• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Game Day Recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Game Day Recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Game Day Recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

    Christmas Chutney

    Published: Dec 17, 2018 · Modified: Dec 6, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 49 Comments

    558 shares
    • 130
    • 26
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Low Carb / Low Fat / Vegetarian
    Christmas Chutney with a text title overlay.

    We have combined some of our favourite festive flavours into this lower sugar Christmas Chutney, along with some hidden vegetables too. The perfect chutney to go with a Christmas cheeseboard. Ginger, cinnamon and a hint of chilli add tonnes of flavour to this tomato based chutney, to give it a festive twist.

    A jar of chutney next to two crackers with cheese and a nutcracker figure.

    Some kind of chutney is a must at Christmas. Once that jar gets opened, you can have it on a leftovers sandwich, stirred in to Greek yogurt to make a dip, use it as a salad dressing, put it in a burger, or have it with your cheeseboard. The options are almost endless.

    There are so many different chutneys out there, but this festive Christmas chutney is a firm favourite in our house. We have used cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger to give it a festive flavour, but also added a little bit of chilli so there is a kick of spice in there too. We have used cranberries to bulk it out, add a vitamin boost and some more colour.

    Looking for some other homemade sauce recipes to try? Why not try our Fruit Dip, Marie Rose Sauce (Perfect with a festive prawn cocktail), Cheddar Cheese Sauce, Easy Pizza Sauce or Healthy Teriyaki Sauce?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Christmas Chutney - Step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve Christmas Chutney with
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Extra tips
    • More Christmas recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Easy - Homemade chutney is much easier to make than you might think. You just leave everything to cook in a pan.
    • Livens up a cheese board - Add loads of flavour to a festive cheese board with this vibrant Christmas chutney.
    • A must on any boxing day buffet table - Not just for a cheeseboard, put it out with all the leftovers on boxing day, as it is epic in a sandwich.
    • It has hidden vegetables - We added some aubergine and bell pepper for some hidden vegetables and they add a lovely chunky texture to the chutney.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • Tomatoes - Use a good quality can of tomatoes, as the cheaper ones tend to be really watery and you want a thick chutney. We recommend Mutti Tomatoes.
    • Aubergine (eggplant) - This adds a nice chunkiness to the Christmas chutney. You could swap it for courgette (zucchini) if you prefer.
    • Onion - We used a small brown onion, but you could swap it for shallots which would be sweeter.
    • Red bell pepper - Any colour bell pepper works, but red peppers are sweeter.
    • Garlic - Freshly crushed garlic is best, but you could use a jar of crushed garlic to save time.
    • Cranberries - This is what gives it a real Christmas feel. You can use frozen cranberries if that it all you have.
    • Honey - This is how we sweetened the Christmas chutney. You can use maple syrup if you want to keep it vegan.
    • Vinegar - This isn't just for flavour, but it helps to preserve the chutney.
    • Spices - Ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg give it a real Christmas flavour.
    • Salt and pepper - Generously season.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make Christmas Chutney - Step by step

    One: Put the tomatoes, red pepper, aubergine (eggplant), onion and garlic into a pan.

    Chopped red pepper, onion and aubergine in a saucepan.

    Two: Smash the tomatoes with a back of a spoon. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add a little bit of water every 10 minutes if it gets too dry.

    Cooked chopped red pepper, onion and aubergine in a saucepan.

    Three: Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan, stir well and bring to the boil again.

    Spices and cranberries added to the pan.

    Four: Simmer for a further 10 minutes.

    Cooked Christmas chutney in a saucepan.

    Five: Leave to cool and pour in to a jar to store.

    Variations

    Delicious chutney usually falls into three categories - onion based, fruit based or tomato based. We went with a tomato based chutney so the bulk of it was fairly mild, and the Christmas flavours could shine through. But you could vary it depending on your tastes.

    We kept things simple and just used a tin of chopped tomatoes (the best quality you can find will give the best flavour), but you could chop up fresh tomatoes and use those instead with a little extra liquid. You could also make the base mainly thinly sliced onions.

    Not only is there lots of festive flavour in this chutney, but some added vegetables too. Red pepper and aubergine make this tomato chutney recipe nice and chunky, with some extra vitamins too. You could add other chunky vegetables like courgette (zucchini) too.

    A selection of cheeses on a board with Christmas chutney in the centre.

    What to serve Christmas Chutney with

    The obvious way to serve this is on a cheese board, which is our favourite. However it has so many other uses. We love it in a Christmas leftovers sandwich or dolloped on a burger. We even make a dip out of it by mixing it into some Greek yogurt.

    A cheese board is a must at Christmas time and deciding what cheese to have on that board is one of the hardest decisions you will have to make during the festive season, if not the hardest decision of the entire year! Yes, we take cheese that seriously! Here are some of our cheese board tips.

    A mature cheddar is a must, it's a classic. I would say that goat's cheese has to be on there too, and for us a cheese board wouldn't be complete without some Stilton. Whilst we may not totally agree on the essential cheeses to go on the board, which is probably why we end up with about 10 different cheeses on there, we do agree that chutney is a must.

    Another tip when it comes to a cheese board is add lots of fruit too. Not only does it balance out the heaviness of all the cheese, but the sweet and creamy really compliments each other and fruit will add a lot of colour to the cheese board too. We went with grapes, figs, apple and pomegranate. Try to go with a few different crackers, breads and breadsticks too.

