MIXED FRUIT CHUTNEY

Is it a family recipe? Nah.... but it has a supremely nostalgic Kolkata connection. Both resident and non-resident Kolkatans with a sweet tooth loved this mixed fruit chutney in the Kolkata 'Anushthan Baris'..... it was or may be still a part of the large occasion menu plan there. This food-o-phobic fat old lady loves it ever since she was a little girl. For a food maniac like me, the major attraction of any ceremonial functions was the menu card. Back then, in any gathering, the courtesy was to keep some leftovers on your plate before getting up. This little girl never did understand why we need to be formal... that too when it comes to food. I am that kind who licks her finger till it's squeaky clean. After marriage, girls are supposed to be shy about eating.... at least for few months. Nothing as such happened with me, I ate everything served and continued with my usual habit of swiping the plate with my fingers and licking it. Sounds primitive right?.... haha.. I am that till date but I always have a good thing in offer.... accept me as I am if you can.... else leave. 

My not so much of a friend mom-in-law had always been good to me when it came to food, not leaving any chance for me to accuse her of discrimination. They are coming in few days, I do not know what to cook for them as they have turned themselves into self-imposed 'vegetables' and survive on 'patla macher jhol'. That pisses me off... I say eat everything and go out for regular walks... stop sitting on the couch 24/7 and complain about indigestion. You will see me feeding them biryani with dum aloo, they will still be fine... you know why? They will be with their son and grandson... their two heartthrobs. They off course love their daughter equally!

There was only one occasion when I did not wish to eat at all, may be some occasions you attend only to shower some love where food feature at the last or does not at all. Then someone said.... S.... eat to your heart's content... Oh yes... I will.... all for your happiness..... always. Before I feed you with another fake story overloaded with melodrama, I should concentrate on the recipe. I do not know why the Bollywood producers did not assign me as a script writer, I would have done justice. 

Coming back to the  track, last week I had quite a few number of fruits at home and a bowl full of left over sugar syrup from the roshogollas I made. I had guests to attend, perfectly the right time to prepare some mixed fruit chutney to end the meal on a sweeter note. Chutney is a condiment, Bengalis usually serve it at the end of a meal that starts with either a shaak [stir fry spinach?] or shukto [mixed vegetable curry cooked in milk with less spices]. Different kind of chutneys are my weakness and the diabetic self still do have them. The best I could do to myself is to stop doing it regularly, I do them when guests are due. Come let us do this superbly delicious Mixed Fruit Chutney with some assorted fruits like pineapple, green grapes, pomegranate, apple in less than half an hour. There was a time the son could not be fed rice meals without a chutney, now he stopped, he has to follow his father in every matter!

INGREDIENTS :[for the chutney]

Grape : 10-12
Pineapple : 1medium cup [chopped]
Apple : 1small cup [chopped]
Pomegranate kernel : 1/2 small cup
Sugar : 1 small cup
Water : 1-11/2 big cup
Lemon Juice : 2 tbsp
Salt : 2-3pinches

INGREDIENTS : [ for the dry roasted ground spices]

Cumin Seed : 1tsp
Coriander Seed : 1tsp
Dry Red Chilli : 2-3


METHOD :

Cut half the grapes, peel and chop the pineapple. Chop the apple without peeling the skin, we know how good it is for our body. Get the pomegranate kernels discarding the skin.

Take all the fruits in a bowl and wash. Drain all excess water.

In a heavy bottomed vessel, take the sugar and water. Bring to boil and let boil for about 4-5 minutes. Add the lemon juice, give a stir. We can see dirt forming atop, discard them using the ladle. 

When the sugar syrup gets stickier, add the assorted fruits and the salt, give a stir. Let cook at low heat for a minute, switch off. Transfer to a bowl, let cook.

Dry roast all the spices together.... cumin seeds, coriander seeds and dry red chillies for about 1-2 minutes at low heat. Once cool, grind into a coarse powder, spread over the chutney, gently fold in.

Enjoy it chilled or at normal temperature as you wish. Please take note that the caterer's fruit chutneys are stickier but I prefer to keep it lighter. You should follow your wish.