This Onion Tomato Chutney is one of the most popular side dishes served in restaurants and South Indian homes. It goes well with most Indian breakfast meals like idli, dosa, vada, uttapam. It can also be served as a side in any Indian meal.
2 cups (330 grams)tomatoes (chopped from 3 medium tomatoes)
¾ cup (110 grams)onions (sliced/diced from 1 medium onion, red/yellow)
3 to 4 (7 grams)largegarlic cloves(peeled)
½ inch (5 grams)ginger (peeled & sliced)
1sprig curry leaves (or sub with 10 mint leaves or 2 to 3 tender stalks of coriander leaves)
1½ tablespoon (22 ml)oil
½ tablespoon (6 grams)chana dal (Bengal gram or 2 tbsp peanuts)
1 tablespoon (12 grams)urad dal (skinned black gram)
6 to 8 (12 grams)dried red chilies (read notes, I use Byadgi, or use ¾ to 1 tsp mild red chili powder)
¾teaspooncumin seeds (jeera or sub with shahi jeera for a different flavor)
¾teaspoonsea salt (more to adjust)
¼teaspoonturmeric (optional)
To Temper
1½teaspoonoil
⅓teaspoonblack mustard seeds
¼teaspoonurad dal (skinned black gram) (optional)
1 to 2dried red chili (break if you want)
1sprig curry leaves (pat dry)
1pinchasafoetida (hing, optional)
Instructions
How to make Tomato Chutney
Heat oil in a pan and add chana dal, urad dal & red chilies. Fry them on a medium flame until light golden & aromatic, for 2 to 3 mins.
Add cumin seeds, curry leaves, ginger and garlic. Fry them for a minute. Add the onions & saute for 4 to 5 mins, until transparent.
Stir in the tomatoes,salt and turmeric. Saute or cook covered, until they break down and turn mushy, for another 5 to 7 mins. If your pan dries out during this process, add a splash of water.
Cool down and blend to a smooth or slightly coarse chutney to your liking. (Optionally if you want you may reserve some of the red chilies before blending, to adjust later) Taste test & adjust salt.
To Temper
On a medium flame, heat oil in a small pan. When the oil is medium hot, add mustard, urad dal, red chili and curry leaves, one after the other. Fry until the lentils turn light golden & the curry leaves turn crisp. Turn off and add hing.
Pour this over the Tomato Chutney. Serve with South Indian breakfasts like idli, dosa, uttapam etc.