For a very brief period of time, every summer, my kitchen takes on a cherrypalooza type of vibe!! My crisper drawer literally overflows and I set out to bake up, preserve, and devour as many Stemilt dark-sweet cherries as I can before the season is up. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that has been getting a lot of use in my kitchen this year, easy cherry ginger chutney. It’s one of my favorite ways to infuse the flavor of cherries into savory dinners from the grill and epic cheese boards all summer long!
{{ The recipe and post for this Easy Cherry Ginger Chutney was made in partnership with Stemilt. We received product and compensation in exchange for it. Opinions are always our own. If we don’t love it, you don’t hear about it. Thanks for your continued support! }}
What exactly is chutney?
If you were to set out on a journey to trace chutney back to its roots you would find yourself feasting on fresh relishes made with exotic fruit and spices in India. However, if you were to travel to a part of the world where exotic fruits like mangoes and tamarind aren’t readily available you will find a totally different, cooked down interpretation of chutney. This version combines fresh and dried fruit with savory components like onions, spices, and sometimes even vinegar.
This particular version of chutney combines fresh Stemilt dark-sweet cherries, dried Bing cherries, dried hibiscus flowers (not to be confused with hibiscus tea!), lime juice, fresh ginger, and whole spices. A quick 20-minute cook on the stove is all these ingredients need to result in a scrumptious sweet meets sour flavor punch that will knock your family’s socks right off!
You may be asking yourself, “Now that I’ve made chutney, how the heck do I use it?! ”
Well, friend, there are all sorts of ways you can use this easy cherry ginger chutney! One of our favorite ways to serve it is over lean roasted or grilled meats like chicken or the pork tenderloin in the pictures above. But, it is great on cheese boards, it makes for an excellent ketchup substitute for dishes like spicy bratwurst, and it really shines when its added to a grilled cheese sandwich. All you need to know going in is that the flavors in this chutney are complex and potent so a little goes a long way. Start by adding small amounts to a dish and tasting before adding more.
Currently crushing on cherries? Me too! Here’s a couple other ways that I’m indulging. Feel free to leave a link to your favorite cherry recipes in the comments below!
Cherry Oat Bars || Say hello to my favorite indulgent cherry treat!! These bars are rich and decadent with a crisp, buttery crumb that we just cannot get enough of around here.
Cherry Basil Tabbouleh|| This summer salad is packed with unexpected ingredients that have superfood status like quinoa, basil, and Stemilt’s succulent dark sweet cherries!
