Onion Tomato Chutney Recipe

If you have ever tried onion and tomato chutney, you will certainly want to learn how to make it at home. 

This is a remarkably simple condiment to make; with the right ingredients and instructions, you should be able to make this fifteen-minute condiment without issue. 

So, in this article, we are going to go over everything you need to know about making onion and tomato chutney. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!

Onion & Tomato Chutney – Why is this Recipe So Good?

There are a lot of reasons why you should absolutely love this recipe. But there are far too many things to love about this recipe. So, we have listed our top reasons below:

• This recipe is remarkably easy to follow. It is also very easy to make this chutney. 

• You can have this condiment prepped and cooked in under twenty minutes. 

• This condiment goes remarkably well with idli, dosa, upma, vada, paratha, or rice. 

• This is an entirely gluten-free and vegan-friendly recipe. 

• You will only need a few basic ingredients to make this condiment. 

• This is the kind of recipe that will last for a week or more if it is refrigerated. 

If you are not sold yet on making this chutney at home yourself, you are missing out. One taste and you will certainly be making it time and time again. 

What Ingredients Are Needed for Onion & Tomato Chutney?

This recipe only calls for a few simple ingredients. So, you do not need to dash off to some obscure market to get everything you need to make it.

Below, we have listed everything you will need to make your own onion and tomato chutney:

• Cooking Oil – This recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of oil. 

• Red Onion – You need 1 chopped red onion. 

• Tomatoes – You will require 3 medium tomatoes that have been chopped up.

• Red Dried Chilies – 3 to 4 split dried red chilies are required for this recipe. 

• Fresh Garlic – You need 3 cloves of garlic for this condiment.

• Tamarind – Add just a small piece of tamarind to this chutney. 

• Curry Leaves – This recipe calls for 1 sprig of curry leaves. 

• Split Urad Dal – You will need 1 tablespoon of split urad dal. 

• Turmeric – ¼ teaspoon of tamarind is required to make this condiment. 

• Jaggery – This recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of jaggery. This is optional. 

• Salt – Add enough salt to taste. 

• Tempering Spices – You will need tempering spices for this recipe; these are the main ingredients you need for tempering: Mustard Seeds, Urad Dal, Curry Leaves, Dry Red Chili, and Asafoetida. 

With these few ingredients, all you need are the instructions to make the perfect onion and tomato chutney. 

How Do You Make Indian-Style Tomato & Onion Chutney?

In this section, we have laid out each step you need to follow in order to make the most delicious onions and tomato chutney at home. 

• Step 1 – To start things off, you need a pan so you can heat up the oil. Make sure that you have the stovetop on medium heat for this. Once your oil is hot, Split Urad Dal and Red Chilies. Allow these ingredients to sauté until they are light brown. 

• Step 2 – When your urad dal turns light brown, add your freshly minced garlic, chopped onion, and curry leaves to the pan. Allow these ingredients to cook until the onions have softened and are a little translucent. 

• Step 3 – At this point, you need to add chopped tomatoes, salt, and turmeric to the pan. After five to six minutes of cooking, your tomatoes should be soft and squishy. 

• Step 4 – Now, turn off the stovetop and throw in your jaggery and tamarind. Stir everything together so that it is all incorporated. Allow this mixture to cool down. 

• Step 5 – Once this mixture has cooled down completely, throw it into a blender and blitz it with some water until you have a lovely smooth paste. 

• Step 6 – At this point, you start tempering some herbs and spices. So, in a small pan, heat up some oil. When the oil has heated up, add the following ingredients: Mustard Seeds, Urad Dal, and Dry Red Chili. Allow these spices to sauté until you notice the dal turning a lovely light brown. 

• Step 7 – At this point, you should add curry leaves and asafoetida and allow everything to sauté for a few seconds. Once this is done, pour your tempered spices over the tomato chutney and mix everything together. 

• Step 8 – Serve your delicious new onion and tomato chutney with idli, dosa, uttapam, or another variety of South Indian breakfasts. 

