Description
Mary Berry’s Pear Chutney brings European elegance to homemade preserves with its perfect balance of sweet pears and tangy spices. Home cooks discover a delightful condiment that pairs wonderfully with cheeses, cold meats, and rustic breads you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) fresh pears, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups (250 grams) light brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups (225 grams) raisins
Aromatic Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 grams) peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger
- 1 small lemon, seeded and finely chopped or slivered
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 small hot chile pepper, finely chopped
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- Pinch ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine diced pears, rich brown sugar, tangy apple cider vinegar, sweet raisins, zesty lemon juice, warm ginger, pungent garlic, spicy chile, mineral salt, aromatic allspice, sharp black pepper, earthy coriander, and fragrant cloves in a generously sized heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Ignite the stovetop to medium heat, stirring the vibrant mixture continuously to prevent scorching and ensure even flavor distribution.
- Elevate the temperature until the contents reach a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing the ingredients to meld and transform.
- Maintain a low heat, periodically stirring the chutney to prevent sticking and promote uniform cooking, watching as the pears gradually soften and break down into a luscious, textured consistency.
- Monitor the liquid content carefully; if the mixture appears excessively watery after approximately 25 to 35 minutes, incrementally increase the heat to high, stirring constantly to encourage liquid reduction and intensify the flavors.
- Once the chutney reaches a thick, jam-like texture with pears nearly disintegrated, remove from heat and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
- Transfer the cooled chutney into sterilized airtight glass containers, ensuring a tight seal to preserve freshness and flavor intensity.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, freeze for 3 months, or process in a water bath for shelf-stable preservation lasting up to 1 year.
Notes
- Develops deeper, more complex flavors when allowed to rest for 24-48 hours before serving.
- Freezes exceptionally well, maintaining vibrant taste and texture for several months.
- Stores beautifully in sealed jars for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Provides a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor profiles.
- Perfect for gifting to food-loving friends during holiday seasons.
- Creates a wonderful homemade gift when packaged in decorative glass jars.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: UK
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg