Tomato chutney

Ingredients :

Tomatoes : 2 cups chopped into big pieces

green chillies : 5 or 6 chopped finely (increase if u want more spice)

oil : 1 tsp

garlic cloves : 2

cumin seeds :

salt : as per taste

for tempering :

oil : 1 tbsp

mustard seeds : 1 tsp

cumin seeds : 1/4 tsp

chana dal : 1 tbsp

turmeric : 1/8 tsp

dry red chillies : 2 broken into pieces

curry leaves : few

First heat 1 tsp oil in a wide pan. When hot add the chopped green chillies. Cook till the chillies turn a little crisp. Now add the chopped tomatoes and cook till the tomatoes are cooked well. Add salt and let it cool. Afterwards grind it into a paste along with one clove and little cumin. Remove into a bowl. Now in a small pan heat 1 tbsp oil and add the mustard seeds. Allow them to crackle and add in the chana dal, urad dal, dry red chillies, cumin and curry leaves in the same order. Lastly add in the turmeric and switch off the stove. Pour this over the chutney. Mix well and serve either with rice or rotis.

Green / Hari chutney

Ingredients :

Corriander leaves : 2 cups chopped

mint : 1/4 cup (optional)

green chilli : 1 chopped finely

lime juice : 1/4 cup

rock salt : a pinch

salt : to taste

Grind all the above ingredients with water to make a smooth paste. U can add one tsp of dry coconut powder also while grinding to make it a thicker paste. Use it as recipe calls for green chutney. Can use for all types of chats.

Tamarind chutney / sweet n sour chutney

Ingredients :

Tamarind pulp : 2 cups

dates syrup : 1/2 cup

jaggery : 3/4 cup

cumin powder : 1 tsp

fennel seeds powder : 1 tsp

red chilli powder : 1/2 tsp

salt : to taste

oil : 1 tbsp

First heat oil in a pan. Add the cumin powder, fennel seeds powder, red chilli powder and salt and keep mixing so that it does not get burnt. Immediately add the tamarind pulp, dates syrup and jaggery along with 2 cups water and keep boiling. Remove from flame if u find that the syrup gets thicker. Store in an air tight bottle in the refridgerator. Use for recipes calling for sweet n sour chutney.

Palli / peanut chutney

Ingredients:

Groundnuts / Peanuts : 1 cup

green chillies : 3

dry coconut : 1 inch piece

garlic cloves : 2 small

Tamarind : key lime size (approx 1" piece)

cumin: 1/4 tsp

salt : 1/2 tsp

For tempering:

Oil: 1tbsp

Mustard seeds : 1/2 tsp

chana dal : 1 tsp

urad dal : 1 tsp

cumin : 1/2 tsp

Dry red chillies : 3

curry leaves : few

Turmeric : pinch

First roast the peanuts and peel off the skin. (You can use the skin also if u like). Then grind it along with the green chillies,dry coconut, garlic, tamarind and cumin to a smooth paste adding little water as required. Take out into a bowl and add the salt adjusting to ur taste.

In a small pan heat the oil and when it is hot add the mustard seeds. Once they start spluttering add the chana dal, urad dal and cumin in the same order. Now add the dry red chillies and curry leaves along with a pinch of turmeric and pour it over the ground paste. Mix well and serve with idli, dosa or utappams.

Note: if u want to increase the hotness add more green chillies while grinding.