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    Home » Recipes » Homemade

    Tomato thokku recipe, Thakkali thokku recipe

    February 27, 2010 by Raks Anand 82 Comments / Jump to Recipe

    Tomato Thokku recipe
    Tomato thokku is one of the delicious pickle that we can make at home.  Learn how to make thakkali thokku, tomato thokku with stepwise pictures, full video.

    I make thakkali thokku very often, so I can make it confidently. I have one of Vj's friend,Aman, who is a big fan of this pickle. He always ask for this pickle when he comes home.  Tastes best with curd rice,also can enjoy with stuffed parathas. Recipe source, my mom-in-law 🙂 So obviously my hubby’s favorite!
    Tomato Thokku...

     

    tomato thokku, thakkali thokku
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Tomato thokku/ thakkali thokku recipe

    Tomato thokku is one of the delicious pickle that we can make at home.  Learn how to make thakkali thokku, tomato thokku with stepwise pictures, full video.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 1 cup
    Cup measurements

    Ingredients

    • Tomatoes - 5
    • Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
    • Sambar powder - 2 tsp
    • Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
    • Salt - As needed
    • Jaggery - ½ tsp

    To Roast and powder

    • fenugreek seeds/vendhayam - 1 tsp

    To temper

    • Sesame oil - 3 tbsp
    • Mustard - ¾ tsp
    • Curry leaves - 1 sprig
    • Asafoetida - ¼ tsp
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Roast fenugreek seeds in a few drops of oil till golden brown.
    • Cool down and powder it.
    • Wash the tomatoes and chop them finely.
    • Heat a heavy bottomed pan with oil and temper with mustard,add curry leaves and asafoetida and fry without burning.
    • Add the chopped tomatoes and add all the powders and salt. Mix well and reduce the flame to medium low.
    • Cook for 5-8 minutes , stirring in between to avoid burning.
    • Add the jaggery and powdered fenugreek seeds powder and mix well.
    • Add 2 teaspoon sesame oil if needed at this stage.
    • After few minutes(1-2 minutes),at a stage,oil starts oozing out.
    • Switch off the stove and cool down.

    Video

    Notes

    I roasted fenugreek seeds in bulk and powdered in mixer. I have stored the rest of the powder in a airtight container for future use. can be added to pickles or tamarind rice or Vatral kuzhambu/puli kuzhambu..etc.. If you don’t need,then you can just roast the needed and powder it using a mortar pestle,it gets powdered easily. My  mom in law fries red chillies and powders along with this fenugreek seeds and adds this powder at the end stage. Use always clean,dry spoon.
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    Tomato thokku/ thakkali thokku recipe

    Recipe Cuisine: Indian  |  Recipe Category: Side dish
    Prep Time: 15 mins    |  Cook time: 20 mins    |  Makes: 1 cup

    Ingredients

    Tomatoes - 5
    Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
    Sambar powder - 2 tsp
    Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
    Salt - As needed
    Jaggery - ½ tsp
    To Roast and powder
    Fenugreek seeds/vendhayam - 1 tsp
    To temper
    Sesame oil - 3 tbsp
    Mustard - ¾ tsp
    Curry leaves - 1 sprig
    Asafoetida - ¼ tsp

    Thakkali thokku, step by step method:

      1. Roast fenugreek seeds in a few drops of oil till golden brown.Roasted fenugreek seeds
      2. Cool down and powder it.Powdered seeds
      3. Wash the tomatoes and chop them finely.Chop tomatoes
      4. Heat a heavy bottomed pan with oil and temper with mustard,add curry leaves and asafoetida and fry without burning.Temper
      5. Add the chopped tomatoes and add all the powders and salt.Add redhilli,turmeric,sambar powders and salt
      6. Mix well and reduce the flame to medium low.Cook in low flame
      7. Cook for 5-8 minutes , stirring in between to avoid burning. Add the jaggery and powdered fenugreek seeds powder and mix well.Add jaggery and fenugreek powder
      8. Add 2 teaspoon sesame oil if needed at this stage. After few minutes(1-2 minutes),at a stage,oil starts oozing out. Switch off the stove and cool down.Final

    Notes:

      • I roasted fenugreek seeds in bulk and powdered in mixer..I have stored the rest of the powder in a airtight container for future use.can be added to pickles or tamarind rice or Vatral kuzhambu/puli kuzhambu..etc..
      • If you don’t need,then you can just roast the needed and powder it using a mortar pestle,it gets powdered easily.
      • My  mom in law fries red chillies and powders along with this fenugreek seeds and adds this powder at the end stage.
      • Use always clean,dry spoon.

