Ingredients
18 ripe peaches
2 fresh red chillies
3 red onions
1 large thumb-sized piece of ginger
1 bunch of fresh basil
1½ teaspoons cumin seeds
3 cloves
olive oil
250ml cider vinegar
5 fresh bay leaves
300g light brown sugar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Sweet barbecued peaches and a load of lovely warm spices – this is a great chutney recipe
- 1. Preheat a barbecue or griddle pan until screaming hot. Meanwhile, halve and de-stone the peaches, then grill, cut-side up, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the skin is charred and the fruit is starting to soften – you may need to work in batches. Carefully lift off the grill and place skin-side up on a tray to cool. Once cool enough to handle, pinch off and discard the skins.
- 2. Prick the chillies with the tip of a knife and grill on all sides until blackened and blistered all over. Place in a mixing bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave to cool. Next, peel and finely chop the onion and ginger, then pick the basil leaves and finely chop the stalks. Place a large pan on a medium heat and add the cumin and cloves. Toast lightly for a few minutes, or until smelling fantastic, then tip into a pestle and mortar and bash to a powder. Place the pan back on the heat and add a splash of olive oil. Add the onion, ginger and basil stalks to a pan, cover with a lid and cook gently for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft, sweet and sticky.
- 3. Meanwhile, carefully skin, deseed and finely chop the chillies (then wash your hands). Roughly chop the peaches and add to the pan along with the chillies, vinegar, bay, sugar, spices and a few tablespoons of water. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for around 40 minutes, or until thick and jammy. Tear the basil leaves into the pan and stir together.
- 4. Remove from the heat and leave to cool, removing the bay leaves before serving.
- Jamie's Tip: If you’re saving your chutney or giving it as a gift, you’ll need to sterilise the jar first. Preheat the oven to 110°C/225°F/gas ¼. Wash the jars in warm, clean, soapy water and pop upside-down on a clean baking tray. Place in the oven for 10 minutes, then use a clean cloth to take them out before filling them with the chutney and sealing them up.
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