My Easy Green Tomato Chutney is sweet and sour with aromatic spices and a touch of chilli. Delicious on everything from cheese and cold meats to burgers or your favourite sandwich.
A perfect solution to make the most of unripe green tomatoes. All deliciously preserved as jars of flavour packed chutney for the winter months.
My Green Tomato Chutney is a tried and tested family favourite, a proper old fashioned chutney. And you’ll be pleased to hear how easy it is to make. Simply chop up your ingredients, put them in your pan with spices, vinegar and sugar and cook. Then simmer until your chutney is glossy and thick.
Back when my Kitchen Shed garden produced masses of tomatoes and chillies, we’d pick green tomatoes early in the season. That way we could guarantee the best Green Tomato Chutney for the local Christmas fayre. Fortunately for us, we still had plenty of ripening tomatoes on vines so we could make Red Tomato Chutney.
Chutney making still forms a large part of what happens here at The Kitchen Shed. And, as it always has, chutney making follows what’s in season and what’s in surplus. We generally start with courgettes and before I know it, we’re into the summer glut of tomatoes.
Out comes the preserving pan and on goes a big batch of green tomato chutney. Not long after all the tomatoes are done and dusted, we’re harvesting apples and it’s time for Spicy Apple Chutney.
Old fashioned green tomato chutney is a great make ahead Christmas gift. Not least because it partners perfectly with Christmas cheeses and cold meats. So why not make an extra batch and you’ll have a few Christmas gift items for family and friends ?
What equipment do I need ?
- Preserving pan – nice and wide so liquid can evaporate and your chutney becomes glossy and thick. If you make a lot of chutneys and jams it’s worth investing in a good solid preserving pan. I use an 8.5 litre Penguin Home Professional pan.
- A ladle.
- A jam funnel. I prefer to use a stainless steel funnel because vinegar reacts with other metals such as aluminium.
- 5 or 6 jam jars with screw top lids. Make sure to use vinegar proof lids – generally plastic coated on the underside to prevent any acid reaction with metal.
- Adhesive labels.
How to Sterilise Jars
Sterilise jars shortly before they are to be used. This minimises the time in which the jars might pick up new bacteria and ruin your chutney. Make sure your jars are dry when you come to fill them.
- I like to sterilise jars in the microwave. Clean your jars as normal and rinse. Whilst the jars are wet, pop them in the microwave for two minutes on full power. Remember the jars will be very hot, so remove with care.
- Pour boiling water into a bowl or jug and add the lids and leave for 5 minutes. Drain and leave to dry completely before using.
- Alternatively, wash jars and the lids in the dishwasher on a hot cycle.
- Always sterilise more jars than you think you will need.
What ingredients do I need ?
Amounts are detailed in the recipe card.
- Apples – I used cooking apples as they cook down and thicken the chutney. Eating apples can be used – Braeburn, Cox’s Orange Pippin or Gala work well. But they will give a slightly different consistency to the chutney.
- Onions – I used white onions.
- Green tomatoes – choose firm fresh green tomatoes.
- Dried fruit – I used sultanas but you could substitute with raisins or currants.
- Vinegar – I like use cider vinegar in a chutney as, unlike malt vinegar, it doesn’t overpower the final flavour. You will need a good quality vinegar with an acetic acid content of at least 5%. Most reputable brands have at least 5% acetic acid and some even go as high as 8%.
- Salt – adds flavour and helps to preserve your chutney.
- Sugar – I’ve used a light soft brown sugar, with a molasses flavour in mind. Feel free to use dark brown sugar if you prefer a darker colour chutney.
- Coriander seeds – add a warm, aromatic and slightly citrus flavour.
- Yellow mustard seeds – gives a warm spice tone as well as slightly sweet.
- Black peppercorns – not as hot as white peppercorns and tend to mellow during cooking.
- Ginger – fresh ginger root adds a gentle heat.
- Chilli – I used chilli flakes which add a final kick to boost the heat. The amount of chilli I use won’t blow your socks off but omit it if you prefer less heat.
How to make Easy Green Tomato Chutney
Making a chutney couldn’t be more straightforward – just follow these easy steps for your best homemade green tomato chutney.
- There is no need to skin the tomatoes – the skins stay attached to the unripe tomatoes in cooking.
