Red Chutney

You know how one big happy family works, right? Especially in most Indian families, or atleast mine, it is just not the immediate ones but includes the whole extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and at times it might go to the extent of parents’ cousin’s mother-in-law’s sister!!!  You get the picture? 

Of course, each one of us may have differing opinions and we may agree to disagree, but we have always had the best times when we all get together and enjoy the cheerful chitter- chatter.

And now, do not be surprised that I am going to relate the same with, wait for it – CHUTNEY!

Chutney by itself is one happy Indian family.It has relatives across the subcontinent with nicknames galore! Each chutney may have different name, different preparation methods, and different taste but in the end of the day, it never fails to disappoint the takers. It has something to give for every palate and always live in harmony with all its other relatives in the country.

This red chutney is kind of staple at home for idli/dosa! Idli/dosa with chutney is larger than life to us. It is a very quick and simple recipe that can be prepared in a jiffy. As I already mentioned, there are gazillion versions of them and this is mine! Hope you like it as much as I do.

Onion Tomato Chutney

I strongly believe that cooking ‘well’ does not necessarily mean cooking ‘fancy’. At times, or rather, most of the times, the simplest of all flavors could do so much magic to our taste buds. It need not be a complicated dish with ‘hard-to-pronounce’ ingredients but just simple food cooked with love and freshest ingredients you could get hold of.

‘Simple food’ is ambiguous and differs between persons belonging to different origin and cuisines. A dish that I consider simple can be complicated to a person in Italy and vice versa. In short, simple/comfort food is the one that each one of us grew up with, the food that we saw our mothers/grandmothers cooking and the food that made our childhood. For me, it is the South Indian cuisine and more particularly Tamil cuisine.

Idli/dosa to a South Indian is like bread/pancakes to my friends in the other part of the world. Idli/dosa paired with different types/flavors of chutney will make the morning scene in most of the Tamil house. To be more precise, chutney is just like how butter is to bread. Will it be so obvious if I say; chutney is the best friend of Idli/Dosa?

So here is the recipe of one such simple chutney that is very quick and easy to make, that can be stored in the refrigerator for at least a week and that makes an excellent side to idli/dosa/pongal and wide variety of other Indian breakfasts. Sounds perfect, right?

Condiments (Chutneys,Dips,Pastes)

Condiments - Dip,Dip and..... Dip!

Onion Tomato Chutney

Easy Peanut Chutney without coconut

Raw Mango Chutney

Mint Thogayal/Paste

Ghee/ Indian Clarified Butter