Cantaloupe chutney recipes? 'Lope is a low-acid fruit & I have a water bath canner
I have tons of cantaloupe this year. After sharing a half-ton, I've pickled some & frozen more. But I love chutneys & think cantaloupe would be a natural combined with jalapenos etc. Can't find a recipe in the Ball Blue Book or my other canning books. My Extension service can't help me, nor the Facebook canning sites. I have a Water Bath canner. I was thrilled to find that you have a canning section with canning experts. Does anyone have a safe, reliable recipe? And for the record, how do the Ball or USDA folks etc. develop safe recipes. Can we home canners develop one & submit it for "testing" or something? Thanks for your help.
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4 Comments
Hopefully Eugenia Bone will weigh in on this question. She is the expert on preserving for this site.
Cantaloupe Chutney
Makes 2 pints
1 c cider vinegar
1 c honey
1 c sugar
4 tsp pomegranate molasses or tamarind paste (optional)
1 T fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1/2 lime, seeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small hot pepper, seeded and minced
1 tsp whole cloves?1 tsp whole cardamom pods
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 c dried cherries (currants or raisins also work well)
4 to 5 c cantaloupe, cubed
In large nonreactive pot, bring all ingredients except the cantaloupe to a boil. Add the cantaloupe and simmer for 1 hour, until mixture has thickened. Pour into hot, sterilized jars, cover with heated lids and rings, and set aside to seal. (You might also run the jars through a hot water bath for 10-15 minutes to be on the ultra-safe side, but with the vinegar, I doubt you’ll need it unless you want to keep the jars in long-term pantry storage.)