What is the Hindi word for spicy jelly or relish?

This popular condiment gets its name from the Hindi word 'chatni,' which literally means 'to lick' or 'to taste.' This perfectly captures its role as a flavorful accompaniment designed to be enjoyed in small amounts. While English speakers might think of it as a type of spicy jelly or relish, the term in its native India covers a vast and diverse range of sauces, pastes, and preserves.

In Indian cuisine, these accompaniments can be made from an incredible variety of ingredients. They range from fresh, uncooked pastes like a vibrant mint and cilantro version to slow-cooked, sweet and tangy fruit preserves like a classic mango or tamarind one. Their consistency can be smooth and dippable or chunky and spoonable, serving to balance the complex flavors of a main dish with a burst of sweetness, spice, or sourness.

The word and the food spread globally largely through the British Empire. British colonists in India developed a taste for the sweet, fruit-based cooked varieties, which kept well during long sea voyages. This led to the creation of commercialized, jarred versions, often milder and sweeter than their traditional Indian counterparts, which introduced the concept to the Western world and cemented its place in global pantries.