipes!

Italian Tomato Mozzarella Salad Recipe
Tomato Sandwich with Avocado Pesto
Savory Tomato Galette
Cucumber & Tomato Salad with Yogurt Dressing

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney tastes like Mother Nature made it herself. It makes a delicious Bruschetta or a condiment over fish, chicken, burgers & brats.

4.86 from 14 votes

Equipment

Ingredients

4 cups tomatoes diced
1 yellow onion diced (2 cups)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

In a skillet over medium heat drizzle 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Add remaining ingredients. Keep at a low boil until liquid evaporates and balsamic thickens approximately 20-30 minutes.
Serve immediately or refrigerate once cooled in an airtight container.

Notes

Time Saving Tip: This recipe can easily be made in a food processor. Process each ingredient separately and combine them in a bowl to prevent over chopping on any ingredient.

This recipe can be canned or frozen in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 48kcalCarbohydrates: 6gFat: 1gSodium: 298mgPotassium: 214mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 11.2mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (7)

UPDATE: If you are in the Big Sur area, the road has been fixed! Unfortunately, they’ve changed their shrimp BLT recipe, so I guess our Tomato Chutney recipe is now the best!

Our most popular recipes

Pear Pie Filling
Swedish Apple Pie
Rhubarb Crisp with Strawberry Jello
Homemade Muffin Recipe
Fruit co*cktail Salad

What is the best dish you’ve ever had while traveling and where did you enjoy it? Please share in the comments below! You are my inspiration!

Easy Fresh Balsamic Tomato Chutney Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between chutney and relish? ›

So how does a relish differ? Generally, they are thinner in consistency with more “pickled and vinegary” flavours. They usually contain vegetables rather than fruit and only one variety whereas chutneys are mostly fruit and often a mixture of fruits. Perhaps you are more confused than ever!

Do you cook chutney with lid on or off? ›

It is essential that chutneys are allowed a long and slow cooking period in a pan that is not covered with a lid. This will allow your chutney to become rich and smooth.

Learn More ›

Why is my homemade chutney not thickening? ›

If the chutney seems too runny, cook it for another 5-10 minutes and test again. You may also like to give the chutney the odd stir as you cook it, to prevent the mixture at the edges of the pan from catching.

Learn More Now ›

How can I thicken my tomato chutney? ›

Add cornstarch: Mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Gradually add the mixture to the chutney while stirring. Cook for a few more minutes until the chutney thickens. Add ground nuts: Add some ground nuts like almonds or cashews to the chutney, which will help thicken it.

Why is my chutney so vinegary? ›

If you made a double quantity it may take longer for the acid in the vinegar to mellow, unless you used a particularly wide pan that would help the vinegar to evaporate more easily. So it is worth tasting the chutney before you transfer it to jars, to make sure that the mixture is not too acidic.

Why is my tomato chutney too runny? ›

Our answer. When you make chutney its consistency is determined by the evaporation of liquid as the chutney cooks. So if possible you should use a wide pan as this has a larger surface area which means that liquid will evaporate more quickly and should help to prevent the fruit in the chutney from becoming too soft.

Know More ›

Why is my tomato chutney bitter? ›

I find the seeds of fresh tomatoes to be the cause of the bitterness. Try to remove as many seeds as possible by squeezing tomatoes after blanching and peeling. Its hard to get them all but that is okay. Then a bit of cane sugar.

What if my tomato chutney is too runny? ›

Keep simmering it until it thickens up. My first ever batch was too runny but i found out later from a friend that you just have to keep it on the heat until it's reached the right consistancy rather than take it off when you reach the time stated in the recipe (it took over 2 hours longer than expected).

Get More Info Here ›

Which is sweeter relish or chutney? ›

Relish is a flavouring, usually sweet and sour, which consists of finely chopped vegetables or fruit, vinegar and sugar. Whereas chutney is more sweet and fruity, relish usually contains cucumber, courgette, tomato, rhubarb or onion, and the pieces of fruit or vegetables are somewhat coarser and crunchier.

Read The Full Story ›

Is pickle relish a chutney? ›

In European cuisine, chutneys tend to be jammier and involve fruit of some kind. Relishes, like Elendil mentions, are usually made from pickled vegetables.

Get More Info ›

What can I substitute for chutney? ›

You can substitute mango chutney with apricot preserves or jam. Some peach marmalade can also do the trick. And another option is that you can try to mix some lightly cooked cranberries with a hint of lemon juice.

Tell Me More ›

What is the difference between chutney and chow chow? ›

The one consistent difference seems to be that Chutneys have a spreadable consistency that is consistent to preserves, whereas Chow-Chow is chunky but, without the “spreadable” consistency.

Discover More Details ›