Today’s post is sponsored by Grapes from California.
Okay, imagine this for a second.
Yourself sitting around with friends, significant other, or let’s be honest – happily by yourself – with a plate of crispy crackers topped with a jammy savory-sweet caramelized shallot and red grape chutney and a thin slice of Manchego cheese, and maybe even a glass of red wine to boot. I’m not saying you have to make this happen, but COME ON. We’re fast approaching crazy holiday season and you sort of have to make this happen.
Let me tell you what that might look like, if you’re anything like us:
Me: Bjork, you should try this grape chutney.
Bjork: Wow, that’s really good.
Bjork and Lindsay: (eating crackers with grape chutney and Manchego cheese)
(eating more crackers with grape chutney and goat cheese)
(forgetting all other dinner plans and settling in for a few more crackers with grape chutney and cheese)
This is our real life and I’m not mad about it.
It could also be your real life – like how about this? I have a friend who does a once-a-week date night with her husband where they put their kids to bed and then just have an easy dinner featuring a crackers + cheese spread with wine. Does that not sound like the most simple, wonderful, romantic thing ever? Goals.
Whether date night or holiday party or just a random crackers and cheese situation – this grape chutney is going to make for some happy snacking, and it is so super easy to make.
Also: I bet you have grapes in your fridge right now. Maybe just go check real quick. See? We are co-captains of team CONVENIENT together.
For this recipe, I recommend grapes that are really deep, dark red or maybe even darker than that. Like, black. There is such a thing as black grapes. The color can start to fade as you cook the grapes down, so if you want a really rich color, start with darker grapes and boost the color with that splash of red wine.
For my US readers, I also recommend that you use grapes grown in California, seeing as to the fact that 99% of all grapes grown in the US are specifically grown in California. These are our local grapes, friends!
And not only are they our local grapes, but they are in season all the way through JANUARY. Big win. The amount of fruit in my grocery cart every week has gone down dramatically as winter has started approaching, but every week: grapes. Always grapes. Even when there is almost NO other fruit in season for us, I can rely on grapes to be delicious and seasonally perfect all the way into cold and snowy January.
This particular recipe is also a smart choice for holiday party snacking – the chutney itself has no added sweeteners: just the rockin’ flavor of the caramelized shallots and the jammy grapes to keep us coming back for more. One serving (about 1/4 cup) has just over 100 calories. Pair that with a few whole wheat crackers and a slice or two of cheese, and yes, yes, yes. I feel so much better about that as a simple, elegant, and so totally delicious snack than many of the other options at holiday parties (I’m looking at you, chips + creamy dips).
How about this? Call or text someone you love right now and schedule a cheese + crackers + wine night with them. Maybe even a pre-Thanksgiving one. You can even use the new cheese emoji. 🧀
Ready? One, two, three…
Caramelized Shallot and Grape Chutney
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 1 1/2 cups chutney 1x
Description
Caramelized Shallot and Grape Chutney! Made with shallots, grapes, red wine, cinnamon, bourbon, and vinegar. So good with plate of crispy crackers!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 shallots, finely minced or sliced
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup red wine (I used Merlot)
- 3 cups red or purple grapes, cut in half
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 bay leaf
- crackers and cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and stir occasionally for 5-10 minutes until very soft and fragrant.
- Add the grapes and turn the heat up to get everything hot. Pour in the bourbon, vinegar, and wine – it should sizzle a little bit to get the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes or until the grapes have started breaking down.
- Smash the grapes into a jam-like consistency using the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, cool, and serve on cracker with cheese (Manchego cheese and goat cheese are my favorite with this).
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dip
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: shallot and grape chutney, shallot chutney, grape chutney
Today’s post is sponsored by Grapes from California.