- Cut green tomatoes, onions and apples into roughly the same size pieces so they cook evenly. Bear in mind whether you want a chunky chutney or a smaller diced chutney.
- Add all the ingredients to the pan, adding the sugar and vinegar in last.
- Give everything a good stir.
- Make up your spice bag by tying the spices in a large muslin square or use a ready made bag.
- Add spice bag to the pan and stir.
- Bring to the boil and simmer until nice and thick.
- You don’t need to watch chutney like you do jam but you still need to keep an eye on it. Stir every now and then to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- The chutney is ready when the liquid has reduced and the fruit, vegetables and sultanas look plump and glossy.
- Check your chutney is ready by drawing a silicone spatula or wooden spoon through the chutney mixture. If the chutney parts and the base of the preserving pan remains visible for a few seconds, it’s done.
- Ladle your chutney into sterilised jars whilst still hot, filling to within 6 mm (1/4 inch) of the top. Pack down with the back of a spoon to remove any air pockets.
- Seal tightly with a lid.
Do you need to water bath chutney ?
Here in the UK, the water bath method is not generally used for chutneys. Jars and lids are sterilised before filling with hot chutney and tightened lids on filled jars form a vacuum seal as contents cool. However, if you prefer to use a boiling water canner, process Easy Green Tomato Chutney for 15 minutes.
Ways to enjoy Green Tomato Chutney
Green Tomato Chutney is perfect on a cheese or ham sandwich. Serve it up with a traditional Ploughman’s lunch or with cheese and crackers. On barbecue evenings we’ve been known to add a spoon or two to a hot dog or burger.
But don’t limit your chutney to your favourite sandwich, use it in your cooking too:
- Add a tablespoon or two to your favourite stew, casserole or tagine.
- Puree a couple of tablespoons, add a little water and use as a glaze for your Christmas ham or roast.
- Puree a few tablespoons, add a little water and mustard and use as a dipping sauce.
- Spread some on toast, layer with cheese and grill.
How long before I can eat my Chutney ?
Easy Green Tomato Chutney improves as it matures. Leaving it in sealed jars for at least two weeks before sampling is definitely preferred. Leave for a couple of months if you can.
Despite knowing I should leave chutney to mature, I admit I have opened a jar the day after cooking. It was delicious and surprisingly there was no overpowering taste of vinegar.
More Homemade Chutney Recipes for you to try
Let’s Keep In Touch! You can Find Me On Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
Pin for later

Easy Green Tomato Chutney
Equipment
- 1 Large preserving pan or saucepan
- 1 spice bag or muslin cloth and string
- 1 Ladle
- 1 Stainless steel jam funnel
- 5 or 6 450g Sterilised jam jars
Ingredients
- 1 kg green unripe tomatoes
- 500 g cooking apples – about 3 medium apples peeled and cored after weighing
- 500 g onions diced – about 3 medium onions
- 200 g sultanas
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 15 g fresh ginger – grated
- 2 tsp salt
- 400 ml cider vinegar
- 400 g light brown soft sugar
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
Instructions
- Cut green tomatoes, onions and apples into dice of roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Add onion, green tomato, apples and sultanas, along with chilli flakes, sea salt, grated ginger and cider vinegar, to a large preserving pan.
- Give the ingredients a good stir before stirring in the sugar.
- Make up your spice bag by tying the spices in a large muslin square or use a ready made spice bag.
- Add spice bag to the pan and slowly bring ingredients to the boil.
- Turn the heat down to low and let the chutney mixture simmer for at least 1½ to 2 hours.
- Stir every now and then to prevent chutney sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Check for thickness by drawing a silicone spatula or wooden spoon through the chutney mixture. Your chutney is ready when it parts to reveal the pan base and this remains visible for a few seconds.
- Remove spice bag and discard.
- Whilst chutney is still hot, ladle into sterilised jars and fill to within 6mm (1/4″” inch) of the top. Use the back of a spoon to pack down your chutney and remove any air pockets.
- Seal tightly with a lid.
Notes
- For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
- The recipe approximately makes enough to fill 5 x 450g jars.
- The recipe is easily doubled. Just make sure you use a large enough preserving pan so the ingredients can reduce. Also, you’ll need to cook for an extra half hour to an hour. Tripling or quadrupling the quantities is not recommended.
- There is no need to skin green tomatoes. The skins remain attached to the unripe tomatoes pieces during and after cooking.
