Delicious Discoveries: Fresno woman’s sweet and spicy chutney has many uses

Ninik Billington has always enjoyed making chutney, a sweet, sometimes spicy condiment. She and her family love it on everything from toast to roasted chicken. So when Billington, founder of the Tempeh Factory, wanted to expand her line of food products, she turned to chutney.

Billington makes several flavors of the sauce that is best known for its use in Indian cooking. The sweetness plays well off of the savory flavors of Indian cuisine. Billington uses fresh ingredients, including peaches, nectarines, persimmons, apples and mango to make her chutney.

So far, her best seller is the mango chutney. It has a pleasing sweet and spicy flavor that can be used in many different ways. Billington uses all natural ingredients including, mango, sugar, vinegar, raisins, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, salt and habañero chili.

Billington says she’s seen a growing interest in people using chutney. About half of her customers have never had chutney before, but are willing to try after tasting a sample.

“It has so many uses and people are good at experimenting with chutney,” she says.

Billington’s customers say they’ve used her chutney as a sauce for roasted chicken, pork chops, stir fried tempeh, on grilled fish and even mixed in with white rice. You can also dress up appetizers with a dollop of chutney, and spread it on meat sandwiches and grilled cheese.

You can find Billington’s chutney at one of several farmers markets she attends. On Wednesday mornings, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., she is at the The Market on Kern, between M and N streets in downtown Fresno. Friday nights she is at Chukchansi Park during home games. Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to noon, she can be found at the farmers market at the Market at El Paseo, Herndon and Highway 99. And Sundays, she sells at Gazebo Garden’s farmers market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The chutney comes in an 8-ounce jar and sells for $7. For more information you can email Billington at tempehfactory@gmail.com.

This story was originally published June 16, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Delicious Discoveries: Fresno woman’s sweet and spicy chutney has many uses."