| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 40 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 250 | 0.3g | 0.1g | 63g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 50g | 2.8g | 1.4g | 0.2g |
As someone who’s spent the better part of his life in the cozy heartland of Nebraska, I have a close affinity with comfort food; those dishes that fill your belly and warm your soul on brisk autumn evenings or during a snowy winter night. However, the nature of my work as a recipe creator on ‘Your Gourmet Guru’ requires exploring beyond my staples. In doing so, I’ve discovered and created wonderful dishes that have broadened my understanding of deliciousness, creativity, and the power of fresh ingredients. Among them, my Star Fruit Chutney stands out as a recipe I’m particularly fond of, and I’d love to share why.
A Balance of Flavor and Freshness
For those unfamiliar, star fruit, or carambola as it’s sometimes known, is a wonderful marvel of tropical produce. With a refreshing tartness akin to a hybrid between apples and citrus fruit, star fruit is not only delicious but also full of life-giving nutrients like Vitamin C and dietary fiber (source). And when tossed together with spices, vinegar, onion, garlic, and a dash of sugar, it transforms into a chutney that is sweet, tangy, and absolutely delightful.
The Comfort of Cooking and Health
Preparing Star Fruit Chutney has a therapeutic aspect to it. The simple act of chopping the succulent fruit – each slice taking the shape of a star, feels satisfying on its own. Then, when all the ingredients come together, it turns into an aromatic merge that’s a comfort to the senses. Plus, it offers quite a few health benefits. Star fruit is known to be packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties (source).
Familiarity in Novelty
The Star Fruit Chutney, with its exciting mixture of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, is reminiscent of good old apple or cranberry chutney, yet offers a unique twist to the usual mix. It is also a versatile companion to numerous dishes. It pairs perfectly well with crackers on a cheese board, with a perfectly cooked roast chicken for dinner, or even as a glaze for the traditional meatloaf if you’re feeling adventurous. So, in a way, it brings together the novelty of exotic fruits and traditional Midwestern taste with beautiful harmony.
I love this Star Fruit Chutney for its unexpectedly perfect blend of flavors, its nod to health without compromising taste, and its ability to be paired with comfort dishes from the heartland and beyond. If you like experimenting with new recipes and flavors, you might fall in love with it too.
What You’ll Need
- 3 medium-sized star fruits
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 red chili pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- A pinch of ground black pepper
Method
Step One
Wash the star fruits thoroughly and chop them, removing any seeds. Leave the peel on as it adds to the taste and texture of the chutney.
Step Two
Take a large saucepan and combine the chopped star fruit, white sugar, and white vinegar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Step Three
Add the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and finely chopped red chili pepper to the saucepan. Stir well to mix all the ingredients.
Step Four
Add in the ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, salt, and a pinch of black pepper to the saucepan. Mix well until all the spices are evenly distributed.
Step Five
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent any sticking.
Step Six
Keep simmering the chutney until it thickens and takes on a glossy look. This might take around 15-20 minutes.
Step Seven
After the chutney has thickened to your preference, remove the saucepan from the heat. Allow the chutney to cool down completely.
Step Eight
Once cooled, transfer the star fruit chutney to a clean jar or container. Always use a clean spoon when you dig into the chutney.
Notes
The star fruit chutney keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a month.
