Raks Kitchen

Home » SIDE DISH FOR IDLI / DOSA » Onion tomato chutney recipe – Side dish for idli dosa

Onion tomato chutney recipe – Side dish for idli dosa

by 73 Comments / Jump to Recipe

Onion tomato chutney

Onion tomato chutney side dish for idli dosa – very delicious recipe that goes perfectly well with idli, dosa or even adai.

My kid always prefer sambar or any other gravy kind for idly and dosa as side dish. But some times in our morning hurry burries, we cannot make anything elaborate or we dont have any mood to cook. So I make this, he likes this too anyways. I learnt this from my mom-in-law, I have already boasted so much about her idlies. And how I love them (I can shamelessly tell if she makes hot idlies and this chutney, I can eat  a dozen of idlies without any worries, hehe).

Kadalai paruppu chutney

0 from 0 votes
Chana dal chutney or kadalai paruppu chutney with tomato, red chilli and asafoetida along with chana dal, makes a great accompaniment for idli dosa.
10 mins
kadalai-paruppu-chutney-recipe

Everyone have their own style and it’s so delicious in their own way of cooking. My mom’s onion tomato chutney is also delicious but in its own way. Though I make it same as my mom in law, it turns out yummy but never the same. Aj calls this as ‘Orange’ chutney. He likes this with idli and ‘Red’ chutney for dosai.

How to make perfect textured onion tomato chutney?

Cool down the ingredients well before grinding the chutney. Hot ingredients, when ground will give your a jelly like thick chutney as you make and keep. While serving it will not be the same consistency as you made.
So it’s always better to cool down completely before grinding.

How to make onion tomato chutney look attractive bright orange or reddish in colour?

Use bayadagi chilli or kashmiri red chillis for preparing the chutney.

How to enhance or make onion tomato chutney special?

At times, I roast the chana dal, red chilli in ghee. Drain it from ghee and use the same ghee for sauteeing onion and tomato. This turns out super tasty and flavourful.

What is the perfect texture for onion tomato chutney?

Some like it super smooth, while some vouch, the taste and flavour is best when the chutney is ground slightly coarse. So it’s personal preference and choice. Try all the ways and find your own favorite, fix it!
Either way, I would suggest first to powder the ingredients except onion and tomato and lastly add onion tomato to have control over the texture. This way, the red chilli also gets ground well and gives best taste, colour and texture.

Which is best side dish for idli dosa?

Onion tomato chutney is one of the top favorites and best combo for idli dosa.

Onion tomato chutney
Print Pin
0 from 0 votes

Onion tomato chutney side dish for idli dosa

Onion tomato chutney side dish for idli dosa – very delicious recipe that goes perfectly well with idli, dosa or even adai.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Cup measurements

Ingredients

  • Onion – 1
  • Tomato – 1
  • Kadalai paruppu/ Chana dal – 1 tbsp
  • Red chillies – 5
  • Asafoetida – ⅛ tsp
  • Coconut – 2 tbsp
  • Oil/ Ghee – 2 tsp
  • Salt – As needed

To temper

  • Oil – 1 tsp
  • Mustard – 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal – 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Instructions

  • Cut onion and tomato into chunks.
  • Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and fry red chillies and chana dal until the dal turns golden brown colour.
  • Take care to keep the heat in medium to avoid burnt chana dal. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • If you want, you can temper in this step and transfer the tempered items to the chutney serving bowl or do it lastly too.
  • Now, add onion, tomato and cook until it softens.
  • Cool down everything completely.
  • First grind chana dal, coconut, salt and red chilli to a coarse powder.
  • Top it with onion and tomato, and grind to a smooth paste. Add little water while grinding.
  • Transfer to the serving bowl. Mix well. Adjust water if needed to reach desired consistency.

Video

Notes

  • Cool down the ingredients before grinding.
  • Adjust chilli according to it’s spice level.