    Transfer to airtight container and refrigerate. Can be used for a month if handled properly.
    Tomato Thokku...in container
    I enjoyed today with curd rice 🙂
    With curd rice

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. A Homemakers Diary

      February 27, 2010 at 11:19 am

      LOL Recipe source my MIL so Hubby's Favourite. the thokku looks awesome. My Maa makes it a lot with the tomatoes from her garden. will give this recipe to her as its a bit different and very colourful.

      Reply
    2. Premalatha Aravindhan

      February 27, 2010 at 12:22 pm

      Yummy recipe...Looks wounderfull...

      Reply
    3. Aruna Manikandan

      February 27, 2010 at 12:29 pm

      Tomato Thokku looks rich in color
      Delicious and spicy 🙂

      Reply
    4. Chitra

      February 27, 2010 at 12:46 pm

      I've tried the same from chitramma's kitchen long time back.will make this again..nice click as always 🙂

      Reply
    5. Sushma Mallya

      February 27, 2010 at 12:46 pm

      wow raks what a beautiful colour, your pics are so tempting and seems really good...

      Reply
    6. Bharathy

      February 27, 2010 at 1:08 pm

      Pretty Pretty pics as always!..My anna loves this and I make a large quantity of thakkali thokku whenever I vist him..He would love the addition of jaggery(the sweetness)..will try your method next for sure!! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Raje

      February 27, 2010 at 1:44 pm

      Tempting thokku! Beautiful color and mouthwatering...

      Reply
    8. Home Cooked Oriya Food

      February 27, 2010 at 2:03 pm

      very colorful... all the pix are wonderful but the one on curd rice is sooo good! wish I could have some now!

      Reply
    9. Preeti Kashyap

      February 27, 2010 at 2:26 pm

      I was searching for a perfect thokku recipe past a week. Thanks so very much for posting. In the US getting the right pickle can be so difficult, but now I can make it at home. awesome pics too!

      Reply
    10. Sharmilee! :)

      February 27, 2010 at 2:29 pm

      Wow tempting color...sure a yum combo for curd rice. Luved the last click Raji!

      Reply
    11. Happy Cook

      February 27, 2010 at 3:11 pm

      May i ask you a favour, parcel me that bottle pretty please. Super super yumm.

      Reply
    12. Asha

      February 27, 2010 at 3:24 pm

      Gorgeous pickle/Thokku Raks!Love the color, must taste great with rice and ghee since it already has sambhar pd. Must try! 🙂

      Reply
    13. A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine

      February 27, 2010 at 3:36 pm

      Lovely color, looks inviting & yummy..

      Reply
    14. Latha

      February 27, 2010 at 4:21 pm

      Oh man! I am just drooling over that bottle.

      Reply
    15. Ruchikacooks

      February 27, 2010 at 4:23 pm

      Thakkali thokku with thayir sadam is heaven, so good with idlis too. Color looks so bright, is the jar up for grabs 🙂

      Reply
    16. Nithya

      February 27, 2010 at 5:01 pm

      Yummy thokku.. Looks so vibrant and tempting. As ever super good clicks buddy.. 🙂

      BTW can you tell me what camera you are using??? I am planning to buy one now..

      Reply
    17. Anu

      February 27, 2010 at 6:12 pm

      My all time fav.. yummy and delicious..

      Reply
    18. Shobana senthilkumar

      February 27, 2010 at 7:25 pm

      Raji...naakku uuruthu....

      Reply
    19. Sailaja Damodaran

      February 27, 2010 at 7:56 pm

      Tempting....I use roasted jeera & methi powder....

