Tomato Chutney and Carrot, Cashew, & Date Raita (Tamatar Chatni & Gajar Kaju Raita))

Guests over last night. I make the tomato chutney the night before. It came out very well. My first experience using jaggery, and Indian sweetener. It comes in little blocks, but the recipe call for it in tablespoons. I think I used too much. The chutney tastes like a sweet, seasoned catsup. Not bad, but I'd probably prefer it a little less sweet. I used the jaggery in the raita the next morning and grated it first so it approximated granulated sugar. That made for easier measuring.

The raita was great. Now, again, I'm not someone who likes yogurt usually, but the homemade yogurt was very different. Not as tart, smoother, fresher tasting. I got to hang it in cheesecloth to drain for a few hours and then combined it with the dried dates, carrots, cashews, jagger, and other seasonings. It came out wonderfully.