If you’re looking for a chutney with a difference, quince chutney is perfect!
Quinces might seem a bit plain and dry, but when cooked with spices and a few other select ingredients you’ll end up with a luscious thick chutney that tastes like a dream.
Why you’ll love this quince chutney recipe
- It’s easy to make, even for beginners
- The ingredients are easy to source and very inexpensive
- It will totally transform your cheese and biscuits snack
- It lasts forever!
Special equipment needed to make this recipe
Every chutney maker needs a few key kitchen items to hand.
- Large saucepan – chutneys taste better when cooked in a big, heavy bottomed saucepan
- Storage jars – mason jars are the best kind when it comes to storing hot chutney
- Sharp knife – your quince will need to be peeled and cored before it’s cooked. Make sure you’ve got a sharp, quality chef’s knife to do the job
- Chopping board – a non-slip chopping board is best
Special ingredients needed to make this recipe
This quince chutney recipe has only a few ingredients, each of which are easy to get hold of. Here are a few ingredients that you’ll need.
- Quinces – you’ll be able to get these at your local supermarket or green grocer’s
- Dates – as with quinces, you can get these at most supermarkets or grocery stores
- Fresh ginger – the wonderful warming taste of ginger adds another dimension to this quince chutney
- Apple cider vinegar – every chutney needs vinegar, as it helps to preserve it
- Star anise and other spices – the key to the wonderful aroma of this chutney is the spice element. Star anise will bring that star quality
How to make quince chutney
Step 1: Get all your ingredients together
Place all the fruit, vinegar, brown sugar and other ingredients into a large, heavy-bottomed cooking pot.
Step 2: Dissolve the sugar
Using a medium heat, stirring occasionally until all the sugar has dissolved then bring to the boil.
Step 3: Simmer away
Reduce heat to a simmer, then cook on a low heat, uncovered, for an hour or until the chutney has thickened.
Step 4: Get potting!
Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal.
Step 5: Label, store and mature
Label, once cooled. Enjoy!
What to pair with your chutney
Cheeseboard
Cheese and chutney is a marriage made in heaven! Serve this quince chutney with your favourite cheeses and crackers – good luck resisting!
Nuts or nut butter
Any chutney pairs really well with a handful of nuts – try almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews or macadamias.
You could also spread macadamia nut butter and chutney on your favourite crackers for an irresistible snack.
Curry
Spoon some of this subtle spiced chutney on the side of your favourite curry, alongside rice, for a sumptuous pairing.
Popular substitutions for this recipe
Make up your own divine combinations! Swap 50% of the quince in the recipe below with one of the following types of fruit.
- Apples
- Pears
- Raspberries
- Cranberries, fresh or frozen
Variations to this recipe
To take this recipe in a different direction, add any of the following ingredients:
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1 vanilla pod
- 2 red chillies
- 2g (1 tsp) coriander seeds
- 4 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 orange, juice and zest
- 5g (2 tsp) ground cinnamon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 garlic cloves
Alcohol that pairs well with quince
Probably the simplest and most enjoyable way to enjoy chutney is part of a cheeseboard.
If you pair your quince chutney with a cheeseboard, you might want to take a dream double to a triple with a nice little tipple of cognac!
Alternatively, you can actually make your chutney boozy! Simply pour in 125ml (½ cup) of cognac at the end of cooking time and bottle up your chutney as soon as possible.
What exactly is quince?
Quince is a pear-shaped fruit that has a greeny yellow colour – kind of like golden delicious apples.
Even when ripe, quinces aren’t usually eaten raw, as they tend to be too firm and tart. That’s why they’re best used in cooking recipes like chutney and jam. Quinces are in season between September to November.
Where can I buy quince?
You’ll be able to buy quince in all good supermarkets all year round, or in grocery stores between September and November.
How long do quinces stay fresh?
Quinces stay fresh longer than most other fruits. You can keep them at room temperature for up to two weeks.
How do I store quince chutney?
Keep your chutney in a sterilised airtight jar, store it in a cool dry place and it’ll stay fresh for over a year.
How long does it keep, once opened?
Once you’ve opened your chutney, refrigerate it. It’ll stay fresh for around 2 months.
More marvellous chutney recipes
Once you’ve made one, you won’t be able to stop! So, try these fantastic chutneys:
- Papaya chutney – like quinces, papayas are an underused fruit with plenty of flavour. It’s an excellent ingredient when used to make a chutney, which makes this recipe well worth making
- Mrs Ball’s chutney – a South African favourite, Mrs Ball’s chutney is a wonderful mild chutney that is the perfect mixture of sweet and savoury. Made of several fruits, mainly plum, it’s great with turkey, vegetables and especially cheese
- Orange chutney – a zesty chutney with plenty of charm
- Marrow chutney – a moreish vegetable chutney with a pleasant kick
Quince Chutney Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 2L / 8 cups, 30g (2 tbsp) per serving 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This easy and delicious homemade Quince Chutney is best served as part of a cheeseboard or with meat.
Ingredients
- 1kg (2.2lbs) quince, peel, cored, and chopped
- 2 onions, peeled and chopped
- 250g (1 cup) dates, chopped
- 750ml (3 cups) apple cider vinegar
- 200g (1 cup) brown sugar
- 5cm (2in) fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
- 2 star anise
- 4 (2 tsp) mixed spice
- 4g (1 tsp) red pepper flakes
- 6g (1 tsp) salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a large, heavy-bottomed pan.
- Stir over a medium heat until all the sugar has dissolved then bring to the boil.
- Lower the heat to a simmer, then cook, uncovered, for an hour or until the chutney has thickened.
- Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal.
- Label, once cooled. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute the dates with 250g (1½ cup) sultanas. Or, in this case, I double up on quantities but split the dates with sultanas.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Chutney
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: quince chutney recipe, quince recipe, spicy quince chutney
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