Caramelised Onion Chutney

You can use this delicious caramelised onion chutney recipe for so many things, or simply serve with cold meats and cheese.

A while ago we dined out on pizza and for starters they served the most amazing pizza bread topped with caramelised onion chutney. Since then I have been hooked! I always have a jar of red onion chutney to hand in the cupboard, but I figured I needed to make my own. This is the perfect chutney recipe when you have a lot of red onions to use up.

I am so glad I tried making my own, because it tastes amazing! Sweet caramelised onions. Give me this with a block of cheese and I’ll be a happy girl for the day!

There is a simplicity to this recipe that I really like, it doesn’t contain a huge array of difference spices or ingredients and it is quite cheap to make.

The caramelised balsamic onions have a beautiful rich look to them, coloured deeply with the dark sugars and balsamic vinegar.

The Difference Between Chutney and Jam

Chutney is a type of Jam that you would typically associate with a savoury flavour. Jam has a sweeter flavour. However, since Chutney is essentially a jam subcategory, Onion jam can sometimes be used to describe recipes like this, I have seen it packaged as an onion jam many times before, there isn’t usually a difference between the taste of the two. Usually, the preservatives of a chutney not only include sugar but also a vinegar and can be a mix of both vegetables and fruit. Jam typically contains fruit only.

What Can I Use Onion Chutney For?

There are so many different ways of using onion chutney. You can add it to gravy, pop it on a pizza,  use it as a filling in sausage rolls, add it to a burger and so, so many more things! I really love adding this to a cheese board. It’s definitely worth making a jar or two. You can even give your onion chutney away as a homemade gift to friends and relatives.

The best thing about this onion chutney is that it is so versatile! I mean, onions go with loads of things, right?

Recipe Tips and Guidance

Be sure to stir your onion chutney regularly when it is cooking so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Keep the heat gentle too, don’t rush the cooking process.

Have some freshly sterilised jars to hand and ideally some wax discs to place on top before closing the lid. The wax discs help to create an airtight seal to your chutney, which prevents mould from creeping in. You should pot up your onion chutney while it’s still hot. Place the disc on top and immediately close the lid. This process will keep your chutney fresh and give it a longer shelf life.

You don’t have to go out and buy lots of new glass jars. I always reuse jars that have held other food items before. Just be sure to wash them thoroughly and sterilise them before use. To sterilise your jars to package the chutney, simply give them a good wash in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly and place them on a clean baking tray lined with baking paper, in a warm oven of about 140C. Leave them to dry out inside the oven for about 20 minutes. Place the washed lids in a saucepan, cover with boiling water and boil them on the hob for the same length of time.

Be sure to keep your jars warm before placing your chutney inside, never add hot chutney to cold jars as they could crack.

Caramelised onion chutney can be eaten straight away, but most chutneys will improve with age, so I recommend leaving it somewhere cool in it’s sterilised jar for at least a month before opening it.

The only hardship to this recipe is cutting the onions, I can’t say I am a huge fan of stinging eyes, but who really is?! I have actually resorted to wearing goggles before and apart from looking slightly crazy, it does work! Alternatively, you can use a food processor with a slicing blade to cut your onions. Just be sure not to puree them, you want your caramelised onions to remain somewhat chunky.

Recipe FAQ

Looking for more Chutney Recipes?

You can always make a batch, jar it up and give away as a gift, like this Autumn Chutney I made for Christmas.