Onion tomato chutney method

  1. Cut onion and tomato into chunks.
  2. Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and fry red chillies and chana dal until the dal turns golden brown colour.
  3. Take care to keep the heat in medium to avoid burnt chana dal.
  4. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  5. If you want, you can temper in this step and transfer the tempered items to the chutney serving bowl.
  6. Now, add onion, tomato and cook until it softens.
  7. Cool down everything completely.
    ingredients cool down
  8. First grind chana dal, coconut, salt and red chilli to a coarse powder.
  9. Top it with onion and tomato, and grind to a smooth paste.
  10. Add little water while grinding.

Transfer to the serving bowl. Mix well and serve with hot Idly or dosa!

Onion tomato chutney for idli dosa

Reader Interactions

Comments

  36. Anonymous

    Hi Raks,

    This is how I do my regular thakkali chutney…Oh I love the sunshine in your kitchen and I keep saying htat again and again….

    Shobha

    Reply

  50. RAKS KITCHEN

    Hi aseema, I somehow missed to add the 'To temper table',glad that you saw and mentioned it,now I have edited to add that. And the coconut is fresh coconut,not sure how desiccated would taste in this!

    Reply

  53. Naqabi

    yes yes with masala dosa i wanted to try this chutney and wow it was really fine for my taste buds, i dont like tomatoes flavor dominating much but this was just fine as i like, everything was balancing and going along each other. just a supercool recipe. yea i aded lil bit of fried daal to it too 🙂

    Reply

  54. Sneha G

    Before seeing your website, I honestly thought I was not capable of ever cooking! I proved me family wrong and owe it all to your simple way of explaining all these dishes! I really want to thank you so much and you have created an interest in me to learn more and more… thank you 🙂

    Reply

  55. Su

    Chutney is very delicious.
    I cooked today as a side dish for dosa. I just loved it.

    Thanks a ton.
    I am newly married and eager to learn tasty recipes and found your website dream come true.

    Reply

  63. Nuzhath Fatima

    I just tried your chutney today… And seriously it came out well and real yummy… guess wat??? first time in 5 years of my married life my MIL liked something and appreciated too… Thanks a lot dear…

    Reply

  67. Kavitha Senthil

    Hi your recipes are great help for my cooking. I am a fan of murugan idli kadai tomato chutney. However i try i am getting the same taste at home. Do you know the recipe?? Please share or try.
    Thks & regards
    Kavitha.

    Reply

  68. Praveena

    Hi I am a follower of ur recipes. I search recipes with ur name also. The spicyness u use in ur recipes r so high. For this chutney for 1 onion and 1 tomato 1 red chilly was enough. May be two for spice lovers. BT 3 is too much. Few ppl will follow the recipe as it is. Pls mention the spice level or tell the quantity in medium spicyness.

    Reply

  69. Raks anand

    Hi, Praveena, 3 is not high definitely. Because at times I add 4 too! May be there are different types of chillies that have different spice level. Note that the onion and tomato size also matters. But for the tanginess from tomato, the chana dal, the coconut, I am sure 3 is not spicy. I remember once my mom got another variety of red chilli that are relatively small than the one shown in the picture in my post, but it was damn spicy. so everything depends. I am trying to give you an idea about the recipe, so depending on your first try and your family's preferences, please adjust the recipe. So since you now know its spicy for you, you can always reduce in all the recipes 🙂 since you are my follower I am trying to help how to work it out 🙂
    Actually it's hard to mention the spice level. Because, what is spicy for me is not for you or vice versa.

    Reply

  70. Gayathri Ganesh

    Love your recipes Raks 🙂 I tried this recipe today and it came out awesome 🙂 I used 4 chillies n it was perfect. Have you tried adding garlic ? If so, how many pods will do and when to add it.

    Reply

  71. Praveena

    Ya u r right. It might be the red chilly variety. And I always reduce the no. of red chillies in ur recipes. Other than that I follow the same u mention.. U rock:-)

    Reply

  72. Gayathri Ganesh

    Love your recipes Raks 🙂 I this recipe today and it came out awesome 🙂 I used 4 chillies n it was perfect. Have you tried adding garlic ? If so, how many pods will do and when to add it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating