Holi, the spring festival of India is around the corner. Chaats are one of the main street foods to try during Holi. Here, I give you an easy version of Sweet Tamarind Chutney/Imli Chutney for you which is a must for any chaats.
Holi- the spring festival
Holi is a spring festival in India. It is also called as ‘ festival of colors ‘ as people smear colors on each other. Nowadays they use water guns and water balloons with colors to spray on people.
Like any festival, food plays a major part here too. Thandai and Chaats are popular food at this time. Thandai is a cool drink made with almonds, fennel seeds, and many more ingredients.
What is Chaat?
Chaat is usually a street food that mainly has deep-fried bread, potatoes, and chickpeas along with sweet and sour chutneys.
Sweet Tamarind Chutney/ Imli Chutney
This sweet tamarind chutney or Imli chutney is a must for any chaat. This chutney gives sweetness to the spicy chaat.
What does Imli Chutney taste like
This Imli Chutney tastes sweet and sour. The sweetness comes from dates and jaggery as I said and the sourness from tamarind.
How long can I store this chutney?
It stays good for a month when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Make sure to use only a clean spoon.
How to make Sweet Tamarind Chutney/Imli Chutney
There are various ways to make this sweet chutney. I give you an easy to make this sweet chutney. You have to boil pitted dates along with tamarind and enough water. Add spices. Once the dates are soft enough to mash, cool it down and blend it. Strain this. Yummy tamarind chutney is ready to have along with chaat and samosas. You can see the stuffing to make Easy Samosa Stuffing
Other snacks for you
Paruppu Vadai/ Chana Dal Fritter
Stuffed Bread Roll – with Samosa filling
Aloo/Potato & Onion Bhaji/Fritters
Ragi Pakoda / Finger Millet fritters
Imli chutney recipe
Ingredients
Dates – 1/2 cup ( pitted )
Tamarind – a small lemon-sized ( soaked in 1 cup water)
Red Chili Powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder – 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala – 1/2 tsp
Jaggery – 1/4 cup or as per taste
Salt – A pinch
Method
- Take 1 cup of water in a pan and boil it.
- Once it boils, add dates and tamarind soaked along with soaked water.
- Then allow it to boil till the dates become mushy. Mash it in the back of the ladle.
- Add the spice powders with jaggery.
- Mix and let it boil till the raw smell goes.
- Remove from heat.
- When it cools down, blend it in a blender.
- Strain it.
- Serve it with chaats and samosas.
Notes
- Adjust red chili powder as per your taste.
- You can add more dates or jaggery if you need more sweetness.
- While straining, add the required water if the chutney is too thick.
- If the chutney goes too watery, heat it again till it becomes a little thick.
Sweet Tamarind Chutney/ Imli Chutney
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Dates Pitted
- Tamarind Small lemon sized (soaked)
- 1/2 Tsp Red Chili Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Cumin Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
- Salt a pinch
- 1/4 Cup Jaggery
Instructions
- Take 1 cup water in a pan and boil it.
- Once it boils, add dates and tamarind soaked along with soaked water.
- Then allow it to boil till dates become mushy. Mash it in back of the ladle.
- Add the spice powders with jaggery.
- Mix and let it boil till the raw smell goes.
- Remove from heat.
- When it cools down,blend it in blender.
- Strain it.Serve it with chaats and samosas.
Notes
- Adjust red chili powder as per your taste.
- You can add more dates or jaggery if you need more sweetness.
- While straining, add required water if the chutney is too thick.
- If the chutney goes too watery, heat it again till it becomes little thick.
Nutrition
Pin Tamarind Chutney/Imli Chutney
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My parents are from Trinidad, and one of my favorite delicacies is tamarind balls. But I’ve never had it as a chutney before. My mom will loving having this recipe so she can make her own chutney!
Tamarind balls sounds great..have to check the recipe..Thank you
This spring festival sounds so fun and is getting me excited for all the spring colors. This festival food is like nothing I have ever had before but I love trying new foods so thank you for sharing!
Thank you
I have read about the Festival of Colors before and it is interesting to learn about how it has evolved. I have not worked with this product before, but it sounds delicious!
Thank you
I have never made chutney but I love it! This tamarind chutney looks and sounds delicious. Would love to try it!
Thank you
I love anything tamarind and this chutney looks like it would be amazing on anything that I needed a sweet and tangy hit!
Thank you
This sweet and sour tamarind chutney sounds delicious. It looks really easy to make also, great recipe!
Thank you
I love pretty much anything with dates, so I know I’ll love this recipe. Those other spices with the dates also sound so interesting and tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
i have to make this! i have a love affair with tamarind – it is so flavorful and delicious i’ll use it whenever i can! this sounds like a great recipe!
Thank you
I love chutney, but I don’t think I’ve every had one that was smooth like this. I love dates in just about anything so, I’m going to try this recipe. Thank you.
Thank you
I have not worked for tamarind paste before. I do see it at the grocery store and wondered what you can do with it. I need to pick some up and give this recipe a try.
Do give this a try..it gives you a nice tangy touch to any bland snack..Thank you
I love anything with tamarind in and this sounds so tasty! I love the combination of sweet and sour.
Thank you
This is pretty far off from the things I typically cook – but it sounds so interesting!
Thank you
I have never made chutney and your instructions make this sound so easy. I happen to have dates and tamarind in my pantry.
That’s great..do give this a try …Thank you
This looks and sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try!
Thank you
Wow This looks super easy. I was looking for this recipe infact for my holi preparation of dahi valla. Thanks.
Thank you so much dear