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Condiments, Tamil Brahmin Recipes

Thakkali Chutney (Tomato chutney)

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VIDEO RECIPE:

During my early blogging days, I posted pics of tomato chutney made with both red and green tomatoes and wrote that I’ll post the recipe soon. That ‘soon’ never came until Sowmya posted a comment on that old post, a couple of days ago asking for the recipe.

Since it also fits with my theme of the month, easy cooking with few ingredients – here it is. The photo is a capture from the iPhone of the breakfast we had earlier this week.

Choose firm but fully ripe red tomatoes for this. I have chosen the Bangalore variety as it is fleshier with less water content and seeds compared to the local variety, which means this chutney takes lesser time to get dried up and ready. It may be less sour than the local variety, which you can remedy by using some tamarind extract or ready tamarind paste.

Authentic Tamil Brahmin style will not have garlic. This is my addition and it tastes equally good minus the garlic.

Thakkali Chutney (Tomato chutney)

During my early blogging days, I posted pics of tomato chutney made with both red and green tomatoes and wrote that I'll post the recipe soon. That 'soon' never came until Sowmya posted a comment on that old post, a couple of days ago asking for the recipe. Since it also fits with my theme of the mo
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 5 tomatoes large ripe red , cubed roughly
  • 1 - 2 tbsps gingelly oil
For tempering:
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds black
  • 3 - 4 chillies dried red , broken into bits
  • pinch asafoetida fat
  • 1 tsp Chana dal
  • 1 tsp dal udad
  • 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1 - 2 sprigs curry leaves
  • 4 - 5 cloves garlic , crushed and minced (optional).
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste .
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp red chilli powder .
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder .

Method
 

  1. In a heavy bottomed kadai, heat the oil. Splutter the mustard seeds.
  2. Add chana dal, udad dal and stir until golden.
  3. Next, add the asafoetida, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, red chillies and garlic and stir for a minute or so on medium heat.
  4. Add the chopped tomatoes and the salt. On medium to high flame keep stirring until tomatoes break down, get cooked and become pulpy. This should take roughly 8-10 minutes for this quantity. Towards the end, add the turmeric and red chilli powder. Check for salt and adjust.

Notes

Serve with idlis, dosas or mix into steamed and cooled rice to make tomato baath. You can also use this as a sandwich spread.This will stay for 3-4 days in airtight bottle in the fridge, but we use it all up at one go.
Traditional Tamil chutneys, pickles are mostly made with gingelly oil. It gives its own taste to the preparation. You could however use any oil of your choice, including mustard oil for a sharp pungent taste to the chutney. Garlic is completely optional. You will get a whole different taste dimension just by using or omitting this one ingredient.
Variations
Add a handful of chopped mint leaves or a tsp of dried mint to this during the cooking process.
If you find that the tomatoes are not sour enough, add 1/2 tsp of tamarind paste to the tomatoes while they are cooking for that tangy mouthwatering effect.
Try this with green tomatoes, when they are in season.
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8 Comments

Comments

  1. sanjeeta kk says: February 5, 2011 at 8:34 am

    Looks very tangy and spicy treat! Cloves is a new addition for me, I add methi powder at the last minute of cooking. Shall try this change and see. Lite Bite

    Reply
  2. nandita says: February 5, 2011 at 8:40 am

    No cloves Sanjeeta – Added garlic cloves. I add methi powder too when I have it on hand.

    Reply
  3. Malar Gandhi says: February 5, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Perfect for idlies:)

    Reply
  4. sowmya says: February 5, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Cool! Thank you very much!!

    Reply
  5. sanjeeta kk says: February 5, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    Sorry for not typing the whole thing, I did mean cloves of garlic :)Came here to note down the recipe to make it with my dosa’s for tonight dinner and saw the mistake. Happy weekend!

    Reply
  6. Priya's Feast says: February 5, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Luv the click…i am tempted to c thakkali chutney

    Reply
  7. rtoram says: February 7, 2011 at 12:02 am

    simple and easy to make. best suited for bachelor cooking

    Reply
  8. Divya Shankar says: March 19, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    This one is my fav 🙂 with dosas and rice esp.

    Reply

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