Tomato chutney - with coconut and sambar powder!

A much tasty variation to the usual tomato chutney. (Another variation of tomato chutney is posted here)  I have never dared to add either coconut or sambar powder to the tomato chutney. But recently i tried to make a variation adding these two and the outcome was a sheer delight!

Ingredients

1 small sized onion

3 medium sized tomato (well ripened)

1/4 cup grated coconut

2 tbs chana dal/ roasted gram

3 garlic cloves

2 green chillies, 1 red chilli

1/2 ts sambar powder (adjust depending on your taste)

1/4 ts turmeric powder (optional)

4-5 sprigs of coriander leaves

1/4 ts hing

To temper

1 ts mustard seed

1/2 ts urad dal

2 red chillies

Few curry leaves

Sesame oil as per need

Preparation

- Heat oil in a pan. Keep the oil in medium flame and once they turn hot add the chana dal and fry till they turn slight golden evenly on all sides. Take them out in a plate and allow to cool. (if using roasted gram, this step can be skipped)

- Add more oil in the pan and once they turn hot add the roughly chopped onions and fry till they turn translucent. Add hing, garlic, green chillies and red chilli. Fry them for a while. Next add in the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, sambar powder and enough salt. Cook till the tomatoes turn mushy. Switch off flame and allow these contents also to cool.

Grinding

- First add in the roasted gram/ chana dal in the blender and grind them to a fine powder.

- Next add the grated coconut and grind everything smoothly to a fine powder.

- Now add the onion tomato paste and grind everything along adding little water. Grind it smooth or coarse as per your liking. But I like this chutney to be thick and little bit on the coarser side.

- Finally add the chopped coriander leaves and just give it a pulse.

- Take out them in a serving bowl.

- Add the seasoning of mustard seed, urad dal, red chillies and curry leaves.

- Give a good mix and enjoy!

This chutney will taste great with idli/ dosa and even with chapati.