Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney is the perfect way to use the last of the tomatoes of the season. Combining green tomatoes with apple and sweet peppers makes a sweet fruity chutney that is ideal as a gift.

I have been making chutney for over 40 years and I have to say that Green Tomato Chutney is my favourite. I haven’t been able to make it for a while, because I got my green tomatoes from my husband’s uncle, who sadly passed away.
This year I was very excited to see that The Tomato Stall in the Isle of Wight was selling green tomatoes specifically for chutney so I am back in business. By next year I hope that I will have a greenhouse in place and will be growing my own tomatoes.

What are Green Tomatoes?
Green Tomatoes are tomatoes that are not ripe. Tomatoes need sun and warmth to ripen and at the end of the growing season, there is often not enough of either to ripen the last of the tomatoes.
I don’t have Green Tomatoes what can I use?
This is a recipe to use green tomatoes, however, you can use very firm, not quite ripe, red salad tomatoes. The chutney will not be the same but as long as they are very firm you can make them into chutney.

What kind of apples should I use for chutney?
Use either cooking apples or sharp flavoured eating apples for this chtuney recipe.

What kind of peppers are in the Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney?
I use standard red and yellow sweet (bell) peppers. Use any combination of red, yellow, or orange peppers. I like the red peppers because you can see the pieces in the chutney.
What kind of vinegar should I use?
In this recipe, I use white malt vinegar which is a basic white vinegar. You can use white wine vinegar it will work just as well but is more expensive.
Don’t use non-brewed condiment often sold as white vinegar, as this is not true vinegar and will affect the quality of your chutney.

How many jars does this recipe make?
The recipe will make approximately 4 standard (378 ml) jars of chutney. It is not possible to be completely accurate because you may reduce your chutney slightly more or less than I did.
How long can I keep the Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney?
Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney will keep in a sterilised sealed jar for about 12 months. Once the jar is opened, please store in the fridge and use it within a month.
How soon can I eat the chutney?
Chuitney is best left for 6-8 weeks before use. The flavours will mature and the vinegar will mellow. You can eat it before 6 weeks but it is definitely better if you keep it.

How do I sterilise my jars?
I sterilise my jam jars and metal lids by thoroughly washing and rinsing them. I then put them, still wet, upside down onto a baking tray and place it in the oven at 150C just before I start to make the jam.
The water creates steam which helps to sterilise the jars. I take them out of the oven and fill them with the hot jam, then put on the lids. There are other methods but this is how I sterilise my jars.
How to make Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney
This really is a simple recipe and the result is a lovely combination of sweet and sharp flavours that makes it the perfect accompaniment to many different dishes.

Ingredients for Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney
You will need:
- Green Tomatoes
- Apples
- Sweet (Bell) Peppers
- Onions
- Lemon
- Orange zest
- Soft brown sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Vinegar

Chop the Onions
- Chop the onions
- Put in a large pan with 2-3 tbsp of the vinegar
- Simmer until nearly soft

Prepare the fruit
- Quarter the tomatoes
- Peel, core and dice the apples
- Core and dice the peppers

Put the ingredients into the pan
- Add the tomatoes, peppers, and apples to the onions in the pan
- Add the vinegar, orange zest, lemon juice, and lemon zest
- Then add the sugar, spices, salt & pepper


Cook the Chutney
Bring the mixture slowly to the boil and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until thick.


Fill the jars
Use a ladle or a jug to fill the jars. I use a jam/chutney funnel which is a really good investment if you make a lot of preserves.
Seal the jars with the lids while still warm. Check the lids once the chutney has cooled to make sure they are tight.

What can I serve with Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney?
- Chutney is delicious on a sandwich
- Serve alongside ham or chicken salad
- Make chutney part of your cheeseboard
- Enjoy it with pies or sausage rolls
- Burgers, sausages, and any kind of barbeque are improved by a spoonful of chutney.
- Add a spoonful to your vinaigrette
- As chutney is originally derived from an Indian dish it is delicious with curries.

More Chutney & Relish Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Chutney is a great way to preserve all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and also a delicious way to perk up so many different dishes. Here are some other chutney and relish recipes you might like to try.

Spicy Courgette (Zucchini) & Apple Chutney is a fabulous way to use up a glut of courgettes from the garden or take advantage of the lower prices when they are in season. It’s a sweet, spicy and chunky chutney that retains a bit of texture.
Slow Cooker Date and Apple Chutney is the easiest chutney I’ve ever made. All the ingredients go into your slow cooker and the result is a perfect sweet and sour relish that is perfect to serve with cheeses and cold meat.

Sweet Cucumber Relish is a sweet, crunchy, and pickled relish that is ideal to liven up your sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more.

Pineapple Chilli Jam is a sweet and spicy relish with a similar combination of flavours to mango chutney. The pineapple and chillies combine so well with ginger and garlic and an unusual ‘secret’ ingredient. It’s really delicious served with cheese, burgers or cold meats.
More Chutney Recipes
- Easy Spicy Mango Chutney – Fab Food 4 All
- Rhubarb & Ginger Chutney – Tin & Thyme
- Homemade Fruity Chutney – Recipes Made Easy
Find my Chutney & Relish Recipes
You can find the recipe index in the menu at the top of every page along with other ways to sort recipes including a handy shortcut to find my Jams, Jelly, Chutney & Pickles recipes.

