TAMARIND DATE CHUTNEY

     Tamarind Date Chutney is an extraordinarily tasty combination and a must-have Chutney for Chaat items like Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Papdi Chaat, Sev Puri etc.,  It is also served as a dipping sauce for Aloo Tikki, Samosa, Pakoras, Batata Dahi Vada. This Chutney imparts a sweetness to the Chaat items it is added into.
     Chutneys make Chaat items extravagant by adding flavour and taste unique to itself.  Tamarind date Chutney imparts a tanginess and sweetness along with a note of spiciness.  This sweet Chutney is prepared with Deseeded Dates, Tamarind and Jaggery(Cane Sugar).  Another version of the same chutney called Saunth Chutney is prepared just with Tamarind and Jaggery(Cane Sugar), dates are not added to this chutney.

Cuisine : North Indian
Recipe Type : Chutney, Dipping Sauce
Spice Level : Low
Difficulty : Easy
Author : SM

Preparation Time - 5-10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 15 -20 Minutes

INGREDIENTS :

Dates - 1/2 Cup
Tamarind Paste - 1/4 Cup
Jaggery(Cane Sugar) - 1/2 Cup
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Chaat Masala - 1/2 Tspn
Dry Ginger Powder - 1/4 Tspn
Black Salt - 1/4 Tspn
Salt - To Taste.

METHOD :

• Melt the Jaggery(Cane Sugar) with 1/2 Cup of Water and strain for any impurities.  Keep it aside.
• Deseed the Dates and grind it into a fine paste.  If necessary add few teaspoons of water while grinding.
• Mix ground Dates and Tamarind paste along with melted Jaggery(Cane Sugar).
• Add Red Chilli Powder, Chaat Masala, Dry-Ginger Powder, Black Salt and Salt to the above and mix well.
• Pour this into a deep Saucepan and bring it to boil.
• Reduce the flame and cook for another 5-7 minutes on a low flame.
• Switch off the flame while the Tamarind Date Chutney is slightly thin.
• This chutney tends to become thicker when cooled down.
• Adjust the amount of water to make the chutney to suit your consistency.

NOTES:

• If you do not have Dates, make the same Chutney with other ingredients.  Increase the amount of Jaggery to this  Chuntey.  Sweet Chutney prepared without Dates is called Saunth Chutney.
• Adjust the sweetness by increasing/decreasing the number of Dates and amount of Jaggery(Cane Sugar) to the Tamarind Dates Chutney.
• Can serve this Tamarind Dates Chutney with Bhel Puri, Pani Puri, Sev Puri, Papri Chaat, Dahi Puri, Aloo Tikki, Batata Vada, Vada Pav, Batata Dahi Vada Samosa, Pakora, Vegetable Cutlet etc.,