Onion chutney and cheese, mango chutney and naan bread – you can pair a good chutney with almost any food to give it a zesty flavour boost. The hardest part is knowing how to choose which one will enrich every one of your meals with its addictive savoury sweetness.
From spiced apple and plum to sweet tomato, we'll explain the ins and outs of the most popular chutneys in the UK, such as what to pair them with, which recipes are healthy and where to shop for vegan varieties. We've also collated a list of the best-rated chutneys to buy online from Amazon, Tesco and more, so you'll never have to learn how to make it at home!
Quick List - Top Chutneys
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Finding the perfect chutney can add a whole new level of tastiness to a meal. Whether you prefer the warm spice of mustard or the tangy sweetness of apple, there's something for everyone on our list. The only thing you need to do is choose the best option for you! Don't worry, we'll guide you through the process.
Chutneys have evolved far beyond the classic recipes of old with a wide range of main ingredients both sweet and savoury. All are equally as delicious, though some are more suited to certain dishes. For example, savoury ingredients such as tomato, onion and pepper are ideal for charcuterie boards and for pimping up a sandwich or toastie.
If you prefer a tingly taste of sweetness, choose a fruity chutney with ingredients like mango, plum, sultanas or lime. These zingy flavours can liven up a plain-tasting meal or cut through a spicy dish, adding a wave of exotic flavour as they go.
That being said, we recommend that you stock up at least one savoury chutney and one sweet chutney so you can pair them with any meal, snack or sandwich you fancy.
Originating in India, chutneys are notorious for their spicy-sweet flavour profile, but some are made with more of a kick than others by using chilli peppers or spices like mustard and peppercorn.
The spiciest chutneys are, of course, a great companion for rich curries and other South Asian foods, while a mild, English-style chutney can be paired with a piece of cheese and a cracker to refresh and enhance the flavour.
You'll figure out how to pair your spicy and mild chutneys as you go, but for now, you can look to our specification tables for an honest review of the product's spiciness. If you're not a spice lover, you can opt for a mild or spiceless chutney that will be friendlier to your taste buds.
We all know to be careful with what we eat. While it's good to maintain a healthy relationship with food, it's also useful to keep track of your sugar intake to avoid an upset stomach or sugar-induced digestive problems. Sugar is one of chutney's main ingredients, so it's no surprise each jar can contain up to 1200 calories.
To make sure that you stick to a healthy portion, look to the sugar content per 100 grams. On average, adults are recommended to have 30 g of sugar a day and most 100 g servings of chutney already exceed this. A tablespoon of chutney averages at 8 g of sugar and most meals require one or two tablespoons for an enhanced flavour.
If you plan on only adding a little bit to your sandwiches and salads, you'll struggle to exceed your recommended sugar intake, but if you like to add dollops of chutney to stews and soups, you should bear its quantities in mind.
Lastly, consider any additional dietary requirements. While chutney is a naturally gluten-free food – or at least, it should be – some recipes may include certain thickeners or be produced in a factory that handles gluten.
Not to worry, there are plenty of gluten-free options available, which can be friendlier on the gut and are crucial for those with coeliac disease. In addition, vegan options are making an impact across the UK, allowing you to steer clear of products that are derived from animals and slather your chutney on a plant-based ploughman's instead.
Shopping for gluten-free, vegan and other dietary-specific products is getting easier by the day and we've made it even more simple for you by including this information in our ranking.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sharwoods Green Label Mango Chutney | ![]() | The All-Round Favourite From the Experts | |
2 | Tesco Ploughmans Plum Chutney | ![]() | A Very Tasty Lunchtime Classic | |
3 | Branston Mediterranean Tomato Chutney | ![]() | The Cheese Toastie Champion | |
4 | Geeta's Premium Lime & Chilli Chutney | ![]() | Try Something Different on Your Curry | |
5 | Baxters Caramelised Onion Chutney|Pack of 2 | ![]() | A Versatile Essential for Your Kitchen Cupboard | |
6 | Bonne Maman Onion With Sichuan Pepper Chutney | ![]() | Low in Sugar With a Peppery Kick | |
7 | Asda Extra Special Mango Apple & Ginger Chutney | ![]() | A Harmony of British and Indian Flavours | |
8 | Baxters Victorian Chutney | ![]() | If the Question Is Sweet or Savoury, Why Not Both? | |
9 | Geeta's Premium Mango Chutney | ![]() | A Classic Recipe With a Hint of Spice | |
10 | Waitrose No. 1 Damson & Apple Chutney | ![]() | A Treat-Yourself Pot of Fancy Chutney |
How could you trust our judgement if we didn't put a classic mango chutney at number one? This Sharwood's mango chutney with a slight hint of spicy chilli can be added to your fake-away nights at home, atop a soft and chewy Peshwari naan or even to a cheese toastie.
At this price, it's amazing that this jar contains 530 grams of sweet, delicious and high-quality chutney. It's a total bargain, and being sold by one of the leading chutney manufacturers, you can be sure that it tastes no less than divine.
