Dried Cherry, Pearl Onion, and Pear Chutney

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Yield:
6 half-pint jars

The tartness of the red wine vinegar helps to offset the pear and dried cherry sweetness of this chutney.

Ingredients

  • 4 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch dice

  • Juice of 2 lemons

  • 2 ½ cups dried cherries

  • 1 pound red pearl onions, roots trimmed, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise

  • 1 ½ cups red-wine vinegar

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, toss pears with lemon juice.

  2. Place cherries, pearl onions, half of the pears, the vinegar, sugar, salt, cloves, and 2 cups water in a low-sided, 6-quart saucepan. Set the saucepan over high heat, and bring liquid to a boil.

  3. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer until fruit is tender, about 45 minutes.

  4. Increase heat to high; cook until liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining pears, and reduce heat to low; cook just until pears are heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

  5. Transfer to a large bowl set over an ice bath to chill; store in airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 4 weeks.

Cook's Notes

Peeling the pearl onions is easier if you first soak them in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes; when trimming the roots, remove as little as possible so the onions remain intact during the cooking process.

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