      Reply
    20. Pavithra

      February 27, 2010 at 8:07 pm

      oh wow my fav one ....looks too tempting. And I love this accompaniment with all dishes. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmy.. seeing the curd rice with thokku making me very very hungry.

      Reply
    21. Jagruti

      February 27, 2010 at 8:10 pm

      Tomato thokku looks so delicious and colourful!!

      Reply
    22. Aysha

      February 27, 2010 at 8:39 pm

      Very colourful recipe n amazing pics....loved the colour...

      Reply
    23. Laavanya

      February 27, 2010 at 9:26 pm

      I love the pics Raks... This is a much simpler recipe than what I use. Am planning to give this a shot the next time I want thokku.

      Reply
    24. Gita

      February 27, 2010 at 9:56 pm

      thokku looks super tasty Raks...I too made a similar version of this recently...it tastes so good with curd rice 🙂

      Reply
    25. Daisy Blue

      February 27, 2010 at 11:11 pm

      The thokku looks so yummy with the curd rice..wonderful click

      Reply
    26. jeyashrisuresh

      February 27, 2010 at 11:43 pm

      Love the colur of the thokku,the thokku with the curd rice picture is really tempting.great clicks.

      Reply
    27. Rachana Kothari

      February 28, 2010 at 12:22 am

      I love your step by step pics, they make your dish even more tempting! The thoku looks so delicious:)

      Reply
    28. sowmya's creative saga

      February 28, 2010 at 6:33 am

      looks so tempting with the curd rice..yumm..

      Reply
    29. DEESHA

      February 28, 2010 at 7:51 am

      thokku looks absolutely delicious. loved the last pic,especially with curd rice.yummy combo

      Reply
    30. Aparna

      February 28, 2010 at 7:56 am

      perfect presentation:)

      Reply
    31. Priya

      February 28, 2010 at 9:23 am

      i never know they add these powders to tomato thokku...luks yum with oozing milky curd rice(am i correct?)..perfect pics..

      Reply
    32. Priya

      February 28, 2010 at 11:18 am

      Its has been ages i had this delicious thokku, its my fav..Very catchy thokku..

      Reply
    33. Nags

      February 28, 2010 at 11:40 am

      that seems easy enough for even me to make 🙂

      Reply
    34. Jaleela

      February 28, 2010 at 12:52 pm

      ஆஹா தக்காளி தொக்கு சப்பு கொட்ட வைக்கிறது.
      . sssssssssssssss

      Reply
    35. Nithu Bala

      February 28, 2010 at 2:45 pm

      Never tried this..grandma used to make but never learnt from her...I feel like trying it right now after seeing your tempting recipe and the beautiful pictures...

      Reply
    36. simply.food

      February 28, 2010 at 2:57 pm

      The chutney looks awesome ,nice click too.

      Reply
    37. RV

      February 28, 2010 at 7:19 pm

      it looks absolutely delicious... Reminds me of the thokku that my Amma makes... very similar in color and texture... but I guess she adds ginger... we used to have this for dosa and idli too...

      Reply
    38. LG

      March 01, 2010 at 12:54 am

      Thokku with curd rice looks yumm Raks..

      Reply
    39. shanthi

      March 01, 2010 at 5:17 am

      My favourite and looks fantastic

      Reply
    40. Uma

      March 01, 2010 at 5:22 am

      looks soooo tempting. Lovely thokku.

      Reply
    41. Parita

      March 01, 2010 at 7:21 am

      OMG look at that gorgeous color of thokku!!! Your step by step pics are really awesome!

      Reply
    42. Sarah Naveen

      March 01, 2010 at 2:41 pm

      wow!!! wow..
      Thokku looks fabulous and yummy....love the deep red color..

      Reply
    43. Swapna Sree

      March 01, 2010 at 4:33 pm

      Oh WoooW!!!!lovely color...perfect with curd rice....

      Reply
    44. Cham

      March 01, 2010 at 4:59 pm

      U make me drool 🙂 Looks so perfect cannot wait summer crop!

      Reply
    45. Ramya Vijaykumar

      March 01, 2010 at 8:07 pm

      Delicious looking Thokku... And wonderful pics there...