    Why not try adding this festive chutney to our Grazing Platter, Vegetarian Charcuterie Board or Anitpasto Platter?

    A jar of chutney with a spoon in it.

    Frequently asked questions

    How to store Christmas chutney

    This chutney will last in the fridge for about 5 days, but it honestly doesn't last that long with us at Christmas! If you are having guests over, you might want to make a bigger batch to share it around. If you are going the homemade Christmas present route this year, then these would make lovely gifts. Put it in a nice jar and put a bow round it and ta-da! Give it with a cheese board bursting with cheese too and you would be my best friend for life!

    Can you freeze Christmas chutney?

    We wouldn't recommend freezing this as the chunky vegetables aren't great once defrosted. So, try to only make as much as you could eat in 5 days so that none of it goes to waste.

    Is Christmas chutney gluten free?

    This recipe isn't gluten free because we have used malt vinegar. You could swap it for apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar - it would change the taste though.

    Is Christmas chutney vegan?

    No, this recipe isn't vegan because it uses honey. However, you could swap it for maple syrup to keep this recipe vegan.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • The cayenne pepper is added for taste, so adjust it depending on how spicy you like things.
    • This chutney will keep in the fridge for 5 days. But leftovers are great in sandwiches and burgers.
    • You can swap the tinned tomatoes for fresh tomatoes, just add a bit more liquid.
    • Make this a vegan chutney by swapping the honey for maple syrup.

    More Christmas recipes

    • Santa Pancakes
    • Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
    • Christmas Tree Brownies
    • Easy Christmas Salad

    If you’ve tried this Christmas Chutney recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Christmas Chutney in a jar. Two cheese on crackers sit in front and grapes in the background.

    Christmas Chutney

    We have combined some of our favourite festive flavours in to this lower sugar Christmas Chutney, along with some hidden vegetables.
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.98 from 41 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Sauce/Spread
    Cuisine: British, Christmas
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Cooling time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 20 servings
    Calories: 27kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 400 g Plum tomatoes - canned
    • 1 Red bell pepper - diced
    • 4 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 1 Onion - diced
    • 1 Aubergine (eggplant) - small; diced
    • 20 Fresh cranberries
    • 120 ml Malt vinegar
    • 3 tablespoon Honey
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
    • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 0.5 teaspoon Ground ginger
    • 0.5 teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg

    Instructions

    • Put the tomatoes, red pepper, aubergine (eggplant), onion and garlic into a pan.
      400 g Plum tomatoes, 1 Red bell pepper, 1 Onion, 1 Aubergine (eggplant), 4 Garlic clove
    • Smash the tomatoes with a back of a spoon. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add a little bit of water every 10 minutes if it gets too dry.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan, stir well and bring to the boil again.
      20 Fresh cranberries, 120 ml Malt vinegar, 3 tablespoon Honey, 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper, 1 teaspoon Paprika, 1 teaspoon Ground coriander, 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • Simmer for a further 10 minutes.
    • Leave to cool and pour in to a jar to store.

    Notes

    • The cayenne pepper is added for taste, so adjust it depending on how spicy you like things.
    • This chutney will keep in the fridge for 5 days. But leftovers are great in sandwiches and burgers.
    • You can swap the tinned tomatoes for fresh tomatoes, just add a bit more liquid.
    • Make this a vegan chutney by swapping the honey for maple syrup.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 430IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • The Best Burger Sauce
    • Harissa Paste
    • Homemade Mint Sauce
    • Easy Bread Sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorraine

      November 11, 2020 at 6:28 am

      I love this combination, i still have peppers & tomaroes in the garden. You say it only lasts 5 days, is this once opened or in total, as im thinking of making it in advance for gifts,

      Reply
    2. Paula

      April 07, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      What a delicious sounding chutney, my husband loves his chutneys so I’ll share this with him.
      Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Charli Bruce

      December 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      I love a cheese board and this chutney sounds absolutely gorgeous, I shall definitely be making it over the festive season x

      Reply
    4. Rebecca

      December 13, 2016 at 9:14 am

      How spicy is the chutney?

      Reply
      • Dannii

        December 17, 2018 at 8:03 am

        It is fairly mild.

        Reply
    5. Jessy @ The Life Jolie

      December 12, 2016 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      I'm loving this fantastic flavor combo- the colors are all really festive too! This would be a perfect holiday appetizer!

      Reply
    6. Silvia @ Garden in the Kitchen

      December 12, 2016 at 3:13 pm

      5 stars
      I think I just found the perfect addition to my cheese platter for the Holidays. Thank you!

      Reply
    7. [email protected]

      December 12, 2016 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      Chutneys are so perfect for this time of the year and a cheese platter is my favorite. I need to try this recipe.

      Reply
    8. Platter Talk

      December 12, 2016 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      I've said it before and I must say it again. Chutneys are under used here in the US! Thank you so much for this
      recipe. Eggplant and cranberry... cool combo.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.
    heart icon

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Game Day Recipes

    • Broccoli Slaw
    • Tortilla (Spanish Omelette)
    • BBQ Baked Chicken Wings
    • Paneer Tikka
    • 10 Easy Tapas Recipes
    • Easy Sausage Rolls

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 130
    • 26
    558 shares