Peanuts are omnipresent in the Indian pantry and are used in everything from snacks to stir-fries and even curries. They are an excellent source of protein for the vegetarian diet and are hence used abundantly.
I like to use good quality roasted peanuts rather than buying the raw ones and roasting them in a pan. This is because the commercially roasted peanuts are evenly roasted and have a lovely flavour, especially some of the better brands.
This is a super simple chutney that pops with flavour. The sweetness of the peanuts is complimented by the spice and tartness of the lime juice. The chutney should be like well-spiced chunky peanut butter, chewy and delicious. I like to serve this with grilled kebabs, but it also can be used as a side for any meal.
This out-of-print cookbook is the bible of Indian grilling. I have cooked over half the recipes from it and each recipe is delicious. It is packed with chicken, lamb, and seafood kebabs, and includes a large section on vegetarian and paneer kebabs, and tandoor bread. I could grill from here every week. I highly recommend this cookbook for those who like to light up the grill and are looking for Indian flavours.
For more delicious recipes from this cookbook click here.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup ready-roasted peanuts
2-4 green chillies, or to taste
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon of ginger paste
1 tablespoon cilantro
Salt, to taste
2-3 tablespoons water
Add all the ingredients except the peanuts to a small blender and purèe till very smooth. Add the peanuts and blitz till you have them chopped roughly. You do not want to have a smooth peanut-buttery paste, but small chunks. Adjust consistence with water till it is quite thick, but some folks like to chutney more runny. Taste for salt and chilli.
Allow the flavours to come together for 3-4 hours and serve at room temperature.