MUST MAKE Tomato Relish Chutney!

This Tomato Relish or Tomato Chutney is one of the most delicious things you can make with tomatoes! Use this savoury spread on sandwiches and to elevate the humble bacon and egg roll to a cafe style treat. It's easy to make and uses any variety of tomato-even tinned tomatoes. Preserve your tomatoes deliciously with this Tomato Relish Chutney. This is a pushy recipe Dear Reader!

I recently had a bacon and egg roll at a cafe and it was so delicious, not just because of the bacon and egg but because of the tomato relish on it. After this I became obsessed with making tomato relish to add to sandwiches at home. You can call this a tomato relish or chutney, I've read that chutney has a softer texture and includes a mix of fruit, while relish is usually made from a single type of vegetable and contains no fruit. But we know tomato is a fruit so that's why I call it both tomato relish and tomato chutney!

This recipe was adapted from the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong in regional NSW. They are known for their traditional chutneys and jams. I've tried making a few versions of tomato relish and tomato chutney but none delighted me as much as their tomato relish. It's simple, doesn't require a lot of ingredients but really makes the flavour of the tomatoes shine.

Tips For Making Tomato Relish Chutney

1 - Use any sort of ripe tomato for this, cherry, roma, beefsteak or plain round all work in this chutney. I've also tried it with Italian tinned tomatoes and they're great too!

2 - I like using lots of garlic in my recipes and the original recipe calls for half of this level of garlic - but you do you!

3 - When filling the jar, make sure that the jar is the same temperature as the relish, otherwise the glass will crack. Heat jars up to 180C/350F for 10 minutes in the oven (remove any rubber seals first) and then pour the hot tomato chutney in them and then seal well using oven gloves and turn upside down. When cool turn right side up and you should get a seal or pop when you open it. This relish is also ideal for using sterilising or canning techniques (boiling in the jars).

4 - Once the jar is open it will last in the fridge for 1-2 months. Unopened it will last on the shelf for 1-2 years if you use sterilising or canning procedures.

5- This tomato relish chutney is wonderful on sandwiches or on toasties or as mentioned, really makes a bacon and egg roll sing! You get a lot of flavour for a very light condiment!

• Other Summer Preserving Recipes You Might Like:

• Zucchini Pickles

• Strawberry & Elderflower Jam

• Pickled Peppers
• Candied Jalapenos
• Slatko Watermelon Rind Jam

I recently made this tomato relish chutney for Valentines Day. I have to admit that this year the whole event sort of passed me by as I had a big day at work in the city where I had around 20 fifteen minute speed meetings with tourism boards and hotels. By the time I arrived home my feet were so sore (new shoes!) and I was exhausted albeit very happy. Mr NQN and I had a very quick but tasty dinner of the 5 minute salmon salad (seriously, I make this so much) and we both fell into bed asleep early. We were going out to dinner the following night for Valentines day.

The next morning Mr NQN asked me, "Did you see the present that I left you downstairs?". I furrowed my brow, "Where?". He told me that it was in my office and I went downstairs to have a look. I was still waking up so I went downstairs in my pyjamas and saw the little card he had 3D printed for me. It was very cute but it was the very nice message on the other side that really melted my heart. "It's so sweet!" I said showing it to him, "Thank you!!".

"Oh you didn't see the other thing?" he asked. So I went back down the stairs where I found the second part. It was a 3D printed heart. "So you can see it all the time and know how much I love you!" he said grinning proudly. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I hadn't actually bought him anything. He already had bought me flowers and jewellery and now this and I had nothing.

So that morning I made him this tomato relish chutney. I know it's not the most conventional Valentines day gift but in my weak defence, it is red and he loves it!

So tell me Dear Reader, did you celebrate Valentines Day? What did you receive or give?

Tomato Relish Chutney

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 60 minutes

• 500g/1.1lbs tomatoes (any variety, even tinned)
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/4 cup/60ml/2flozs white wine vinegar

• 100g/3.5ozs white sugar

Step 1 - Remove the pedicel or centre top of the tomatoes and place halved tomatoes in a food processor and process until liquid. Place all ingredients (garlic, cloves, black pepper, allspice, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, white wine vinegar) except for sugar in a heavy based saucepan. Simmer gently for 30 minutes with the lid slightly off it.

Step 2 - Stir in the sugar until dissolved and simmer with the lid slightly off for 30 minutes until the mixture had thickened and is a spreadable and not a wet consistency. This makes one large jar of tomato relish around 550g/19.4ozs.