10+ Fingerlicking Indian chutney recipes

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These authentic and tantalizing Indian chutney recipes are just what you need to elevate your meals. Check out this collection of 10+ popular chutney recipes that are perfect with Indian breakfast, snacks, and main course too!

A collage of 7 images with caption 10+ Fingerlicking Indian Chutneys
Mouthwatering Chutney Recipes

Chutneys are an integral part of Indian cuisine. From breakfast to snacks, Indians love incorporating chutney into every meal for good reasons – they tickle your taste buds and instantly amp up the taste of any dish that it is served with.

What is a chutney?

Chutney is a paste made by blending fresh ingredients like herbs, fruits, and/or vegetables along with seasonings. Depending on the recipe, ingredients like green chilies, jaggery or sugar, lime or lemon juice, tamarind, tomatoes, etc., are also added to build in flavor.

The Indian subcontinent is known for its countless varieties of chutneys available, and it is hard to categorize Indian chutneys into one taste or texture. This is because they can be made –

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  • Thick like a spread (coconut chutney), flowy like a dipping sauce (tamarind date chutney), or as a dry, coarse powder (dry garlic chutney).
  • With cooked or raw ingredients
  • Tempered or not (some chutneys are finished with a tempering consisting of oil, spices like mustard seeds, and red chilies along with curry leaves).
  • Spicy, if using green/red chilies, sweet by using jaggery or sugar, and tangy by using souring agents like lime juice, tamarind, tomatoes, etc.

Here’s the thing, though, when it comes to making chutneys, there are no hard and fast rules. Provided you balance the flavors, you can make a chutney out of anything – even vegetable peels.

Fun fact: The word chutney comes from the Sanskrit word ‘chatni’, which literally means to lick. The word was anglicized to the present form of chutney.

Tools needed

To make chutneys, you’ll need a blender, or if you want to make it the old-school way, a mortar, and pestle will work too.

Chutney recipes

Here are some of the most popular and easy chutney recipes that are a delicious accompaniment to Indian meals.

Coriander mint chutney

Coriander chutney or cilantro mint chutney has coriander leaves, mint leaves, and green chili as the main ingredients. It is a green, tangy, spicy dip that is often served as an accompaniment with samosas or papadums in Indian restaurants.

This green or hari chutney, as it is called in Hindi, makes a dynamic duo with the sweet tamarind chutney.

Coriander / Cilantro mint chutney is a delicious green sauce dip that most Indian snacks can't do without. This Indian green chutney made from cilantro and mint comes together in less than 10 minutes!

Coriander / Cilantro chutney

This is another version of the popular green chutney but without the mint leaves. This cilantro/coriander chutney goes well with Indian snacks, and we love using it as a spread in vegetable sandwiches too.

Tamarind date chutney

This tangy and sweet chutney made from tamarind paste and dates is one of the basic Indian chutneys that you’ll spot in Indian restaurants worldwide. It has a tantalizing taste, and that’s why it is drizzled over everything from street food to appetizers.

Here is a super easy, quick yet delicious tamarind date chutney recipe to make this mouthwatering dip at home using your Instant Pot.

Dahi chutney

Dahi ki chutney is a popular chutney served with tandoori, fried or grilled recipes like tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, onion pakora, samosa, etc.

Dahi Chutney (Yogurt Mint Dip, Dahi Ki Chutney, Curd Pudina Dhaniya Chatni) is a spicy green Indian condiment that goes very well with any snack or appetizer.

Coconut chutney

Most South Indian breakfasts and snacks can’t do without coconut chutney – a spread with freshly grated coconut and finished with a tempering of coconut oil with mustard seeds, red chilies, and curry leaves.

Learn how to make coconut chutney – a coconut based dip that we all love to dunk our idli and dosas in and is a must-have accompaniment for most South Indian breakfast and snacks.

Red chili coconut chutney

This red chili coconut chutney, with its spicy, sweet, and tangy taste, will awaken your senses. Pair it with idlis or dosas for a wholesome breakfast.

This red chili coconut chutney with its spicy, sweet and tangy taste will awaken your senses. Pair it with idlis or dosas for a wholesome breakfast.

Cilantro coconut chutney

Cilantro coconut chutney is a delightful twist to regular coconut chutney. Serve this South Indian chutney with idli, dosas, or any teatime snack.

