Mint Chutney

The bright green sauce that shows up next to the tamarind chutney, and the one that does the most work on the table. Fresh mint and cilantro blended with green chili, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and a little cumin, ground down until it's smooth and sharp. It's cooling and herbal first, with a green-chili heat that shows up at the back rather than the front — different from the dried-red-chili heat in our chili sauce, and far more refreshing.

Mint chutney is the counterweight to everything rich on the menu. A samosa or a plate of pakora is fried and heavy on its own; the mint cuts straight through it. The same goes for anything off the tandoor — chicken tikka, seekh kebab, tandoori chicken all come with char and spice that mint brightens instead of competing with. Spread it inside a naan wrap or spoon it over rice and it does the same job.

If you want the full range on the table, order it alongside the tamarind chutney. That pairing is standard for a reason: one is sweet and sour, the other is herbal and sharp, and most fried or grilled dishes taste better with a bit of both. Ask for mint chutney with your momo too, if you'd rather have something lighter than the sesame achar.

Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free — we blend ours without yogurt, so it stays bright green and works for anyone avoiding dairy. Mild to medium heat depending on the chilies, and available at every Curry Gate location in Charlotte, Matthews and University City for dine-in, pickup, delivery and catering.