Tomato Ginger and Date Chutney

September 27, 2018 by Vaishali 37 Comments

Panch Phoran is a traditional Bengali blend of five spices, panch meaning five. If you have seen my recipe of Coriander chicken, you know that I am a fan of this spice mix. This Bengali mix is made up of five whole spices – fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, nigella seeds, and cumin seeds. Panch phoran adds a unique flavor that is unlike any other. This tomato ginger and date chutney also gets its unique flavor from panch phoran. I also added my all time favorite spice – coriander seeds, to the mix.

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One of my local friends served this chutney at a dinner she hosted and I have thought of recreating the magic ever since. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that my summer garden is in full gear now. In fall…uhmm, never mind! The weather has cooled down and my tomato plants are super happy. I have made several batches of this tomato chutney, regularly make this salad and also have several quart size bags of frozen tomatoes. Oh that reminds me – should I do a post on how I freeze tomatoes and then use the frozen tomatoes? Please let me know in the comments below.

So, as a way to use up some of the 24380498 pounds of various kinds of tomatoes from my garden, I made this tomato, ginger and date chutney one fine evening. On some nights, I post my dinner pictures on Instagram and Facebook. I was amazed at the love and attention that this humble tomato ginger and date chutney received. Since so many of you commented and sent emails and messages asking for the recipe, I am very happy to oblige.

Other than the exceptional flavor punch that this recipe packs, can we talk about the health quotient of tomato ginger and date chutney? All the spices in panch phoran are goodful.

Here is a simple breakdown:

Fenugreek – helps in balancing cholesterol, soothes hurting tummies, and eases menstrual pain.

Fennel – helps in digestion, is a blood purifier and reduces bloating

Mustard – rich in copper, magnesium, and iron; anti-oxidant properties and rich in fiber

Nigella – great for skin, controls blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraine

Cumin – aides in digestion, great source of iron and rich in anti-oxidants

Tomatoes, ginger and dates, in addition to these spices, come with a plethora of their own health benefits. Chutneys are enjoyed in small portions since the flavors are very concentrated. Serve it with parantha (like this) or enjoy it with daal (lentils like this and this) and roti (recipe here). This tomato ginger and date chutney is one of my favorite to slather on toast along with cream cheese.

Recipe run down

The trick to this tomato and date chutney is a cast iron pan. I use this one but you know if you have one of those “lohe ki kadahi” or pan, which has been in the family for generations – go for it. A nonstick pan (like this one) will work in a heartbeat but cast iron will be my recommendation. Start with dry roasting the spices and then coarsely grind them in a mortar and pestle (see notes). If you use cherry tomatoes (like I did), just toss them whole into the pan and let them pop and blister. If not, chop the tomatoes small and add chopped dates.

I used dried cranberries for added sweetness but raisins are equally good. Addition of brown sugar and dry mango powder add the sweet and sour notes. The amounts of these ingredients in the recipe are a guideline. I would encourage you to adjust the seasoning according to your taste preference.

Here is handy printable: