Relish vs. Chutney — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023
Relish is a tangy or spicy condiment made from diced vegetables. Chutney is the spiced condiment of Indian origin made from fruit or vegetables. Both enhance flavor, but relish tends to be chunkier, while chutney has a smoother consistency.
Difference Between Relish and Chutney
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Relish is a condiment often enjoyed in Western cuisine, primarily made from diced vegetables, vinegar, and spices. Its texture is generally chunky, with ingredients like pickles, bell peppers, and onions as staples. Chutney, meanwhile, traces its roots to Indian cuisine. It's a blend of fruits or vegetables, sugar, spices, and vinegar, resulting in a consistency that can range from chunky to smooth.
While both relish and chutney aim to enhance the flavor of dishes, relish tends to have a tangy profile, with less emphasis on sweetness. Chutney, conversely, often showcases a harmonious balance between sweet and spicy flavors, largely influenced by its ingredients such as mangoes, tamarind, or tomatoes.
Relish, in the Western context, commonly accompanies hot dogs, sausages, or burgers. It serves as a complementary side, adding a tangy kick. Chutney, in the Indian context, often graces the table with dishes like samosas, dosas, or curries, offering a delightful contrast in flavors and acting as a palate cleanser.
Overall, while relish and chutney both serve the role of condiments in culinary traditions, they differ in origin, ingredients, flavor profiles, and typical uses. Yet, both are indispensable in their respective cuisines, elevating the dining experience.
Comparison Chart
Origin
Western
Indian
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Main Ingredients
Diced vegetables, vinegar
Fruit or vegetables, spices, sugar, vinegar
Texture
Generally chunky
Can range from chunky to smooth
Flavor Profile
Tangy, less emphasis on sweetness
Balanced between sweet and spicy
Typical Use
Accompanies hot dogs, burgers
Paired with samosas, curries, dosas
Compare with Definitions
Relish
A tangy vegetable-based condiment.
She topped her hot dog with a generous amount of relish.
Chutney
A condiment balancing sweet and spicy flavors.
She made a mango chutney that was the highlight of the meal.
Relish
A Western side dish enhancing main courses.
The BBQ won't be complete without some relish on the side.
Chutney
A spiced fruit or vegetable blend of Indian origin.
The samosas were served with a tangy tamarind chutney.
Relish
A chunky blend of vegetables and vinegar.
This homemade relish has a unique combination of flavors.
Chutney
An Indian side dish complementing main courses.
The curry tasted even better with the coconut chutney.
Relish
A relish is a cooked and pickled product made of chopped vegetables, fruits, pickles or herbs and is a food item typically used as a condiment or as a salsa to enhance a staple. Examples are chutneys and the North American relish, a pickled cucumber jam eaten with hot dogs or hamburgers.
Chutney
A versatile condiment ranging in consistency.
The apple chutney was smooth, contrasting the chunky tomato version.
Relish
Hearty enjoyment or appreciation
"pausing with the relish of a man who knows he's about to get off a zinger" (Tad Friend).
Chutney
A flavorful amalgamation of ingredients enhancing dishes.
Every Indian feast at their house had a variety of chutneys.
Relish
Something that lends pleasure or zest
The fact that the opposing team is our longtime rival was an added relish to our victory.
Chutney
A chutney is a family of condiments or sauces in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys may be realized in such forms as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce.
Relish
A keen liking for something
A relish for adventure.
Chutney
A pungent relish made of fruits, spices, and herbs.
Relish
A spicy or savory condiment or appetizer, such as chutney or olives.
Chutney
A sweet or savory but usually spicy condiment, originally from eastern India, made from a variety of fruits and/or vegetables, often containing significant amounts of fresh green or dried red chili peppers.
Mango chutney
Lemon chutney
Relish
A condiment of chopped sweet pickles.
Chutney
(music genre) A style of Indo-Caribbean music from the West Indies, associated especially with Trinidad and Tobago.
Relish
The flavor of a food, especially when appetizing.
Chutney
A warm or spicy condiment or pickle made in India, compounded of various vegetable substances, such as chopped fruits or green tomatoes, etc., often cooked with sweets and acids such as sugar and vinegar, with ginger and spices.
