Bengali Sweet & Sour Pineapple Chutney

Few months back on my twins' 2nd Birthday(I still can't believe they are already 2), we had a gathering of some of our close friends, had a great time. Some of them were bengali, some of them were non-bengalis from all over India, who are not so familiar with bengali foods. On the menu was Pineapple chatni ( Anarasher chatni), as you know without a chutney bengali can't finish their meal. My non-bengali friends liked it so much, they took the recipe as well as the leftover chatni in their(parents') goody bag.
Chutney provides the refreshing touch to your tongue after a spicy meal and make it ready to anticipate the taste of dessert/sweet dishes fully. Bengali chutneys are always made form seasonal fresh fruits like Mango, Pineapple, Apple or tomatoes with lots of dry fruits in it. Pineapple or anarasher chatni is little sweet, little spicy and little sour, just a perfect blend and fits any lunch and dinner menu. Once you try it, you will fall in love with it, I am sure..........



Ingredients :

Pineapple(canned or fresh) : 1 cup(cubed in small pieces)
Dry red chilli : 1
Mustard seeds : 1 tsp.
Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp.
Sugar : about 1/4 cup(adjust to fit your taste)
Ginger juice : 1 tsp.
Raisin/sultanas : a fistful
Dry roasted cumin seeds powder : 1 tsp. (1/2 tsp. cumin seeds dry roast & grind to a fine powder)
Salt : a pinch
Oil(preferably Mustard oil) : 1 tblsp.

Method :

• Cut pineapple in small pieces and crush them a bit with back of a spatula. I used fresh one, but canned pineapple works also good. In that case, drain the solution and wash them well.
  
• Heat oil in a pan, temper with dry red chilli and mustard seeds. When red chilli turns dark and seeds start to splutter, add pineapple. Add salt and a pinch of turmeric. Saute a little, then add about 2/3 cup of water to cook the pineapple, if you're using fresh one. For canned pineapple, add 1/2 of the mentioned water. Add the rainsins now.
  
• When it is half cooked, add sugar and wait until all water evaporates and it is cooked well. Adjust the sweetness level according to your taste. It is a sweet and sour chutney, so it will have the sourness of pineapple and a little sweet at the same time. Mash the fruit pieces as much as possible.
  
• Lastly add the ginger juice and mix well. Take it off the heat. Before serving, sprinkle roasted cumin seed powder over it.