That’s it! It is that easy to make a delicious, fragrant, and spicy onion and tomato chutney. One taste, and you will be hooked! 

What Do You Serve with Onion & Tomato Chutney?

There are a lot of ways you can enjoy this phenomenally delicious, rich, and fragrant condiment. We have found that there are a few traditional Indian foods that go best with this chutney. 

Our top picks for what to serve with onion and tomato chutney: Idli, Dosa, Upma, Paniyaram, Uttapam, Poori, or Paratha.

Alternatively, you can enjoy this chutney with delicious fresh steamed rice, dal, or homemade ghee. All of these taste amazing with this tasty, rich, and fragrant chutney. 

What is the Best Way to Store Onion & Tomato Chutney?

There are two main ways to store leftovers from this recipe. If you intend to eat it within a week, we recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. After the seven-day mark, this chutney may not be safe to consume. 

You can also freeze onion and tomato chutney. It will last up to a month in the freezer as long as it is in a freezer-safe container or bag. 

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Onion & Tomato Chutney

Believe it or not, there are things you can do that will mean this chutney will be even easier to make. Below are a few tips and tricks for you to consider: 

• Use Tomatoes that Are Ripe – If you want to get the best flavor out of your chutney, you need to use tomatoes that have properly ripened. 

• Make it Red – If you want to make a chutney that has a glorious red coloring, you should use Kashmiri Red Chilies or Byadgi Red Chilies. 

• The Perfect Texture – If you want to get the perfect texture for your chutney, you should use lentils. We particularly like roasted urad dal as the texture is utter perfection. On top of that, you get a wonderful nutty aroma that is to die for. 

• Roast Your Garlic – If you are not a fan of the pungent scent of uncooked garlic, we recommend roasting it before you use it in this recipe. However, a lot of recipes will use raw garlic for its strong scent and flavor. 

• Roast Your Veggies – Raw veggies can have a strong scent that a lot of people do not like. If you want to add an elevated flavor, we recommend roasting your veggies. 

• Add Some Extra Tang – Be aware that if you like particularly tangy chutneys, you should add a little more tamarind. If you are using tangy tomatoes, you should take care using tamarind in your chutney, as you can quickly overpower the subtle flavors. 

• Added Sweetness – Do you want a little extra sweetness? If you do, then add a little more jaggery or sugar. This can cut through the tartness of the tomatoes and bring balance to this delicious onion and tomato chutney. 

If you bear these tips and tricks in mind, you should end up with a perfectly balanced onion and tomato chutney. This really is a remarkably simple recipe to follow. Even a mature cook shouldn’t struggle to make the perfect onion and tomato chutney. 

What Variations Can You Try For This Chutney?

There are some variations and substitutes you can implement to tailor this chutney to your preference. So, in this section, we are going to go over a few things you can do to tweak this recipe. 

• Chana Dal – If you do not have any urad dal you can always use chana dal instead. They are remarkably similar and do not alter the flavor or texture too much. 

• Peanuts – If you want to add a little nuttiness to this recipe, you can add a couple of tablespoons of roasted peanuts to your chutney. 

• Ginger – If you do not like the flavor of garlic, feel free to substitute it with ginger. This will add a different but delicious scent and flavor to your chutney. 

• Coconut – If you want to add a delightful coconut flavor to your chutney, feel free to add a couple of tablespoons to your tomato and onion chutney. 

• Spice – If you can’t get red chilies, use red chili powder or green chilies. If you are using fresh chilies, make sure to roast them. 

• Herbs – You can alter this chutney by adding a few sprigs of fresh mint or fresh cilantro. The complexity these herbs add to your chutney is really quite splendid. 

Adding a little flair to your onion and tomato chutney can make a world of difference. We are all different and enjoy different flavors. So, squeaking the original recipe can really make the perfect chutney for you personally. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about how you can make this delicious chutney at home. 

It really is a very simple process and something that you should not struggle with. 

As long as you follow our recipe, there is no reason why you should not be able to make the best and most delicious onion and tomato chutney. 

Frequently Asked Questions