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Green Tomato, Apple & Pepper Chutney
Equipment
- large pan
- chopping board
- Sharp knife
- weighing scales
- Measuring spoons
- grater
- jug
- glass jam jars
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2¼ pounds) green tomatoes
- 2 (2) red or yellow peppers
- 125 grams (2½ cups) onions finely chopped
- 150 grams (1¼ cups) cooking or tart eating apples 2
- 1 (1) orange grated rind
- 1 (1) lemon grated rind and juice
- 125 grams (½ cups) soft brown sugar
- 300 millilitres (1¼ cups) white malt vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) salt
- ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) ground ginger
Instructions
- Put 125 g (2 ¼ cups) chopped onions into a large saucepan with 2-3 tbsp of the vinegar and simmer until nearly soft.
- Quarter 1 kg (2¼ cups) tomatoes. Peel, core and dice 150 g (1¼ cups) apples. Core and dice 2 (bell) peppers.
- Add the tomatoes, peppers and apples to the onions in the pan.
- Add the remaining vinegar, orange and lemon zest and lemon juice, 1 tbsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tps cinnamon, ½ tsp ground ginger and 125 g (½ cups) sugar.
- Bring the mixture slowly to the boil and simmer for 1 ½ – 2 hours until thick.
- Pour or ladle the hot chutney into warm sterilised jars and seal at once.
CAMILLA HAWKINS says
I’ve never had green tomato chutney but I bet it tastes amazing. Hoping my tomatoes get around to ripening but if they don’t I’ll know how to use them up:-)
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Camilla. It’s is remarkably delicious given that the tomatoes aren’t ripe. Fingers crossed your tomatoes do ripen.
Sarah Holt says
The flavors in this chutney sound amazing Janice!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Sarah. It’s a really tasty chutney.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
What a great way to use up green tomatoes!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, I like to use up everything!
Beth Sachs says
Now this looks like a delicious chutney. Perfect with cheese and crackers i bet #CookBlogShare
Janice Pattie says
Absolutely perfect with cheese and crackers and great on sandwiches and with burgers too.
Sisley White says
Gorgeous recipe and now firmly a family favourite. I can’t wait to enjoy my next sandwich with it. #cookeblogshare
Janice Pattie says
Oh thank you, that’s so good to hear.
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
What a fantastic way to use up unripe tomatoes! I didn’t know you could do this and it sounds so great.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, I’m glad you like the recipe.
Chloe Edges says
I may well be giving this a whirl if my tomatoes don’t ripen soon!
Michelle Rolfe says
Will be making this next season as I was a bit overzealous and ordered some lovely green tomatoes from IOW for this very reason – left them too long and they all became red! Oops! So I ate them instead 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle x
Janice Pattie says
That’s so funny! My tomatoes were just about to start going red, timing is all!
Graham says
I have peppers in the freezer I’d like to use up,would they be alright to use in this recipe?
Thanks
Janice Pattie says
Hi Graham, yes that should work fine. Just add the peppers in frozen rather than thaw them first.
AKL says
Thought I would try this as a change from my usual recipe.
Having piles of fresh produce to deal with and not nearly enough time, I cut the tomatoes up into the required sized pieces and froze in a plastic bag until I could deal with them. This morning I put the frozen tomatoes in the preserving pan with the vinegar and heated it on the lowest possible setting for a while, turned it off and left it to finish defrosting. The onions were softened in different pan and then added, before adding the other ingredients.
The consistency is very good and the taste lovely. The slight citrus flavour is a pleasant twist. Looking forward to eating it in a few months!
Janice Pattie says
Oh that’s great to hear. Thanks for letting me know, it’s also good to know you can freeze the raw tomatoes until you are ready to make the chutney.
Satah says
Hi.. can I use cider vinegar in this recipe?
Janice Pattie says
Yes, cider vinegar would be ideal. I hope you enjoy the chutney.
Candy says
I’m making this right now, and am wondering about the sealing of the jars. I’m using standard ball jars with the 2 piece lids. Should I put them in my canning pot and boil to seal, or will the hot chutney itself seal the jars.
Janice Pattie says
Hi Candy, I don’t water bath any of my jams or chutneys. If the jars are sterilised and warm when to put the warm chutney in them they should seal. Just make sure you tighten up the lid when everything has cooled. Once opened the chutney should be stored in the fridge.
I hope you enjoy your chutney.
Karen says
What quantities of the ingredients are needed please? Thank you
Janice Pattie says
Hi Karen, the quantities are in the recipe card at the end of the article. You can use the Jump to Recipe button at the top of the page if you prefer not to read the rest of the information. Hope that helps.
ELAINE SHERRIN says
Having been given some green tomatoes from an allotment neighbour I looked for a suitable chutney recipe. This one looked the best by far. Easy to make and just waiting for near Christmas to try. Made lots so shared with my allotment friend. Thanks for a fab recipe!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Elaine. I’m so glad you liked the recipe and I love that you and your friend are sharing both the green tomatoes and the chutney. I hope you both enjoy it.
Peter says
After ploughing through pages of ads, finally come to the ingredients only to find no quantities given. What do I do, guess?
Janice Pattie says
Hi Peter, you may wish to use the Jump to recipe button at the top of the page. This will take you directly to the recipe card. I provide additional information in the main post to help my readers get the most from the recipe. While I understand that you are frustrated by the adverts, they are the means by which I earn a living and mean that my readers do not have to pay directly for my recipes. I hope that explains the advertising and that you enjoy the chutney.
Lisa says
I was wondering what you would eat this with? I am going to make it today because I need to use up my green tomatoes. I’ve just never made or had chutney before. Thanks for your suggestions
Lisa
Janice Pattie says
Hi Lisa
Thanks for getting in touch, it’s definitely green tomato season! I like to serve chutney with crackers and cheese. It’s also nice with a cold meats and salad. You can serve it with hot dishes too, this chutney would be nice with roast pork. Try adding a spoonful to a stew or casserole for a little extra kick of flavour. I hope this helps.
Kathleen Gundry says
5 ounces of apples? Is that correct?
Janice Pattie says
Hi Kathleen, I’ve checked the recipe and 5 ounces (150 g) of apples is correct.