Tamarind - Date Chutney

Perfect dipping sauce for Samosas.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 8 -10  large dates, pits removed
• 3⁄4 cup jaggery (Indian unrefined sugar) or 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 4  tablespoons tamarind paste
• 1⁄4 teaspoon hot chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1  teaspoon  ground garam masala
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place the sugar, dates and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 7-8 minutes, until the dates are very soft.
3. Stir in the tamarind.
4. Very carefully, pour the ingredients into a blender, clamp the lid down tight and blend until smooth (or blend in the pot with an immersion/stick blender).
5. Return the mixture to the pot and boil until thick enough to thinly coat the back of a spoon (the chutney will thicken more as it cools).
6. Stir in the spices and salt.
7. Taste for seasoning: the chutney should be equal parts sweet, salty and sour.
8. Add more tamarind, sugar or salt if any of these needs a boost.
9. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.