Spicy Rhubarb Chutney to Can or Freeze
Spicy Rhubarb Chutney is an easy to make and flavorful condiment that’s as good with curries as it is alongside grilled meats (especially pork), vegetables, and as a quick appetizer over cream cheese.
✩ What readers are saying…
“Great chutney!!! Tried many internet recipes, my first time posting comments. That’s how much we liked it!!!” -Alison
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This spicy rhubarb chutney recipe was one of the first chutneys I ever made (or tasted!) after growing rhubarb for the first time and looking for interesting ways to use it.
If you grow rhubarb, you know how prolific it can be when planted in an area it likes, and there’s only so many muffins, sweets, and pies you can make. I wanted to find something more savory to use the rhubarb.
Which is what led me down the path of chutneys, even though I wasn’t familiar with them. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d like chutney – or even how to use it – but the ingredients made it seem like a really flavorful ketchup-like condiment so I tried it.
And I’m so glad I did! This rhubarb chutney is SO good and it’s slightly sweet and tangy flavor works as a topping for everything from meat to vegetables to cheese.
This is one of the things I’ve learned about growing your own food: you become a lot more adventurous in trying new foods because you’ve got to find a way to use all the food you’ve worked so hard to grow!
Over the years I’ve adapted this chutney to be spicier and use less sugar and use honey for part of the sugar with great results.
And for some reason this rhubarb chutney is spectacular with pork. I’m not sure why, but, it’s amazing how good it is with any type of pork!
Spicy Rhubarb Chutney Recipe
Ingredients
Besides the rhubarb, all the other ingredients for this easy chutney are usually found in well-stocked pantries:
- onions and raisins
- brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar
- spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, salt
- red pepper flakes (you can easily adjust these to your preferred level of spiciness)
Supplies
- Cutting board and sharp chef’s knife
- 6-quart or larger stock pot and wooden spoon
- Ladle and large funnel (like those made for canning)
- For canning: water bath canner (this flat-bottomed canner works on smooth top surfaces), six half-pint jars with lids and rings
- For freezing: six 8-ounce freezer-safe containers (like this glass set, or just use mason jars)
Directions
This is how easy this recipe is (and really all chutneys) –
Dump all the ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil.
Then you’ll reduce the heat to a low boil (simmer) and cook until it’s thickened and reduced by about 1/3 (visible in the photo above by the original cooking line).
This cooking part will take about an hour or so during which you’ll need to stir every now and then, but that’s all.
While the chutney is simmering, prepare your containers: wash six half-pint (or 3 pint sized) jars for canning and lids. Gather your other canning supplies – canner and rack, jar lifter, etc.
If you’re just going to freeze the chutney, you can use mason jars, too, or prepare some other kind of freezer container you’d like.
Whether canning for freezing, it’s still easiest to use a ladle and large funnel to transfer the hot chutney to the prepared jars (if using plastic freezer containers, though, do let the chutney cool first).
Pro Tip: I like to place a small tray on the counter next to the stove when canning (pictured above) so all the mess is contained in a portable area that’s easy to clean in the sink.
To Freeze: Place lids on containers and label with contents and the date before placing in the freezer. Best if used within a year.
To Water-Bath Can: Leave 1/4-inch headspace, wipe rims, attach lids, and place in canner with just simmering water. Bring to a boil and process 15 minutes, lowering heat as needed to keep the water at a low boil the whole time. Turn off heat and let sit in canner 5 minutes before removing jars to a towel-lined surface.
Let the jars sit undisturbed for 12 hours, check lids for seal, label and store in a dark, cool place for up to 18 months.
If you’re new to canning, this is a great recipe to start with – it’s fairly quick and easy. Head over to my Boiling-Water Step by Step Canning Tutorial for more details.
Safety Note: I adapted this recipe for spicy rhubarb chutney years ago from a recipe that ran in the Oregonian, only changing the spices and to use less raisins and sugar. These ingredients are all okay to adapt and still be safe for canning, since the ratio of rhubarb, onion (the low acid ingredients) and vinegar (the acid), remains the same.
Since my first experience with rhubarb chutney, we’ve become chutney fans and I’ve made a number of other types of chutney including:
- Addictive Tomato Chutney
- Delicious Green Tomato Chutney (Lower Sugar)
- Blueberry Chutney Recipe To Can or Freeze (Honey Sweetened)
- Spicy Honey Sweetened Cherry Chutney Recipe
We really like how the wonderful flavors of chutney compliment any kind of meat or vegetable on the menu. PLUS – I created a delicious sweet and tangy salad dressing that uses your chutney! Check out the rhubarb chutney salad dressing here!
I’m not the only one who is wowed by this chutney – here’s another reader rave:
“Made this today & it turned out amazing! It made just a bit over 6 – 1/2 pint jars (I leave space for when I freeze it.) So I had some with rice crackers for a snack – YUM! I already gifted one to my neighbor and a friend. I’ll def make this again.” -Dawn
I hope you give this one a try – if you do, make sure to leave me a comment and rating so I (and others) will know how you liked it!