Relish
A trace or suggestion of a pleasurable quality.
Chutney
Chopped fruits or green tomatoes cooked in vinegar and sugar with ginger and spices
Relish
To take keen pleasure in; enjoy fully
Relished every minute of their vacation.
Relish
To be pleased with or look forward to
I don't relish speaking with that student's parents about his behavior.
Relish
(Archaic) To give spice or flavor to.
Relish
(Archaic) To have a pleasing or distinctive taste.
Relish
A pleasant taste.
Relish
Enjoyment; pleasure.
Relish
A quality or characteristic tinge.
Relish
(followed by "for") A taste (for); liking (of); fondness.
Relish
A cooked or pickled sauce, usually made with vegetables or fruits, generally used as a condiment.
Relish
In a wooden frame, the projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece.
Relish
Something that is greatly liked or savoured.
Relish
(transitive) To taste or eat with pleasure, to like the flavor of
Relish
(transitive) To take great pleasure in.
He relishes their time together.
I don't relish the idea of going out tonight.
Relish
To taste; to have a specified taste or flavour.
Relish
(transitive) To give a taste to; to cause to taste nice, to make appetizing.
Relish
To give pleasure.
Relish
To taste or eat with pleasure; to like the flavor of; to partake of with gratification; hence, to enjoy; to be pleased with or gratified by; to experience pleasure from; as, to relish food.
Now I begin to relish thy advice.
He knows how to prize his advantages, and to relish the honors which he enjoys.
Relish
To give a relish to; to cause to taste agreeably.
A savory bit that served to relish wine.
Relish
To have a pleasing or appetizing taste; to give gratification; to have a flavor.
Had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.
A theory, which, how much soever it may relish of wit and invention, hath no foundation in nature.
Relish
A pleasing taste; flavor that gratifies the palate; hence, enjoyable quality; power of pleasing.
Much pleasure we have lost while we abstainedFrom this delightful fruit, nor known till nowTrue relish, tasting.
When liberty is gone,Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.
Relish
Savor; quality; characteristic tinge.
It preserve some relish of old writing.
Relish
A taste for; liking; appetite; fondness.
A relish for whatever was excelent in arts.
I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be j dicious.
Relish
That which is used to impart a flavor; specifically, something taken with food to render it more palatable or to stimulate the appetite; a condiment.
Relish
The projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece.
Relish
Vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
Relish
Spicy or savory condiment
Relish
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth
Relish
Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in;
She relished her fame and basked in her glory
Relish
A pickled condiment often made from cucumbers.
The sandwich tasted better with a spread of relish.
Relish
A zesty addition to various dishes.
He always had relish with his grilled cheese sandwich.
Common Curiosities
How is chutney different in texture?
Chutney's consistency can vary, ranging from chunky to smooth.
Can relish be sweet?
While relish is typically tangy, some versions can have a sweet undertone.
What is relish made of?
Relish is primarily made from diced vegetables, vinegar, and spices.
Can relish be used as a sandwich spread?
Yes, relish can be used as a spread to enhance the flavor of sandwiches.
Is chutney an Indian condiment?
Yes, chutney originates from Indian cuisine.
Are all chutneys spicy?
Not all chutneys are spicy; the flavor varies based on ingredients.
What are popular chutney ingredients?
Common ingredients include mangoes, tamarind, tomatoes, and various spices.
Which cuisines commonly use relish?
Relish is prevalent in Western cuisines, especially American and British.
Are there many chutney varieties?
Yes, there are countless chutney varieties, each with unique ingredients and flavors.
Can relish be made at home?
Absolutely, making relish at home allows for customization of flavors.
How long can relish be stored?
Relish, when refrigerated, can last for several weeks to months.
Is relish similar to pickles?
While relish often has pickled components, it's a condiment, whereas pickles are fermented vegetables.
Can chutney be made without sugar?
Yes, chutney can be made without sugar, but it may alter the traditional sweet-spicy balance.
Is chutney served warm or cold?
Chutney can be served either way, but it's commonly served at room temperature or slightly cold.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
