DRIED FRUIT CHUTNEY – SWEET AND HOT
250 g dried apricots
250 g dates, pitted
250 g dried figs
50 g citrus peel
150 g raisins
125 ml apple juice
400 ml vinegar
375 ml yellow sugar
finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
5 ml mixed spice
5 ml ground coriander
2,5 ml cayenne pepper
5 ml salt
Roughly chop the dried apricots, dates, figs and citrus peel, then put all the dried fruit into a preserving pan. Pour over the apple juice, stir, then cover and leave to soak for 2 hours or until the fruit has absorbed most if the juice.
Add the vinegar and sugar to pan, stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved.
Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the chutney fairly thick, stir occasionally during cooking.
Stir in the lemon rind and juice, mixed spice, coriander, cayenne pepper and salt.
Simmer for a further 15 minutes, stirring frequently towards the end, if cooking until the chutney is thick and no excess liquid remains.
Spoon the chutney into warm prepared jars, cover and seal.
Store in a cool dark place and allow to mature for at least 1 month before eating.
Use within 1 year once open store in refrigerator and use within 2 months.
Makes ±1 liter chutney.