- The amount of chilli I use won’t blow your socks off. But if you prefer less heat, simply reduce the amount or omit it altogether.
- Keep at least 2 weeks before eating.
- Green Tomato Chutney will keep for up to a year when stored in a cool dry place.
Once opened, use within four weeks. - Here in the UK, the water bath method is not generally used for chutneys. Jars and lids are sterilised before filling with hot chutney and tightened lids on filled jars form a vacuum seal as contents cool. However, if you prefer to use a boiling water canner, process for 15 minutes.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
How to use Chutney
- Serve with cheese, cold meats or your favourite burger.
- Add a tablespoon or two to your favourite stew, casserole or tagine.
- Puree a couple of tablespoons, add a little water and use as a glaze for your Christmas ham or roast.
- Puree a few tablespoons and mix with a little water and mustard to make a dipping sauce.
- Spread some on toast, layer with cheese and grill.
Paul
Tuesday 26th of November 2024
Hello. Very easy to follow recipe and very tasty. First time I’ve made chutney, will make more this coming weekend. Thank you! Paul in Texas.
Maria
Sunday 10th of November 2024
Hi, very excited to try this recipe with the last of our tomato harvest. First time chutney maker. However, I noticed, and this may be my lack of understanding in making chutney, you don’t state whether or not to peel the apples? Here in the states, sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t peel apples in recipes, which call for apples. You do state peeling the tomatoes are not needed. Not sure which way to go here on these apples though. Thanks! Can’t wait for our batch!
Sarah James
Tuesday 12th of November 2024
Hi Maria, thanks for getting in touch. Hope I'm not too late with a reply, your comment was caught in my spam filter. Yes, I did peel my apples for the chutney. Amended the recipe for future readers, pleased you asked the question. Hope you enjoy your green tomato chutney, Sarah.
Tiddles
Tuesday 5th of November 2024
Hi I cooked a batch last week and cooked a batch this afternoon. Last weeks was a lot darker than this afternoon. Any suggestions on why the colour has changed. It's so delicious and easy to make apart from all the chopping, thanks for the great recipe. Tiddles from Kenya.
Sarah James
Tuesday 19th of November 2024
Thanks for getting in touch Tiddles, Chutneys do tend to vary in colour even when using the same recipe. Sometimes it may be that the chutney took longer to reduce, the tomatoes may have been a darker green or that chutney does darken over time. Good to hear you found it easy to make and it's delicious. It's always a pleasure to share my recipes, Sarah.
Debbie
Friday 1st of November 2024
Can you pressure cook this chutney, I live in Italy and gas is super expensive ( as is electricity). Cooking for 3 /4 hours makes for a very expensive condiment. Thanks.
Sarah James
Tuesday 12th of November 2024
Hello Debbie, I wouldn't recommend pressure cooking your chutney as a pressure cooker doesn't lose moisture. A chutney relies on the liquid reducing. A slow cooker is a good alternative, a great way to save on energy costs. I often make my chutney this way. In fact I usuallly include the slow cooker method in my recipes, I must have missed this for my green tomato chutney. Slow Cooker Method: Follow steps 1 and 2 in the recipe but add to a large slow cooker instead of a preserving pan. Give the ingredients a good stir before stirring in the sugar. Make up your spice bag by tying the spices in a large muslin square or use a ready made spice bag. Add spice bag to the slow cooker and cook on High for 1 hour with the lid on. Give your chutney a good stir and replace slow cooker lid but this time prop it open a little with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook on High for 5 to 6 hours. Check after 5 hours and if it’s not ready, replace the lid propped by the wooden spoon and leave for another hour or so. Check for thickness by drawing a silicone spatula or wooden spoon through the chutney mixture. Your chutney is ready when it parts to reveal the base of the slow cooker for a few seconds. Hope this helps, Sarah.
Prue_S
Thursday 17th of October 2024
What a great recipe, and the step-by-step instructions and photos really help, as do the common-sense sterilisation procedures. Mine took about 2.5 hours to reduce. I didn't bother with the muslin, put the spices directly into the mixture, and I used a bit of powdered ginger instead of root ginger. I also chopped in half a home-grown scotch bonnet chilli instead of using chilli flakes, and it's added some lovely heat. Tastes delicious already, so we can't wait to use it at Christmas! Many thanks.