Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi, host of Bravo's Top Chef, is a former model whose work allowed her to travel the world. She's fascinated by Mediterranean and Asian food, which she says share an amazing similarity, despite their coming from opposite sides of the globe. Now she's created a world of recipes for every day in her book, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet. Padma shares the following recipe, which combines the tastes of hot and sweet in the same bite. She's named it after her good friend.

Francesco Clemente's Amazing Hot Sauce (Chipotle & Date Chutney)
(Courtesy of Padma Lakshmi's Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet)
Makes about 3 1/2 to 4 cups

10 fresh or dried dates, pitted, cut into chunks
4 plum tomatoes, seeded, with the juice squeezed from them
13 ozs pickled Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp coarse sea salt

In a blender or processor, combine all the ingredients and blend until they make a thick paste.  Pour into a deep saucepan, and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 to 6 minutes, adding 1/4 cup water halfway through and stirring.  Cool and then store in an airtight glass jar.

Music break: Wise Guy Cha Cha by West One UK Library