      Reply
    46. meeso

      March 02, 2010 at 2:40 am

      I love the color, and also the little container 😉

      Reply
    47. PriyaVaasu

      March 02, 2010 at 8:44 am

      thayir saadam with tomato thokku, Mouth-watering!!!!!! My Amma makes tasty tomato thokku, whole house will be aromatic with the thokku cooking on the stove.

      Reply
    48. Kanchan

      March 02, 2010 at 8:56 am

      My roomie from Chennai used to prepare this and I used to love this !

      Btw you can also send this as an entry to the current fenugreek seed event.

      Reply
    49. Pari

      March 02, 2010 at 12:19 pm

      Hi. Love the thokku, and fallen in love with the colour. Can u parcel some pls. 🙂

      Reply
    50. Rohini

      March 03, 2010 at 4:46 pm

      SLurrppp.... Lovely clicks Raji.. Athuvum antha thayir sadham with thokku apdiye vaa vaa nu koopdra mathiriye iruku 😉
      I am gonna try it soon!

      Reply
    51. shahana

      March 04, 2010 at 7:11 pm

      Never tried this recipe.but these pictures are really inviting.So going to try soon.

      Reply
    52. SpicyTasty

      March 05, 2010 at 7:35 pm

      My sister makes yummy tomato thokku and after that am seeing the same yummy taste in your recipe and pic. Very very nice pics. It looks absolute delicious.

      Reply
    53. Sush

      March 06, 2010 at 8:26 am

      first picture is tempting me to prepare them now. I will prepare tomato thokku as soon as some of the pickles in my kitchen gets over 😀

      Reply
    54. bindiya

      March 07, 2010 at 2:20 am

      such a tempting recipe!, I am going to try it out today itself :)Thxx

      Reply
    55. Padhu

      March 07, 2010 at 8:47 am

      Lovely color and my favorite thokku.

      Reply
    56. Cynthia

      March 07, 2010 at 10:40 pm

      This looks fiery hot and good.

      Reply
    57. Yasmeen

      March 09, 2010 at 2:36 am

      WOW, love that luscious red color,thokku sounds nice and spicy 😀

      Reply
    58. Mangala Bhat

      March 11, 2010 at 1:47 pm

      Hey I will try this recipe as soon as possible ...hey lovely My hubands Fav! too!Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    59. Suparna

      March 12, 2010 at 4:58 am

      Raks dont know how I missed this post 🙁 it's just so good!I have a few tomatoes that look quite bored on the kitchen counter...I know how to fix those bored beauties 🙂
      Thanks

      Reply
    60. Ruchira

      May 30, 2010 at 4:23 am

      Thanks for a great recipe. I tried it yday and it tastes so good. Planning to take it with us on a camping trip ...to spice up the outdoors!

      Reply
    61. RAKS KITCHEN

      September 28, 2010 at 2:39 pm

      Thanks Ruchira for the feedback 🙂 So sweet of you 🙂

      Reply
    62. Divya

      March 29, 2011 at 11:07 am

      I have never thought of making pickles at home as i had an impression that it is a tiring job... To my surprise i found this thokku so interesting and easy to make... I tried it yesterday and it came out very well... It tasted awesome and my hubby liked it a lot... would like to try your mango thokku & ginger garlic paste also... Thanks for having made cooking easier 🙂

      Reply
    63. RENU

      September 19, 2011 at 12:16 pm

      hi Raks
      i never thought of making pickles.....at home...used to buy from super market.......after seeing ur recipe........iam going to make it for sure....thokku is best with curd rice.is it necessary to add more chilles in thokku...or we can adjust according to our taste.

      Reply
    64. RAKS KITCHEN

      September 19, 2011 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks Divya 🙂
      Renu, just add enough chilies to balance the 'pulippu'/ tanginess taste. If you add less then it will be more tangy and if you add more,it will be more spicy. So make your choice!

      Reply
    65. RENU

      September 22, 2011 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Raks
      i made tomato thokku....i liked it very much.....thanks.....

      Reply
    66. Thamarai

      December 14, 2011 at 3:15 am

      Hello there!

