Recipe: Caramelised Onion Chutney
by Caroline Palliser
on Apr 08 2026
Sweet and sticky, this caramelised onion chutney is the perfect accompaniment to a special cheeseboard.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5kg onions, thinly sliced
- 300g dark muscovado sugar
- 200ml red wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp crushed chillies
Method
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan and gently fry the onions over a medium-low heat for 25-30 mins, stirring regularly. The onions should be softened but not browned, and reduced by about half.
- Stir in 3 tbsp of the sugar, increase the heat, and cook for 7-10 mins, stirring occasionally, until the onions are just starting to colour. Lower the heat, then add the remaining sugar, ½ tsp salt and all the other ingredients.
- Simmer, uncovered, so it bubbles gently on a medium-low heat for 30-40 mins, or until the chutney has reduced and thickened to a dark caramel colour, stirring occasionally to check it isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan. To test if the chutney is ready, drag a wooden spoon across the bottom of the pan – it should take a few seconds for the juices to re-cover the bottom of the pan.
- Spoon the hot chutney into cooled, sterilised jars, then seal and label.
The chutney will keep for up to 6-12 months.
Recipe tips
To sterilise jars, simply run them through the dishwasher and pot the jam while they are still warm. Alternatively, wash the jars with hot, soapy water and rinse well. Dry the jars in an oven at 100C for 15 minutes or so, until completely dry. Sterilise the lids by adding to a pot of boiling water and simmering for 10 minutes. Allow to air dry.