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Spicy Rhubarb Chutney to Can or Freeze
Equipment
- Cutting board and sharp chef's knife
- 6-quart or larger stock pot and wooden spoon
- Ladle and large funnel (like those made for canning)
- For canning: water bath canner, six half-pint jars with lids and rings
- For freezing: six 8-ounce freezer-safe containers
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds rhubarb, trimmed and sliced thin (8-9 cups)
- 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 3/4 cup honey (or 1/2 cup for a slightly less sweet version)
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup raisins, chopped in a food processor
- 1 ½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger, or 2 teaspoons dried ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 to 1½ teaspoons red pepper flakes*
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a 6 or 8-quart stainless steel pot. Stir well and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer (a very gentle boil) and cook, uncovered, until thick, about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally, and more towards the end as the chutney is thickening.
- For Canning: While the mixture cooks, prepare six half-pint jars (or three pints) and keep hot until needed. Prepare canning lids according to manufacturer's directions, and start the water heating in the canner. (Refer to these directions if you need a water bath canning refresher.)
- When the chutney is cooked, ladle into 1 jar at a time, leaving 1/4-inch headspace, wiping the rim with a damp cloth, and attaching the lid. Place jar in prepared canner. Fill and close remaining jars.
- Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 15 minutes. Turn off burner, remove lid and let jars sit in the canner for 5 minutes. Carefully remove to a towel-lined counter and let cool. Check seals before labeling and storing in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate any jars that didn't seal to use within 3 to 4 weeks.
- For Freezing: simply ladle slightly cooled chutney into clean freezer-safe containers, label and freeze for up to a year.
Notes
- Top cream cheese or goat cheese with it and serve with crackers.
- Use alongside of grilled or roasted poultry or meat as a condiment.
- Serve with Indian curries.
- Use as a sandwich spread (especially good with grilled cheese).
- Top burgers.
Nutrition
Chutney Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Chutney is a condiment with a balance of sweet and spicy flavors made from fruits, vegetables, sugar, and spices along with vinegar. In Indian cuisine, where it originated, it’s a classic condiment as a balance to the traditional hot curry dishes it’s often served with.
It can also be used as a topping for grilled and roasted meats or vegetables, as part of a charcuterie board, as a sandwich spread (heavenly with grilled cheese!) and makes an easy appetizer over cream cheese. It even makes a wonderful addition to a vinaigrette salad dressing.
While you can use any vinegar for chutney, I prefer apple cider vinegar for its milder flavor than plain white. Rice vinegar would also be a mild vinegar.
If you are canning the chutney, you will want to make sure the vinegar you use is at least 5% acidity.
No, you can refrigerate the chutney and use it within a few weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
This recipe has been completely updated – it was originally published in June 2012.
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I found the vinegar flavor a little strong. Could I use a 1/4 cup less and still can it. If not what else could I try. I love the taste otherwise. I use so many of your recipes and have always been happy with them. Thank you for all you do.
Everyone’s taste is different, Marion – that’s a benefit to making your own things. 🙂 You can safely use the same amount of lemon juice for the vinegar (FYI, you can’t go the other way in canning recipes – vinegar can’t be substituted for lemon juice because lemon is a higher acidity than vinegar), so I’d try that and see what you think. There would be the lemon flavor, but I think that would be lovely with the rhubarb!
Made this today & it turned out amazing! It made just a bit over 6 – 1/2 pint jars (I leave space for when I freeze it.) So I had some with rice crackers for a snack – YUM! I already gifted one to my neighbor and a friend. I’ll def make this again.
**I only added 1/2 tsp. of the chili flakes I use & it was plenty spicy. Also, I only used 1/2 c. of the honey instead of 3/4 c.
I’m so glad you liked this, Dawn! And thanks for letting me know that it turned out with less honey – I’ll make a note of that (very helpful!).
want to do this tomorrow
can I cook it all down in a slow cooker?
I am planning on freezing this…. perhaps in glass jars… perhaps in zip lock bags?
I haven’t tried this in a slow cooker so I can’t give you an idea of how many hours, but I’d think you could do it on high until it’s the consistency you like. I prefer glass jars for this even freezing, as it makes it easy to defrost and serve right from the jar (plus, no microplastics to worry about).
I may have missed it but what altitude is the 15 minute processing time for canning? I’m at about 4,000 feet and wondering if I need to add time? Just harvested my rhubarb today and have it all cut up and can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Oh, I’m going back through all my canning recipes and adding altitude info – I guess I hadn’t gotten to the chutney yet. I’ll be adding it to the recipe card, but you can go here to get your adjustment for the feet you’re at: https://www.ballmasonjars.com/adjust-high-altitude-canning.html
Great chutney! Perfect for any occasion. Well balanced. Served it with duck spring rolls. Had it later with vanilla ice cream, A hit!
Sounds wonderful – nice way to use it differently!
Ooh! on vanilla ice cream – great idea!