Chutney Cravings - Cilantro Stem Chutney

I love chutney . Who doesn't ? Chutney is a staple in Indian cooking. I find all chutneys versatile in a way . You can eat chutney with rotis, add it to sandwiches , use as a dip with fritters and even with chips . It goes well with pretty much anything and everything . Sometimes I add leftover chutney to sabjis or curry while cooking . There are several versions of cilantro or coriander chutney . Here is my favorite one with the stems of cilantro bunch . Yes you read it right - the stems and not the leaves . I learnt this one from my mother in law . She is big on not wasting food, cooked or uncooked . She uses every single ingredient from the pantry. And of course makes the most of fresh produce too . She always saves the stems of cilantro and makes this chutney . So without any further discussion here is the recipe .

Ingredients -

Stems of cilantro leaves 

Green chillies

Garlic 

Cumin seeds

Salt to taste 

Instructions -

1. Wash and roughly chop the stems of cilantro leaves . Add them to a blender . I used stems from 2 cilantro bunches .

2. Add very little garlic, just half of one small garlic clove for the above stems .

3. Add green chilly . Depending on what kind of chillies you use adjust the amount of chillies. Thai chillies are very hot . I used one small thai chilly for the above amount of stems . 

4. Add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds and salt to taste . Blend all these to a coarse texture. Your flavorful beautiful green colored chutney is ready . 

Tips -

1.This is a strong flavorful chutney . Use very little garlic to balance the flavor .Too much garlic will ruin its taste .

2. Add yogurt while eating to mellow down the punch if you wish .

3. Use this while cooking lentils especially black eyed peas , moth beans and green moong .