Cilantro Coconut Chutney makes a great side with idli, dosa and vada. This chutney is easy to make at home with minimal ingredients.

Tomato chutney

This South Indian-style tomato chutney recipe is the perfect accompaniment to idli, dosa & vadas! It’s easy to make with basic kitchen ingredients!

Easy and simple South Indian Tomato Chutney is the perfect accompaniment to idli, dosa, and vadas! It’s a little sweet, tangy, and a tad spicy, and it makes a great side!

Tomato and date chutney

Tomato Khejur Chutney (Tomato and Date Chutney) is a traditional Bengali sweet and sour chutney made with tomatoes, soft dates, and spices. It is a popular condiment in Bengali cuisine and goes well with rice, roti, or even dal.

Tomato Khejur Chutney (Tomato and Date Chutney) is a quintessential Bengali condiment that is prepared in all Bengali homes for special occasions, festivals, or everyday meals.

Peanut chutney recipe

What you’ll love about this palli chutney recipe is that it doesn’t need a ton of ingredients and comes together in about 10 minutes. Since this chutney doesn’t have grated coconut, it can last in the refrigerator for about seven days without going bad or losing flavor. 

If you love peanuts, this Andhra style peanut chutney is for you. Creamy and finger-licking good, this groundnut chutney is a perfect accompaniment to piping hot idlis, vadas or dosas. 

Green mango chutney

This green mango chutney recipe made from raw mangoes is a perfect spicy and tangy Indian accompaniment for your everyday summer meals.

Green Mango Chutney (Raw Mango Chutney) is a spicy and tangy Indian accompaniment made using tangy green mangoes and a few other ingredients. Serve it with an Indian snack or meals for a tangy treat.

Garlic chutney

Made with four basic ingredients – garlic, dry grated coconut, chilies, and salt, this spicy and tangy dry chutney is what makes the popular Mumbai street food dish Vada Pav so appetizing.

This zesty garlic chutney is what makes vada pav so tantalizingly good. This chutney has a long shelf life and you'll find that it is a great way to add zing to your meals.

Dry fish chutney

If you haven’t heard of dried fish (nungel meen) chutney before, it is a tangy and spicy chutney, made from dried fish, usually shrimp, mackerel, anchovies, or shark fish. Pair this meen chutney with yogurt rice (dahi rice) or ganji dish, and it will instantly add that extra bit of flavor to your meal, making it an absolute lip smacker.

If you have loved fish cuisine in all its different forms, this easy-to-prepare tangy dry fish chutney will be a welcome addition to your staple diet. Fish (or meen as they call in Tulu) chutney paired with the nutritious Ganji (brown rice porridge or gruel) is comfort food at its best.

What do you serve chutney with

Chutney is a versatile condiment. Here are some of the ways you can serve them

How to store chutneys

Chutneys are best consumed fresh. Refrigerate any leftover chutney and consume within 2-3 days. You can also freeze chutneys for up to a month.

Indian chutney vs. relish – are they the same?

To answer this question, let me share the subtle differences between chutney and relish –

  • Cooked vs. uncooked – Relish is made from fruits or veggies that are always cooked, whereas chutneys can be made from uncooked as well as cooked ingredients.
  • Preserving in vinegar – Indian chutneys are meant to be consumed fresh (usually in a day or two), whereas relishes are cooked in vinegar, so they last for months. Note: Anything that has vinegar in it and is meant to be preserved for a long time, we Indians usually label it as pickle rather than chutney.
  • Texture – Relish is usually made from fruits or veggies that have been grated or chopped. It has a bit of texture to it. Most chutneys are ground to a fine paste and resemble a spread or a sauce, except if it is a dry chutney.

To summarize, relish is always a cooked and preserved condiment, whereas chutneys typically are not but with a few exceptions.

Other recipe collections to check out

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  • 30+ Authentic Indian curry recipes – Learn all you need to know about Indian curries and get some easy and authentic recipes that’ll get you cooking in no time. You’ll love this collection that includes 30+ traditional recipes from all over India.
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  • 35+ Best Indian breakfast recipes – Running out of ideas on what to make for breakfast? Here’s a list of easy Indian breakfast recipes for your inspiration so that you are never bored eating the same things over and over. 

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