Chaat essential · Keeps weeks
Imli Chutney Recipe (Sweet Tamarind Chutney)
Soak and strain. Jaggery and dates. Simmer to coat.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenImli chutney is the sweet and sour sauce that ties together every chaat, samosa and pakora. It turns thin and harsh, or too sweet. The fix is soaking and straining the tamarind, simmering it with jaggery and dates for body, roasted cumin and dry ginger for warmth, and reducing until it coats a spoon.
The 3 laws of imli chutney
Why this recipe works
Pulp with seeds
Smooth chutney.
Sugar only
Body and depth.
Thin
Clings to chaat.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Chutney
The NineFoods chutney gauge
Is it thick enough?
Coat a spoon.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Soak
- Soak tamarind and dates in hot water; mash and strain.
Simmer
- Simmer pulp with jaggery and spices. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not reduced.
Fix next time
Simmer longer.
Why
No sweetness.
Fix next time
Balance with jaggery.
Why
Not strained.
Fix next time
Strain well.
Why
Wet spoon.
Fix next time
Use clean, dry spoons.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Tamarind | Base | Tamarind concentrate, less |
| Jaggery | Sweetness | Brown sugar |
| Dates | Body | Leave out |
| Black salt | Tang | Regular salt |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Samosa, pakoray, chaat and dahi bhallay.
Store
Fridge 1 month; freeze cubes.
Reheat
Serve cold.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 16 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it thick enough) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Imli Chutney FAQ
What is imli chutney?
A sweet and sour tamarind chutney.
How long does it keep?
About a month in the fridge.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, in ice cube trays.
Why add dates?
They add body and natural sweetness.