Easy Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit
Ready in about 25 minutes, this easy Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit is sweet and savory. It is delicious to snack on with some crackers and is also a delightful addition to a charcuterie platter.
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This Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit is so easy to make and such a tasty condiment to snack on with crackers!
What is Chinese Jujube fruit?
Known for its health benefits, the Chinese Jujube fruit has been a popular fruit in China for almost 4000 years.
It grows on Ziziphus jujuba, which is a small deciduous tree that is part of the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. This tree grows in a wide range of climates, from temperate to tropical. Known by plenty of different names, Chinese Jujubes are also referred to as Chinese dates or red dates, or Chinese red dates.
They are smooth and green when immature. As they mature or ripen, they turn a reddish-brown color. And, when dried, they are more glossy and wrinkly, brownish-red. These jujubes can be eaten fresh or dried.
Chinese jujubes are a good source of flavonoids, polysaccharides, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, essential amino acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols. To name a few of their benefits, they are said to aid in digestion, immunity support, blood circulation, and improving sleep quality.
What can you do with jujube fruit?
Chinese jujube fruits can be eaten fresh, boiled, stewed, and dried.
Fresh Chinese jujubes are firm. They taste slightly sweet and slightly tart, like a green apple. They don’t last very long in this fresh state.
Dried Chinese jujube fruit tastes sweet, but not as sweet as medjool dates. They are also firmer and more fibrous than medjool dates. Dried Chinese jujubes have many culinary uses. They can be used to make a healthy tea. They can also be used to make chutney (like this one) and jujube jam. They can also be made into a paste and used in everything from baked goods to drink recipes. Dried jujubes have a long shelf life as long as they are stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Here’s what makes this Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit so good, for me:
- Slightly sweet, tart, and savory, it is delicious,
- It is versatile and pairs well with everything from crackers to boiled eggs and toast.
- It is so easy to make,
- It can be made in less than 25 minutes,
- And, this jujube chutney is made with only 11 main ingredients!
Ingredients needed to make this chutney:
- Chinese jujube
- Coriander
- Cayenne
- Smoked paprika
- Cinnamon
- Red onion
- Fresh Ginger
- Brown sugar
- Red wine vinegar
- Oil
- Salt
Substitutions
- Chinese jujube:
I got some pitted dried Chinese Jujube from Amazon. However, they can also be found in East Asian Markets. As this chutney is made with jujubes, they are a key ingredient.
- Spices:
I used a blend of coriander, smoked paprika, and cinnamon. These can be replaced with a blend of cumin, paprika, and cardamom. The cayenne can be replaced with chopped fresh red chillies or dried red pepper flakes. However, if you prefer a sweeter chutney, the cayenne can be omitted.
- Fresh Red onion + Fresh Ginger:
Fresh onion and fresh ginger are key components of this recipe. If you would like to save time, then pre-peeled and pre-chopped onions and garlic can be used. These are usually available in the produce section of most stores.
- Brown sugar:
Brown sugar can be replaced with granulated sugar or jaggery. It can also be replaced with maple syrup or honey.
- Red wine vinegar:
This can be replaced with apple cider vinegar. However, if neither is available, some tamarind or even some lemon juice can be used for a tart flavor.
Recipe Tips
Make sure to stir the onion and ginger as they saute over a low to medium flame, to help them caramelize a bit to enhance the flavor of this chutney.
Instructions
Step 1: Fill a small pan with water and place it on a stovetop set to high heat to boil. When the water is boiling, add the pitted dry Chinese jujube fruit to it. Cover. And let it sit for 15-18 minutes.
Step 2: Peel and chop the onion and ginger.
Step 3: Add the oil to another pan and add the chopped ginger and onion. Let these saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes or so, stirring often so they do not burn.
Step 4: Then, add the sauteed onion and ginger to a food processor (or blender).
Step 5: Drain the jujube, reserving the liquid (jujube tea) to enjoy later. Add the drained jujube to the food processor. Also, add in the spices, red wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Blend/grind the ingredients until they are well incorporated and the consistency you prefer.
Step 6: Scoop into a serving bowl and enjoy with crackers or even toast!
Serving Suggestions
This Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit can be served with crackers.
It can also be served with toast and boiled eggs.
It can be enjoyed with a samosa platter as well as a charcuterie board.
Storing
Store this Chutney with Chinese Jujube Fruit in an airtight container in the fridge. Stored this way, this chutney will last for 3 weeks or so.
Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin. For more fusion, spice-filled, recipe ideas, please subscribe and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chinese jujube fruit (16 jujubes)
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 cup Approximately 1/2 a Red onion
- 2 tsp Fresh Ginger
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 3 cups water (to soften the jujube)
Instructions
- Fill a small pan with 3 cups water and place it on a stovetop set to high heat to boil. When the water is boiling, add the pitted dry Chinese jujube fruit to it. Cover. Turn the stove off and let the covered pan with the jujubes sit for 15-18 minutes.
- Peel and chop the onion and ginger.
- Add the oil to another pan and add the chopped ginger and onion. Let these sauté over medium-low heat for 15 minutes or so, stirring often so they do not burn.
- Then, add the sautéed onion and ginger to a food processor (or blender).
- Drain the jujube, reserving the liquid (jujube tea) to enjoy later. Add the drained jujube to the food processor. Also, add in the spices, red wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Blend/grind the ingredients until they are well incorporated and the consistency you prefer.
- Scoop into a serving bowl and enjoy with crackers or even toast!
Love Chinese red dates. They are so nourishing and with the spices , it’s the perfect chutney. Sweet, spicy and aromatic!