Kara Chutney (Tamil Nadu Style)

Kara chutney recipe with step by step photos – Tamil Nadu Style spicy chutney made with pearl onions (shallots), tomatoes, spices and herbs.

Recently while preparing dosa, I had made kara chutney. took pics when making the kara chutney, so that I can share the recipe on blog. usually I prepare Coconut chutney with dosa or idli, but at times I also make Onion chutney or Tomato chutney.

I never prepare both the coconut chutney and Onion-tomato chutney together. I just make one type of chutney and a sambar to go along with idli or dosa . In most 5 star hotels, they serve both coconut chutney and onion-tomato chutney together in their breakfast buffet.

This chutney is spicy as red chilies are added. You can make it less spicy if you want, by adding less chilies or using chilies which are low in heat.

I have also used pearl onions in the recipe and they give a really good flavor. Instead of pearl onions, you can also use shallots or regular onions.

Serve kara chutney with rava idli, masala dosa or uttapam. This chutney specifically also goes very well with vendhaya dosa.

How to make kara chutney

1. Heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil in a pan. Lower the flame and then add 1 teaspoon urad dal (split husked black gram) and 1 teaspoon chana dal (split & husked bengal gram).

2. On a low flame, saute both the lentils till they start turning golden.

3. Then add ¼ cup sliced pearl onions/shallots or ¼ cup chopped onions.

4. Begin to sauté.

5. Saute till the pearl onions begin to turn golden. Then add 1 teaspoon chopped garlic.

6. Now add 4 to 5  dry red chilies. You can use byadagi red chilies or Kashmiri red chilies. I used byadagi chilies.

7. Saute for half a minute or till the red chilies change color.

8. Now add ½ cup chopped tomatoes.

9. Mix well.

10. Season with salt as per taste. Mix well.

11. Next add ¼ teaspoon tamarind.

12. Saute the tomatoes on a low flame.

13. The tomatoes need to get softened. So stir and saute till they soften. Switch off the flame. Let the kara chutney mixture become warm or cool down at room temperature.

14. Once the mixture becomes warm or cools, then add it in a chutney grinder or a small blender. add ¼ cup water and grind to a smooth paste.

15. Remove the chutney in a bowl and keep aside.

16. add remaining ¼ cup water and run the grinder jar again, so that the chutney sticking at the sides and the bottom get mixed with water. Add this chutney mixed water to the bowl and mix very well.

Tempering for kara chutney

17. In the same pan or a different pan, heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil. add ½ tsp mustard seeds and crackle them.

18. Then add 7 to 8 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida. Saute till the curry leaves become crisp.

19. Pour the tempering mixture in the kara chutney. Mix well.

20. Serve kara chutney with idli, set dosa or uttapam. This spicy chutney also goes well with paniyaram.

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Spicy Kara Chutney

4.5 from 2 votes

By Dassana Amit

Kara chutney is a spicy chutney made with pearl onions (shallots), tomatoes, spices and herbs from the Tamil Nadu cuisine.

Save Pin Rate Print

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 20 mins

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Cuisine South Indian

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Servings 2 to 3

Ingredients

ingredients for grinding

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• ¼ cup sliced pearl onions or shallots or chopped onions or 4 to 5 pearl onions (shallots) or 1 small onion
• ½ cup chopped tomatoes or 1 medium to large tomato, chopped
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic or 4 to 5 medium sized garlic, chopped
• 4 to 5 dry red chilies, can use byadagi or kashmiri red chilies
• ¼ teaspoon tamarind
• 1 teaspoon split and husked bengal gram (chana dal)
• 1 teaspoon split husked black gram (urad dal)
• salt as required
• ⅓ to ½ cup water for grinding chutney

for tempering

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
• 7 to 8 curry leaves
• 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)

Instructions

sauteing & grinding

• Heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil in a pan. 
• Lower the flame and then add 1 teaspoon urad dal (split husked black gram) and 1 teaspoon chana dal (split & husked bengal gram).
• On a low flame, saute both the lentils till they start turning golden.
• Then add 1/4 cup sliced pearl onions/shallots or 1/4 cup chopped onions.
• Stir and saute till the pearl onions begin to turn golden. Then add garlic. 
• Now add 4 to 5 dry red chilies. Saute for half a minute.
• Next add 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes.
• Add salt & tamarind.
• Saute the tomatoes on a low flame till they soften.
• Switch off the flame and let the chutney mixture become warm or cool down at room temperature.
• Once the mixture becomes warm or cools, then add it in a chutney grinder or a small blender. 
• Add 1/4 cup water and grind to a smooth paste.
• Remove the chutney in a a bowl and keep aside. 
• Add remaining 1/4 cup water and run the grinder jar again, so that the chutney sticking at the sides and the bottom get mixed with water. 
• Add this chutney mixed water to the bowl and mix very well.

tempering for kara chutney

• In the same pan or a different pan, heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil. Add ½ tsp mustard seeds and crackle them.
• Then add 7 to 8 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida. 
• Saute till the curry leaves become crisp.
• Pour the tempering mixture in the kara chutney. Mix well.
• Serve kara chutney with idli, dosa or uttapam. This spicy chutney also goes well with paniyarams.

Notes

1. You can add less or more water depending on the kara chutney consistency you want.
2. You can add less dry red chilies for a less spicy version.
3. You can also use dry red chilies which are low in heat for a less spicy chutney.
4. You can remove the seeds from dry red chilies.
5. If tamarind is not available, then skip it.

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