This chutney has the lowest sugar content on the list, making it the best option for those who like to eat with a healthy diet in mind. As a change from pickle, plum chutney is the ideal accompaniment for a traditional ploughman's lunch of deli meats, cheeses and crackers.
It's made with the perfect combination of plums, sultanas and onions to create a bitter, fruity aftertaste that slices through a crumbly British cheese exceptionally. Best of all, it's the cheapest chutney on the list, so it'd be rude not to indulge!
Made with Mediterranean vine tomatoes that are crushed, cooked and delicately seasoned with pepper, oregano and rosemary, this chutney is bound to brighten up a cheese toastie. Or, why not add it to a hot and cheesy jacket potato for a twist on a classic British dish?
Rich in flavours and chunky in texture, it's set to bring a wave of tangy tomatoey flavours with every bite. As an added draw, it's pretty low in sugars despite the fruity ingredient list, so you can enjoy your portion knowing that you're being good to your gut.
Fancy something different with your lamb bhuna? This exciting option will add sweet, succulent flavour and spice to any dish. It definitely scores a ten for the packaging, although it's what's on the inside that makes this product so addictive.
Rich Indian spices with Kagzi limes and green chillies are what makes up this jar of lovingly-made goodness. Not only does it taste delicious, but it's Vegan Society approved, Kosher and gluten-free, so just about everyone around the table can snack to their heart's content.
Think of how this chutney would taste with a gooey brie or a crumbly cheddar, or perhaps spread over a wheaty cracker. Divine! It's by far one of the most popular options as it's more versatile than chilli or mango – there really isn't much that onion doesn't match with.
In addition to being a fantastic condiment, this chutney can double as a glaze or a tasty addition to a salad dressing, gravy or stew, so it's great to have on hand for just about anything. Salty yet sweet and super affordable too, what's not to like?
Taking us back to basics with the traditional checkered jar lid, this chutney from conserve experts Bonne Maman is a delightful blast from the past. To complement the brand's home-style recipes, the ingredient list sticks to the bare minimum, keeping the taste all about onions and Sichuan pepper.
This tasty recipe only has 37 grams of sugar per 100 grams, which is extremely low in comparison to the average chutney. For a low sugar option with simple ingredients – and an interesting twist on a classic – this is the one.
Enriched with fruity purees and a touch of fragrant ginger, this slightly peppery chutney works great with most dishes both Western and South Asian. It's one of the sweetest options on our list with the main ingredient base being a thick mango puree.
You'll find that, despite the mild spice grade, it has quite a warm tingling spiciness from the ginger, putting it at more of a medium rating. If you prefer mild chutneys, perhaps give this one a miss. If you like a spicy chutney, this should be a definite benefit as opposed to a drawback.
Baxters's Victorian Chutney is a recipe that is loved nationwide, with a number of foodie blogs trying to replicate it. Nothing's quite as good as the contents of this compact chutney jar though, packed with juicy sultanas, apricots, dates, orange peel and more delicious fruits.
With a range of spices including mustard, chilli and pepper, this sweet-yet-punchy option is one for your cheese sandwiches or crackers. If you like your chutneys on the rich and sweet side, this one is bound to become your favourite lunchtime condiment.
Geeta's are known for their authentic Indian recipes and powerful punching flavours. This medium-spicy chutney with premium-grade mangoes creates the perfect blend of sweet and spicy, with a warm, tingly aftertaste as opposed to a fiery kick.
It actually has the highest sugar content out of all the products on our list, making it the unhealthiest option. Of course, if you consume this chutney in reasonable amounts, such as a tablespoon or two, this won't have an impact on your health.
Super delicious, ever so luxurious and made with only natural ingredients, this damson and apple chutney from Waitrose's No.1 range is one of the finest around. Produced in Wiltshire by a company with over fifty years of experience, this chutney is made with hand-picked fruit for the best quality.
The jar contains only 140 grams which is significantly less than other, cheaper products on our list. However, if you like to shop at Waitrose for the country's finest groceries, be sure to check out this cheeseboard chutney for your next dinner party.
The marriage of salty, rich cheese and sweet, tangy chutney is heaven on a crunchy cracker, and if you've got the craving as much as us after this article, you're in luck. Find more recommendations below to make sure your next cheese and wine night (or your afternoon snack) goes with a bang.
Choosing a chutney can be difficult without tasting and trying them out for yourself first. Hopefully, our buying guide and specifications table gave you an honest understanding of how to choose the best chutney for you. Whether you chose a sweet chutney or a savoury, we hope that you enjoy pairing it with your favourite foods.
Author: Annie Speight
No. 1: Sharwoods|Green Label Mango Chutney
No. 2: Tesco|Ploughmans Plum Chutney
No. 3: Branston|Mediterranean Tomato Chutney
No. 4: Geeta's|Premium Lime & Chilli Chutney
No. 5: Baxters|Caramelised Onion Chutney|Pack of 2
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