By Eve Fox, The Garden of Eating
Makes 4 pints
5 pounds yellow peaches or nectarines, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups organic or turbinado sugar
2 cups apple-cider vinegar
3/4 cup raisins
1 cup chopped Vidalia onion
1 sweet banana pepper or 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
2 or 3 fresh green jalapeños, diced, or adjust to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root
2 teaspoons freshly grated turmeric, or 1/2 teaspoon ground
4 tablespoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala (a ground spice mixture containing pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, cumin, and star anise)
1. Combine all the ingredients in a deep pot and bring to a boil, stirring a few times. Lower the heat to a simmer and reduce the mixture for up to an hour, until all the excess liquid has boiled away and what remains is thick and jammy. Taste it and adjust the seasonings to your liking. I am wimpy about spice so I tend to err on the mild side of things but you may like it hot in which case, you may want to add more chilis.
2. Ladle the hot chutney into four prepared pint jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the rims with a damp, clean cloth, top with the jar lids, add the rings and turn until tight but do not overtighten then process in a boiling-water bath for 10 minutes. For best flavor, let the chutney cure for a month before you eat it.
