Why it works: Nutmeg and cinnamon match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 11,917 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Green Tomato Chutney
Ingredients
Directions
Cook the chutney
Place the chopped vegetables in a large pot.
Add the sugar, vinegar, salt, and spices; stir well.
Heat the mixture, stirring, until the sugar has just about melted, then bring to a boil.
Stir well, reduce heat slightly, and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture is thick (about an hour). Add the chili pepper toward the end of cooking.
If the chutney does not thicken as it should, drain off the extra liquid.
Store
Cool, then refrigerate; the chutney will thicken as it cools and can be frozen.
Pour the mixture into hot, sterilised bottles and seal them.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 10 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Cloves | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Nutmeg + cinnamontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together11,917 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Cinnamon + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,189 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Nutmeg + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together8,686 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Clove + peppertop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together17,451 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
-
Nutmeg + peppertop 7% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together13,015 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Green tomatoes or tomatillos
- Provide the bulk of the chutney and its tart, fruity base.
- Onions
- Add body and savoury sweetness as they soften during simmering.
- Sugar
- Sweetens the chutney and helps it thicken as the mixture reduces.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Adds acidity that balances the sweetness and helps preserve the chutney.
The step that matters
Simmering until thick. Simmering uncovered drives off water and concentrates the sugar and pectin in the tomatoes, so the chutney sets as it cools. Stopping too early leaves it runny, and draining liquid only helps if it is needed.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tomato, apple cider vinegar, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, pepper):
- Capsicumfits better
- Carrotfits better
- Sweet potatofits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tomato, apple cider vinegar, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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