What Is The Difference Between Chutney And Salsa?

Chutney and salsas are among the most popular condiments that are available for adding additional flavour and character to dishes, however, if you are unfamiliar with either one of these things you may be wondering what the difference is between a chutney and a salsa is.

A chutney is a condiment made with either fruit or vegetables combined with a vinegar and sugar solution which helps to preserve the food whereas Salsas refer to the sauces that are typically used in Mexican meals. These salsas do not contain any vinegar of any type and are typically based on tomato, chilli, and onion. These combinations can either be served raw or cooked depending on the specific dish that is being created.

As a result of the lack of vinegar and sugar in Salsas they typically last only a few days in the fridge whereas chutneys can be prepared and stored for months on it if the chutney is stored properly in a sealed sterilized jar.

Vinegar in particular is important in preserving food because it reduces the pH of the solution creating an environment that is extremely difficult for bacteria to grow in. In most cases that means that sauces can last much longer.

Apart from the vinegar, the other key difference is that chutney can be based on a wide range of different vegetables whereas salsa is usually only based on tomatoes. The types of chutneys can include things like mangoes, tomatoes or a range of different stone fruit depending upon what you have available. Additionally, it is common for some people to include things like sultanas which add flavour and texture to the chutney over time. 

What Is Chutney?

The name chutney comes from the Indian word “chutnee” and originated in India where chutney was primarily made from mango. It is traditionally served as an accompaniment to curried meats and may also be served with cold or cooked meats and poultry. Chutney is made by cooking fruits and vegetables for a long time in flavored or spiced vinegar. Traditionally, it has a consistency that is somewhere between a jam and a pouring sauce. 

How To Make Chutney

Making chutney is relatively easy and can be made with a range of different vegetables and fruits to produce chutneys with a different character. A generic recipe is provided the low which can be used for a single vegetable or a combination of vegetables to create the chutney.

Ingredients

1.5 kg Fruit Or Vegetables

250g of onions

1 clove of garlic

2 ½  cups of vinegar

1 ½ cups of sultanas

6 cloves

⅛ teaspoon of cayenne

1 tablespoon of salt

1 ½ cups of sugar

Methods

1. Prepare the fruit or vegetables by washing them and cutting them up and in some cases, you may also need to remove the skin of the fruit.
2. Slice the onions and garlic finely.
3. Place all of the ingredients into a pan except for the sugar and cook until the mixture boils and thickens over a period of around 1 ½  hours.
4. Add the sugar to the mixture and cook for a further 30 minutes.
5. While hot transfer the mixture into sterilized jars then seal the bottles and label them
6. Bottles can then be stored in a cool dark location for up to 12 months. 

What Is Salsa?

Salsa most commonly appears in Mexican cuisine and the word salsa means any kind of sauce in Spanish. However, in English, it specifically refers to those sauces that are used within Mexican dishes which typically are tomato or chili-based sauces.

Salsa is also used as a table dip which became popular in Mexican restaurants in the US and has subsequently been made available in grocery stores. However, today there are several different types of sauces that are available that are used within Mexican cuisine which include salsa Fresca which is made with tomatoes and hot peppers and is typically used on tacos.

The second type is referred to as salsa verde, is a cooked sauce that is often used on enchiladas. These sauces have been traditionally produced with a mortar and pestle though these days most people simply run them through a blender. There are many different types of available two examples of this roja salsa (red sauce) and Salsa Cruda (raw sauce). 

How To Make Salsa

Salsas in general are extremely easy to make and the most common homemade one is the Salsa Cruda which does not require any cooking and is fairly quick to make.

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs of tomato

½ a red onion

1 Jalapeno Pepper

½ cup of chopped cilantro

A pinch of salt and pepper

A pinch of dried oregano and cumin

Juice of 1 lime

Method

1. Roughly chop the tomato, onions, and jalapenos. To adjust the level of the heat you can increase the number of jalapenos. Note: It is advisable to wear gloves when preparing the jalapenos as they can irritate the eyes.
2. Place the ingredients into a food processor and pulse it a few times to ensure that all of the roughly chopped ingredients I now finely diced.
3. Transfer the ingredients into a bowl and then add the remainder of the spices and lime juice before gently tossing the mixture to ensure that the flavor is transferred evenly throughout the mix.
4. If there is any remaining salsa left over it will typically only last a couple of days in the refrigerator before it needs to be thrown out

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