Kid-friendly Indian Mint Chutney Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Recipe: Indian Mint Chutney

Recipe: Indian Mint Chutney

Indian Mint Chutney

by Erin Fletter
Photo by Indian Food Images/Shutterstock.com
prep time
5 minutes
cook time
makes
4-6 servings

Fun Food Story

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Indian Mint Chutney

Chutney is a spicy South Asian condiment similar to relish. This simple chutney recipe blends refreshing mint with green onion, lemon juice, sweetener, and salt for a tasty accompaniment to our Sweet Potato Superpower Samosas!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • blend :

    to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.

  • measure :

    to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

  • purée :

    to blend, grind, or mash food until it is thick, smooth, and closer to a liquid.

Equipment Checklist

  • Blender (or bowl + immersion blender)
  • Cutting board
  • Kid-safe knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • Citrus squeezer (optional)
scale
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Ingredients

Indian Mint Chutney

  • 1 green onion
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar, honey, agave syrup (or stevia to taste)
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 C fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Indian Mint Chutney

1.
measure + blend

Measure and add 1 green onion, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and the juice of 1/2 lemon to a food processor or blender (or bowl for use with an immersion blender). Blend until ingredients have reached the consistency of a coarse paste. This helps the blades move easier when the mint is added.

2.
add + purée

Add 1/2 cup of mint leaves to the mixture and purée to a fine paste. Taste and add more salt or sugar if needed. Serve with Sweet Potato Superpower Samosas!

Surprise Ingredient: Mint!

back to recipe
Photo by ZoneCreative/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I'm Mint!

"I'm a green herb with a sweet, cool taste and pleasant aroma. You may have tasted me in gum and toothpaste, but my favorite is mint chocolate chip ice cream!"

History & Etymology

  • With its fresh scent hard to miss, mint was undoubtedly one of the earliest herbs discovered. It has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1,000 BCE and has been part of Chinese medicine even longer.
  • Ancient Romans and Greeks used mint to flavor cordials and fruit compotes, as well as for baths and perfumes.
  • Mexicans call mint "yerba buena" or "good herb."
  • The United States produces over 70 percent of the world's peppermint and spearmint.
  • The word "mint" comes from the Old English "minte," from German "minze," from the Greek "minthē."

Anatomy

  • The mint plant is from the Mentha genus. It is an aromatic perennial herb. The plants can grow 4 to 48 inches tall and have runners below and above ground that can spread. 
  • There are 18 to 24 species of mint currently recognized. Other mints are natural hybrids and cultivated hybrids. Some herbs with "mint" names, like cat mint (catnip), are not part of the Mentha genus. 
  • Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is also known as common garden mint. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is a natural hybrid cross between spearmint and watermint (Mentha aquatica). 

How to Pick, Buy, & Use

  • Mint is easy to grow at home or can be purchased at the grocery store. You can keep a bunch of fresh mint in a glass of water for up to two days.
  • Mint is harvested for its leaves, fresh or dried, for many culinary uses to add a cool, refreshing flavor. Foods that mint is added to include beverages, candies, ice cream, jellies, meat dishes, sauces, syrups, and teas. 
  • Mint essential oil and menthol are added as flavoring to breath fresheners, candy, chocolate, drinks, gums, and toothpaste. It can also be used for aromatherapy. 
  • Mint pairs well with these foods: asparagus, beans, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and yogurt. You can combine mint with these herbs and spices: basil, clove, cumin, dill, ginger, oregano, parsley, and thyme. 

Nutrition

  • Although mint has some health benefits, it is best to eat it in moderation. 
  • Mint has small amounts of vitamins A and C, along with the minerals calcium and iron.
  • Mint may aid in digestion, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it may aggravate symptoms.

What is Chutney?

Photo by Rimma Bondarenko/Shutterstock.com
  • Chutneys are spicy condiments, similar to relishes, from South Asia. They are made from fruits or vegetables, spices, and sugar. Chutneys may be fresh or pickled.
  • Chutney originated in India, dating to 500 BCE. Chutneys are typically served with meats, cheeses, and curries and used as dipping sauces for naan or other breads. They add extra flavor and a bright taste to food.

Let's Learn About India!

Photo by Charu Chaturvedi on Unsplash
  • India is a country in South Asia and is officially called the Republic of India. It is the second-most populous country in the world and has the largest population of any democratic nation. 
  • Hindi and English are official languages, and there are 447 native languages spoken in India.
  • India's government includes a president, prime minister, and parliament. Twenty-eight states and eight union territories make up India's federal union. 
  • India's currency is the Indian "rupee." It is illegal for foreigners to take rupees out of India.
  • Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal's construction in 1632 for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
  • The anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is celebrated on October 2. He is considered India's "Father of the Nation" and led the Indian people to independence from 89 years of British rule in 1947. Gandhi's peaceful protest movement inspired many people in other countries.
  • India's national symbols are the lotus flower, the Bengal tiger, and the peacock.
  • Some of the world's highest mountains are in India, including Kanchenjunga, the third tallest at 28,169 feet. 
  • The Bay of Bengal is a huge bay bordering the southeastern part of India and is home to the world's largest mangrove forest. Here, tigers swim in the same waters as dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and saltwater crocodiles. 
  • The snow leopard, the Indian rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger, and the Asian elephant are all animals of India. Globally, it is the only country that has both lions and tigers.
  • The most popular sport in India is cricket!
  • It is hot in India, so people there often wear loose clothes. Traditional clothing differs by area in India. Women may wear saris, long pieces of colorful cotton or silk draped over and around the body like a dress. Men may wear a dhoti, made of material wrapped around the hips and pulled through the legs, somewhat resembling loose pants, although they aren't seen in cities much anymore. Photos of Gandhi show him wearing dhotis.
  • Seventy percent of the world's spices come from India.
  • Staple foods in India include lentils, rice, bread, and spices. People living on the coast eat more fish and seafood. In other regions, they eat chicken, beef, and game meats. Many people throughout India are vegetarians. Common fruits and vegetables are mangoes, apples, oranges, pineapples, bananas, onions, okra, potatoes, spinach, and carrots.  
  • Curries are popular dishes in India and are made with a variety of vegetables, fish, meat, and fruits, and spices. 
  • When people greet each other in India, as a sign of respect, they bow, placing their hands together before their chest or face, and say "Namaste," which translates to "I bow to the divine in you."

What's It Like to Be a Kid in India?

  • Indian parents are encouraged to start their kids in preschool at 2½ to 3 years old. School is usually taught in a particular state's language, which could be Hindi, English, or another language. 
  • Kids often have their grandparents living with them in the family household.
  • Along with cricket, tennis, badminton, and chess, kids may play traditional Indian games like kabaddi or kho-kho, both played by teams, or kancha, a marble game played individually or with others.
  • Kids enjoy the Holi festival, which is a religious celebration that also heralds the arrival of spring. Celebrated in various ways throughout the country, most versions include the joyous spraying and throwing of colorful powders by festival participants at one another. 

That's Berry Funny

What seasoning is spicy yet cold?

Pepper-mint!

That's Berry Funny

What did the mint say to the other mint? 

We're mint to be together!

THYME for a Laugh

I have this joke where I get chutney and pickle mixed up.

It makes me chuckle.

Lettuce Joke Around

What is a mint’s favorite sport? 

Bad-mint-on!

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