Caramelized Red Onion Chutney Recipe

In the past, I have always bought chutneys from the shop as I thought they were probably a time-consuming thing to make. I had never even looked up a recipe for a chutney to give it a try. However, I have now found out just how easy it is to make caramelized red onion chutney, which is one of my favourite chutneys of all.

I was making several varieties of tartlets the other day, including cheese and tomato tartlets, cheese and onion tartlets, and cheese, tomato, and caramelized onion tartlets. For two of these recipes, I needed some chutney and I realised I had run out. So, I turned to Google.

Although I found a recipe online easily, I adapted it to suit my tastes as that chutney recipe was a little tart for my liking. I prefer a sweeter onion chutney.

You may notice above that I have used a credited stock photo. I took photographs while making the chutney (see below), and forgot to take some of the finished product! I was in the middle of making tartlets and used up all the chutney before I remembered.

Here is a recipe for my own version of caramelized red onion chutney.

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Servings: N/A
Vegetarian/ vegan: YES
Dairy-free: YES
Gluten-free: YES

Ingredients for Caramelized Red Onion Chutney

• 3 medium red onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp. demerara or light brown sugar
• 5 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. oil

How to Make Caramelized Red Onion Chutney

1. Thinly slice your red onions.
2. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the onions to the pan and sautee for a few minutes until they have begun to soften.
4. Add 2 tbsp of the water to the pan to prevent the onions from sticking and cook for a further few minutes.
5. Next, add the balsamic vinegar and sugar to the pan and stir.
6. Cook for 5 minutes so that the ingredients begin to caramelize, and then add the remaining 3 tbsp of water.
7. Continue to stir the chutney while cooking until there is no water and the chutney has become a thick, sticky mixture.
8. Your caramelized red onion chutney is now ready to use or store in jars.
9. If storing for a later date, leave the chutney to cool before transferring to glass jars.

Using Your Chutney

There are many ways that you can use your caramelized red onion chutney, as it is a fantastic ingredient. Some ideas include:

• As a dip or accompaniment, such as with our chicken liver and brandy pate
• In cheese and caramelized onion tartlet (see above)
• On paninis, sandwiches, and toasties
• Add some to curry if you have overspiced it as the chutney will give some sweetness and tone down the spice.

Additional Tips

• Add more or less balsamic vinegar and sugar to suit your tastes.
• Add a chopped chilli to create a spicier chutney.
• Try adding some sultanas for a fruity red onion chutney.
• You can use white onions if you prefer. the chutney will have a different flavour and lighter colour.