      One of my fondest memories of childhood is amma's thakkali thokku. While it was being made in the ilupachatti, I remember sneaking in to take some in a spoon and savoring it slowly 😀 When I was living in hostel too she used to send this though anybody who was flying to Singapore 🙂

      Now that am married, I am getting more comfortable in the kitchen. I made this as a side dish for pongal and idli for a bunch of friends who came over. It was a super duper hit. My husband has been emptying the thokku at an amazing speed too 😀 He is begging me to make more. and he was amazed when I told him it has vellam in it! Thanks for the recipe!! I would never had dared to try this but for your simple instructions,colorful pictures!

      Reply
    67. RAKS KITCHEN

      December 14, 2011 at 3:55 am

      Thank you Thamarai for your wonderful words 🙂

      Reply
    68. Olive

      June 20, 2012 at 10:37 am

      Hi.. Nice post. Very useful too... Please let me know how to reduce bitterness in this thokku... I have added the fenugreek powder a bit excess...

      Reply
    69. RAKS KITCHEN

      June 20, 2012 at 10:39 am

      You can try keeping it for 2-3 days an may be the tastes incorporates and bitterness reduces. Or else, try adding more red chilli powder, bit of jaggery,and little salt.

      Reply
    70. Nanspai

      June 30, 2012 at 8:55 am

      wow, just what I was looking for... hubby and I are big big fans of Tomato Tokku. I am from Chennai and we get it from Grand Sweets whenever we go visit Chennai and now, I got this awesome and easy recipe from u... will def try this out, if possible this weekend itself!!! 🙂 thanks Raks, will let you know how it turns out.

      Reply
    71. Nanspai

      July 01, 2012 at 12:06 pm

      Yes!! I made it today... and its absolutely delicious! 🙂 Have posted it in my page with a link to you blog.

      http://nansyumyums.blogspot.in/2012/07/tomato-thokku-tomato-pickle.html

      Thanks Raks! 🙂

      Reply
    72. Rajeshwari Arun

      June 25, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      I tried so many times,it turns out tasty.fantastic recipe

      Reply
    73. Rajeshwari Arun

      June 25, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      Awesome recipe,I tried so many times its turns out very tasty

      Reply
    74. ScubaDoc

      May 12, 2014 at 4:11 am

      Thanks a million. The thokku turned out awesome. These days, whenever I'm planning to make something new, I head over straight to your website and check out your recipe. Once again, thanks for sharing these fantastic recipes.

      Reply
    75. Charu Mathy

      February 21, 2016 at 1:52 am

      Hi am planning to prepare this pickle i would like to know whether can I add peeled garlic while tempering? Thank you:) your blog is awesome with apt measurements 🙂

      Reply
    76. Raks anand

      February 21, 2016 at 1:55 am

      Sure you can use 🙂

      Reply
    77. Priya MAGESH

      May 04, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      What is the shelf life of the thokku,without refrigeration?
      Can my daughter take it with her to her college hostel?

      Reply
    78. Raks anand

      May 04, 2016 at 1:23 pm

      This will keep good if you add a lot of oil and slightly more salt and should keep cooking until almost all the moisture goes off. The oil should cover the thokku in the bottle, it will keep good this way. Make sure to keep in an airtight container, use clean spoons.

      Reply
    79. Unknown

      June 28, 2016 at 6:42 am

      I made a mistake . I added bit of freugeek powder and it's too bitter . I don't know how to fix it .

      Reply
    80. Raks anand

      June 28, 2016 at 6:55 am

      Make more thokku and mix with it. more chilli powder, salt also works but depends on how much more fenugreek powder you have added. If it is slightly more, then more chilli powder, salt would work, too much means, better make more thokku without fenugreek seeds powder and mix.

      Reply
    81. Gomathi

      March 31, 2017 at 6:59 am

      YUUMMMMM!! I made it and used it for 2 days travel out of station!It is a real savior for those who crave for Indian spice when out of country/home. Just had this thooku and some plain rice with curd..More than satisfying!!!

      Reply
    82. uropinion

      October 19, 2017 at 10:17 am

      Incredible recipe. Fantastic results. Made it twice in a fortnight. I think I am going to OD over this thokku. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

    More about me →

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