The Peanut Chutney That Stayed With Me
Peanut chutney, or palli chutney, or groundnut chutney… whatever you call it, today it feels like something that has always been a part of me. But the truth is, it wasn’t. Growing up, chutney at home meant something very specific. It was coconut chutney, or that familiar fried Bengal gram chutney, sometimes a mix of both. Those were constants. Those were comfort. Peanut chutney never really belonged to that space. It was something I hadn’t quite met yet. I think I first really noticed it outside. At one of those small food carts you find across Hyderabad , the kind that quietly become a part of everyday life without you even realising it. I had gone there with a school friend after my intermediate. I was a little unsure at first, the usual questions in my head about whether I should or shouldn’t. But then there was dosa involved, and I have never really been able to say no to dosa. I still remember watching him make it. Quick hands, no fuss, just that rhythm of someone who has done ...