Mint chutney is a staple of East Indian cuisine due to its digestive properties. The recipe involves blending mint, coriander, red pepper, and lemon juice. Mint chutney can be used with a variety of foods and can be modified to create different variations. Other types of chutneys are also available.
Mint chutney is a classic East Indian dish that can be made fresh or can be made ahead and refrigerated. It is a staple of East Indian cuisine due to the digestive properties of mint. There are many variations on the recipe, but the most basic ingredients are mint, coriander and lemon juice. This tangy chutney can be used with many types of dishes, adding a unique and complex flavour.
The recipe for mint chutney often involves adding mint, coriander, red pepper and lemon juice to a blender and blending until it becomes a smooth liquid. In Indian cooking, tamarind paste or vinegar might be substituted for lemon juice. One of the key elements in creating mint chutney is having fresh ingredients and a balance between the sweet, salty and sour elements.
Mint is most often associated with pork, but mint chutney can be used with a variety of foods. In addition to integrating pork, it can be used as a condiment for other meats, such as chicken or veal. It can also add a spicy element to vegetarian meals like tari aloo or palak paneer. The mint chutney itself is sometimes served alone with fried and baked Indian breads such as paratha and nan.
The herb mint in the chutney is a well-known digestif. Many Indian dishes often end with some type of digestif, including the popular filled leaves known as paan. Mint contains chemicals that act as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agents, also called analgesics. While the effects are mild compared to over-the-counter drugs, they still have some advantages.
The basic recipe for mint chutney can easily be modified to create a huge range of variations that can be used for almost any situation. The same basic recipe can be toned down with less mint so it can be used on white fish. It can be enriched with hotter peppers for use on beef. More lemon juice or vinegar can be added to create a marinade for meats. It can also add spices, such as ground coriander or cumin, and then fry briefly to make a sauce for heavier cooking.
There are many types of chutneys available, not just mint. Even chutneys can use fruits like mango and pear. There are herbal chutneys made with ingredients like coriander. The list of possible chutneys is as diverse as Indian cuisine itself.
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