The English Provender Co Caramelised Red Onion Chutney review

Well, the sun may have disappeared again (sniff) and most of the Jubilee street parties and barbecues ended up being very damp affairs, but nevertheless, barbecues, picnics and salads are starting to appear more regularly on the menu here at The Madhouse. It has therefore been the perfect time for us to try out the jar of Caramelised Red Onion Chutney that The English Provender Co sent through for us to review.

Now, for me, the name The English Provender Co evokes words like traditional, old-fashioned, high-end and classic. The olde-worlde feel of the name and the luxurious, indulgent products on offer are more likely to bring to mind the lovingly prepared preserves from village shows, using recipes that have been passed down through the family for generations, than most of the mass-produced condiments that you can find on the supermarket shelves. But this doesn't mean that they are stuck in their ways. The brand have just undergone a bit of a relaunch, introducing new recipes using natural ingredients and ‘au naturel’ clear labels.

As you can see from the photo, the chutney has a very deep, dark colour which instantly suggests the richness of the flavour. It is slightly oniony (but won't repeat on you all night !) but is also very mellow and sweet. It is so rich, in fact, that you almost get the flavour of wine coming through, so I think this would be brilliant for stirring through beef stews or slow cooked meals at the end of their cooking time to add extra depth of flavour. It is perfect on the side of the plate - here with barbecued meat and rice but it would be great with a Ploughman's too - or spread in a sandwich in place of the higher calorie options like mayonnaise. (I had a piece of baguette filled with left over roast chicken and a topping of the chutney for dinner tonight - totally satisfying and delicious !) It is also great for adding an interesting twist to rather bland dishes like plain white rice or mashed potato - just stir it through at the last minute before serving.

I also love the look of these Goats Cheese & Caramelised Red Onion Chutney Croissants that the lovely Galina came up with on her fabulous Chez Maximka blog. (I see that she also confirms that it works well in stews so I'll definitely have to try that.) There is also a lovely recipe for Caramelised Red Onion Chutney and Feta Tartlets on the English Provender Co website here that I can't wait to try.

I was already highly impressed with the product but I was even more wowed when I saw this special edition Union Jack jar that they produced for the Diamond Jubilee. The Swarovski-encrusted jar is coated in almost 2000 of the crystals, which were stuck on individually by hand. The jar is one of only four that have been commissioned - each is worth around £1000 and took a painstaking 40 hours to create ! Marketing manager Karen Fowler explains: “Our all-natural Caramelised Red Onion chutney is a British favourite so it seemed only right to celebrate this great year of ‘Britishness’ with a special commemorative jar. We would love Her Royal Highness and Lord Coe to have their own crystal jars of chutney to treasure!” I bet they'd love it too !

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : about £2-2.50

for more information : http://www.englishprovender.com/

Disclosure : I received a jar of Caramelised Red Onion chutney in order to write an honest review. 

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