Made in about 20 minutes, this simple and delicious chutney is a terrific complement for all manner of savoury dishes: quiche, cold meats, cheese……
I particularly like to use this chutney as a topping for savoury cheesecakes: the sweet tang of the chutney is a great foil for the rich lusciousness of the cheesecake.
About this recipe
I have been making this chutney for almost thirty years and I love it for its great flavour and utter simplicity.
I sometimes use a 50-50 mixture of balsamic vinegar and cider vinegar, and occasionally I add one or more of the following:
- a few sultanas
- a generous grating of fresh ginger
- a pinch of saffron
- finely chopped chilli
But other than that I like to keep the flavours simple so that the pears shine.
Unlike many chutneys, this one doesn’t need to mature and can be used immediately.
Recipe: quick pear chutney – makes one large jar
- 3 large pears, peeled, cored and chopped small
- 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 160ml cider vinegar
- 60g soft brown sugar
- a few gratings of nutmeg
- a generous pinch of sea salt
(1) Add the ingredients to a medium pan and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring from time to time to dissolve the sugar.
(2) Simmer without the lid for about 20 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated,
(3) Spoon the chutney into a hot sterilised jar and put the lid on. The chutney can be used once it has cooled, but it will also store well.
Phil's Home Kitchen 
Thanks for sharing, looks yummy 😊
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Thank you – it is a pleasure
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Can this be made with quince?
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yes definitely. Just cook enough for the quince to be soft enough.
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Love this, lasted no time at all ! Can I make exactly the same using Apples
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I am pleased you liked it. Yes it doesn’t last long! Yes, it works well with apples too
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Delicious thank you, does it keep well in sterilised jars?
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Yes it will do. I hope you enjoy the chutney
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If you have lots of pears can you just double ingredients to make more ?
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yes definitely. And it goes all too easily!
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Laden pear tree in 2022, best crop ever in 37 years, so what better than to use some of the surplus in making your quick and easy chutney, as I did two years ago. Given dozens away, so hope they do the same, such a contrast with last year’s two forlorn pears, ruined by April 2021 frosts!
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Fabulous to have such a great crop. Ours is so variable each year.
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Am away to make this 😊 how long does it last in jars, thanks
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I’ve kept a few jars for the best part of a year and they’ve still been lovely
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Thank you
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Oh fabulous. I hope you are enjoying them
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Could I double the recipe and use half plums and half pears thanks
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Yes definitely, but you might need to adjust the cooking time a little until the mixture goes thicker
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Can I use unripe pears?
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Yes indeed. Just cook them 5 mins or so longer. I hope you enjoy the chutney
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Thanks so much for replying. I look forward to this delicious sounding chutney, now that our pears are beginning to appear.
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It’s my pleasure. It’s always very exciting when produce is growing
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