Red coconut chutney, red chilli coconut chutney goes well with idli dosa, upma, adai and other south Indian breakfast. Stepwise photos, short video

I make chutney with green chillies mostly, but learnt this from my MIL as she makes it often. As coconut chutney has lot of variations, this is one of my favorite. Onion tomato chutney is most common chutney I make next to tiffin sambar and these days mint coriander chutney is Aj’s favorite.
Ingredients
Fresh grated coconut works best for the chutney. I use my own frozen coconut. Check out this post on how I grate and store coconut.
Red chilli’s color, spiciness varies with the variety. So adjust according to that.
Adjust chana dal quantity as per your need. Tamarind is just optional.
Storage
Coconut chutney is best when used within a day. So please use within a day. Store leftover immediately in fridge and use within the day.
Serving suggestion
Serve with a drizzle of sesame oil if you like. Goes well with idli, dosa, adai, upma.
Video
Is video more your thing, watch the short video here.
Top tip
- You can use raw garlic clove or a shallot while grinding in place of ginger.
- Tamarind is optional. You can make without it.
- You can adjust coconut and chana dal quantity as you wish. ¾ cup coconut or 1 tablespoon chana dal works as well.
My notes
- Some chilli are spicy, some or mild, so adjust the numbers accordingly. My chillies are medium spice.
- Make sure to balance the taste accordingly.
Recipe card
Red coconut chutney | South Indian style
Ingredients
- ½ cup Coconut grated
- 4 Red chilli
- 1 teaspoon Ginger chopped
- 2 tablespoon Chana dal
- 2 teaspoon Oil
- Salt
To temper
- 1 teaspoon Oil – 1 tsp
- ½ teaspoon Mustard – ½ tsp
- 1 teaspoon Urad dal – 1 tsp
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
- 1 Sprig Curry leaves
Instructions
- Heat a kadai with oil, roast chana dal and red chilli until golden. Add chopped ginger and give it a fry (add tamarind)
- Cool down, grind it with coconut and required salt, without water first and then add water and grind smoothly.
- Temper with oil, mustard, urad dal, asafoetida and curry leaves. Mix well and serve.
Video
Notes
- All the variations mentioned in my basic coconut chutney applies to this as well.
- You can make this with 2-3 birds eye red chilli. It will be spicy and good too.
- I made with only 3 chilli and found it very mild. Use fresh coconut for tasty chutney.
Stepwise photos
1. Heat a kadai with oil, roast chana dal and red chilli until golden. Add chopped ginger and give it a fry.
2. Cool down, grind it with coconut and required salt, without water first and then add water and grind smoothly.
3. Temper with oil, mustard, urad dal, asafoetida and curry leaves. Mix well and serve.
Can be served with idli, dosa or upma.
Sowmya Sundararajan
This is a welcome change from the regular Coconut chutney. I think adding garlic also will give a nice twist.
sathish venkt
Recipes are fabulous
sathish venkt
Recipes are fabulous
Raks anand
I don't like both together,but like adding instead of ginger.
Durga Karthik.
We do this but without ginger.
Nalliah Sivanathan
Thank you for this simple and very attractive Chutney.We are sure it will taste nice from appearance itself.Great