In the autumn there are always loads of apples around. This is a great recipe for children as there is lots of chopping (little hands are perfect for chopping dates and sultanas) and grating…though it’s not much fun grating an onion! Instead of cooking, chutney needs time to mature before you eat it, so if you make it in September or October think about saving if for Christmas time. It’s worth the wait!
Ingredients
Per pair of children
1 large cooking apple (around 200g)
2 small or 1 large onion (around 200g)
150g dates
50g sultanas
200g soft brown sugar
260ml malt vinegar
01Peel, core and then grate the apples. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to the grated apple will prevent it turning brown
02Grate the onions (have a spoon ready to suck so there are no tears!)
03Very finely chop the dates and cut the sultanas in half
04Put the fruit and onions in a large ceramic bowl, add the sugar and vinegar and stir well
05Cover with a cloth and leave in a cool place for 3 days. Stir every day
06Sterilise the prewashed jars by putting them upside down in the oven and turning the heat on to 250F/120C/gas mark 1. When the oven is up to temperature, turn if off and leave the jars inside to cool gradually. Sterilise the lid by boiling for 5 minutes in a saucepan of water. You need rubber lined lids for chutney as vinegar will make metal lids rust.
07After 3 days, pour the chutney into jars and leave to mature for 2-3 months
