TOMATO AND COCONUT CHUTNEY (South Indian style)

TOMATO AND COCONUT CHUTNEY

(South Indian style)

Edited: This my post was featured at a blog hop on 5th of May 2016, Check here.

Chutneys and pickles play an important role in Indian and South Asian cuisine, as a condiment or a side dish, without which no snack or meal is complete. They are always readily available in Indian homes, and we serve them with every single meal as a side dish, which can enhance the taste of food to its highest level of satisfaction. Once you try chutneys, their sweet-sour and tangy flavors can sometimes intensify the taste of the main food, and the complete dish can be enjoyed even more.

In Indian cuisine, many fruits and vegetables of different colors are used to make these colorful and versatile chutneys with varieties of tastes like sweet, sour, tangy, hot etc. In different states of India, different types of chutneys are made which go well with the taste of their traditional food preparation respectively. Chutneys and their types depend upon the food item we eat, for example if our curry is already hot, we might need some sweet chutney to accompany it or if our curry or the main dish is bland we might need some hot or sweet and sour chutney with it.

Traditionally in India, all types of chutneys and pickles were homemade, and all their recipes were known by the housewives/homemakers. The source of learning was through their mothers or elderly women in the family. But these days everything is commercialized, even chutneys and pickles are readily made available in shops. The only problem with these readymade one is the quality because they are loaded with preservatives, too much sugar or vinegar, which is not good for health. Homemade chutneys are always good because we know all the ingredients in it compared to the ready made ones in the shop where some of the ingredients are difficult to pronounce/ read or known.

In some Indian homes, I have seen different varieties of pickles and chutneys are always there on the dining table with the food. They are normally kept in one big container with small compartments/bowls in it, like an Indian spice box or something like a box with divisions. This is really a convenient way to serve different varieties in one go, and easy for people to help themselves with whatever taste of chutney they require at the time of a meal.

Both the chutneys in today’s post are south Indian style and go very well with dosa and Idlee and other south Indian dishes, even with rice and other curries. Both these chutneys are so versatile that they can be enjoyed with any type of pakoda (fritter), samosa and many other snack items of north and south India. Tomato chutney can easily replace ready made tomato ketchup from the shop.

RECIPE



INGREDIENTS
For coconut chutney

• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 2 green chilies(optional)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• salt to taste
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ¼ cup of water (if required)

For Tempering

• 2 tbs oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• few curry leaves
• 2 whole red dried chili

METHOD

• Soak coconut in one cup of water for 3-4 hours
• Remove extra water and grind with all other ingredients in a blender, add water if it is too thick.
• Mix yoghurt thoroughly.
• For tempering heat oil in a pan, put mustard seeds and red chili and curry leaves. Fry till chili and leaves are fried.
• Add together with oil on top of chutney.
• Chutney is ready to serve.

TOMATO CHUTNEY



INGREDIENTS

• 500 Grams tomatoes, chopped into small pieces
• 4 cloves of garlic, cut in half pieces
• 1 big onion (200 grams), cut into small pieces
• 2 green chilies (optional)
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• salt to taste
• 1-2 tbs oil

METHOD

• Heat oil in a frying pan, add mustard seeds, let it splutter then add garlic and onion and fry till golden brown.
• Add tomatoes and salt and let it boil and cook for 5-10 minutes.
• When cold put it in a blender and make a puree of it.
• Chutney is ready to serve.

I am sending this recipe, as a blog post entry for Cook blog share and Hearth and soul blog hop and Welcome home Wednesday party, and with Full plate Thursday, and with My two fav things on Thursday, with Fiesta Friday, and with Real Food Friday, and with Sunday food and fitness party, and with Meatless Monday and What do you do this weekend, and with Tasty Tuesday and Happy healthy and green party, and with way wow link Party and with Sweet inspiration link party.