How to make North Indian Style Dates - Tamarind Chutney for Samosa and other snacks?

How to make North Indian style Dates – Tamarind Chutney for Samosa and other snacks?

A homestyle sweet & sour chutney for samosa and other North Indian snacks.

Makes: ½ cup + 2 teaspoon ( Indian standard measuring cup of 100ml / 4 oz capacity)

Serves: 3 - 4

Ingredients

For the 1^st stage:

12 dates (please good quality and soft ), remove seeds and chop roughly

A small lemon sized ball of tamarind or 1 teaspoon thick tamarind paste

1 cup / 200 ml water (Indian standard measuring cup of 200 ml / 8 oz capacity)

Method

In a bowl or sauce pan, boil 1 cup / 200 ml water with chopped dates and tamarind / paste. Cover with a lid and boil for 12 minutes on a medium heat until  the dates and tamarind well combined / thickens and dark brown in color. Stir occasionally with the base of a thick steel ladle, then the dates will blend easily. Switch off the heat and keep aside to cool for 15 minutes. Strain the thick dates – tamarind solution through a fine iron sieve.  Now the  dates – tamarind solution  is very clear,  without any impurities and also the quantity reduced to 3/4^th level.

Ingredients required for the  2^nd stage:

1 tablespoon (3 - 4 teaspoon) thick melted and sieved jaggery

1 pinch salt

½ teaspoon red chilli powder

Clear dates – tamarind solution

Method

In a saucepan or a  bowl, boil again clear dates – tamarind solution with  melted and sieved jaggery, salt and red chilli powder. Cover with a lid  and  boil on a medium heat for 12 minutes until it slightly thickens. Switch off the heat and keep aside to cool. Serve with samosa and other North Indian snacks.