TANGY AND HEALTHY DATES CHUTNEY

Dates chutney is a healthy recipe. Dates are delicious and one of the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being. Available round the year, the recipe is simple and can be prepared with ease at home.

Fresh dates has soft, easily digestible flesh and simple sugars like fructose and dextrose. When eaten, they reload energy and revitalize the body instantly. For these qualities, they are being used to break the fast during Ramadan month since ancient times.

The recipe mentioned today is to make use of that delicious soft flesh of dates in a chutney .Read thru’ to understand how to make tangy and healthy Dates Chutney at home.

 Ingredients :

Seedless dates: 15 nos

Green chilli: 1 tsp (finely chopped)

Red chilli powder: ½ tsp

Ginger: 1 tsp ( finely chopped)

Garlic: 4 cloves

Vinegar:4 tsp

Sugar: 1 table spoon

Turmeric powder: 2 pinch(s)

Fenugreek powder/ Methi powder: ¼ tsp(roasted and powdered)

Asafoetida / Hing: ¼ tsp

Water – ¼ cup

Salt:  to taste

For Seasoning:

Oil: 3 tbsp

Curry leaves: 4 stems

Mustard seeds: ¼ tsp

Cumin seeds / Jeera: 1 pinch

Procedure for preparing tangy and healthy Dates Chutney:

Method:

• Cut the dates into small pieces. De-seed the dates if any.
• In a flat kadai add oil, when hot add curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds, chopped green chillies,ginger and garlic. Saute on a medium flame for a minute.
• Minimize flame and add the powders to the base. Mix well and avoid  burning at the base.
• Add vinegar and water to the base. Mix well and increase flame. When the mixture comes to a boil, add the salt and sugar. Reduce flame and keep stirring till the mixture is uniform.
• Switch off flame. Allow the chutney mix to cool.
• Serve this tangy and healthy dates chutney along with chapathi, dosa. Refrigerate for further use. Good for 2 months if dispensed with a dry spoon.

Health Benefits of eating Dates:

• Dates are extremely rich in minerals as well as Vitamins A, B1,B2,B3 ,C and K. They do not contain Cholesterol and other harmful fats.
• Dates is rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. Additionally, the fiber works as a bulk laxative.
• Dates contain health benefiting antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to possess anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic properties i.e it prevents easy bleeding tendencies
• Dates are an excellent source of iron. Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
• Dates are very good in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Thus consuming dates offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
• Dates are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.

Go ahead and try the tangy dates chutney that can be served along with rice / chapathis.  Can be stored for 2 months by dispensing with a dry spoon.

If you like this recipe or know of any variations do let us know in the comments.