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    Home » Healthy Recipes » Healthy Choices

    Onion Tomato Chutney | Vengayam Thakkali Chutney

    Published: Sep 2, 2015 · Modified: Nov 4, 2020 by Ramya · 25 Comments

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    4

    It’s a known fact on this blog how we love our idlis and dosas for breakfast at home. Often, I end up making South Indian style coconut chutney or my mom’s peanut chutney to go as a side dish for our breakfast. It does get monotonous at times and that’s when I prepare my MIL’s popular onion tomato chutney. It’s tangy, it’s spicy, it’s colorful, it’s vibrant, it’s tasty and it really goes well with any South Indian breakfast. The best part is that this chutney can stay good for at least three to four days when stored in an air tight container in the fridge and comes as a life saver when you are super busy in the mornings or pressed for time during the evenings.

    2

    The ratio of onions to tomatoes in this recipe is usually 1:3 and that’s why this chutney ends up being a bit tangy, perfect for soft idlis or crispy dosas. My MIL usually adds green chillies to this chutney unlike the most onion-tomato chutney recipes and I feel I like this taste better. There is also a hint of garlic, but that is optional. The secret ingredient to this chutney is a tablespoon of grated coconut or a small chunk of fresh coconut and it just takes this recipe to a whole new level – adding a great texture to it. It is really easy to prepare this chutney and you would need only a teaspoon of oil to make a whole bowl of chutney – making it totally guilt free.

    3-1

    To make Onion Tomato Chutney | Venkayam Thakkali Chutney

    • Servings: 4
    • Time: 20 mins
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    What I used –
    • Onion, 1 large
    • Tomatoes, 2 medium
    • Garlic Pods, 2-3
    • Grated Fresh Coconut, 1 tbsp
    • Green Chillies, 2
    • Tamarind, small marble sized ball
    • Salt, as required
    • Oil, ½ teaspoon + ½ tsp
    • Mustard Seeds, ½ tsp
    • Jeera, ½ tsp
    • Fennel Seeds, ½ tsp
    • Dried Red Chilly, 1
    • Curry Leaves, a few
    • Water, as required

    1

    How I made –
    1. Start by roughly chopping the onion and tomatoes.
    2. In a pan, heat ½ teaspoon of oil. Add Fennel seeds and as they splutter, add chopped onion and tomato pieces.
    3. Add peeled garlic pods, roughly chopped green chillies and the small marble sized ball of tamarind.
    4. Add required salt and mix well. Reduce the flame to low and keep the pan covered with a lid.
    5. The tomatoes should leave enough water to cook everything. It should take about 5-7 mins, the water should be evaporated and the onion-tomatoes should look cooked.
    6. Let the mixture cool for 5 mins. In a mixer jar, add the onion tomato mixture along with grated coconut. Blend into a smooth paste. Add some water if required. Remove it on to a bowl.
    7. In a small pan, heat ½ teaspoon of oil. Add mustard seeds, jeera and red chilly (cut in half). When the mustard seeds and jeera splutter, add washed curry leaves. Fry for ten seconds. Add the tempering on top of chutney.
    8. Serve as a side dish or idli or dosa.

    5

    Note –
    • The number of green chillies can be adjusted according to the taste preferences. As the chutney turns out tangy, I add two of the spicier version of chillies.
    • Adding grated coconut is optional but just a tablespoon of it makes a lot of difference to the taste and is highly recommended.
    • If the onion-tomato mix is sticking too much to the bottom while cooking, sprinkle some water.
    • The chutney stays good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    • Tamarind gives a tangy punch to the chutney, if you don’t like the tanginess – can skip it.

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    1. Freda @ Aromatic essence

      September 02, 2015 at 10:08 am

      chutney looks fantastic 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 02, 2015 at 3:41 pm

        Thanks Freda 🙂

        Reply
    2. Monika

      September 02, 2015 at 6:53 pm

      This looks perfect.. My tamilian neighbour makes just awesome onion tomato chutney.. thats why I never make it as she is there ?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:20 pm

        You are lucky Monika 😀

        Reply
    3. srividhya

      September 02, 2015 at 7:26 pm

      Great Chutney for tiffin items. lovely

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:19 pm

        Thanks Sri 🙂

        Reply
    4. Bikramjit

      September 02, 2015 at 8:28 pm

      oooh but OnIONS how are people in india going to afford this 🙂 ok ok bad joke ...

      looks yummyliscious

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:19 pm

        Hahaha I know no one can afford this chutney now.. Luckily I made this when onions were cheaper 🙂 Thanks bik! Always good to see a comment from you 🙂

        Reply
    5. Traditionally Modern Food

      September 03, 2015 at 2:10 am

      My all time fav chutney:-) looks perfect

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:17 pm

        Thanks dear 🙂

        Reply
    6. Bharani

      September 03, 2015 at 4:53 am

      DH loves this chutney.... yummy 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:16 pm

        Thanks Bharani 🙂

        Reply
    7. perspectivesandprejudices

      September 03, 2015 at 7:17 am

      I just finished dinner but this is making me crave for dosai and chutney now ?

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:16 pm

        Awww wish I could send you some virtually... 🙂

        Reply
    8. Rose @ Nish Kitchen

      September 03, 2015 at 9:14 am

      I love tomato chutney. But the the one with tomatoes and onion is pretty new to me. Looks delicious! Bookmarked!

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:15 pm

        Thank you Rose 🙂

        Reply
    9. dreamzandclouds

      September 03, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      I am going to trying this immediately! 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:14 pm

        Wow pls do try M 🙂

        Reply
        • dreamzandclouds

          September 07, 2015 at 10:34 am

          I made it and it was absolutely yummy!
          P.S. I added a few peanuts as well 🙂

          Reply
    10. Lynz Real Cooking

      September 05, 2015 at 8:05 am

      Looks so good! The coconut wow that would be so delicious!!! I love the look of this also it looks so pretty!:)

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        September 05, 2015 at 5:08 pm

        Thank you so much Lynz 🙂

        Reply
        • Lynz Real Cooking

          September 05, 2015 at 6:33 pm

          Again looks so good!

          Reply

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