Red Chilli Chutney Recipe

This Red Chilli Chutney is another version of the classic Red Chutney for dosa that I usually make at home. The main difference is that this Red Chilli Chutney has coconut in it along with red chillies, chana dal and spices, and the other one is made without coconut. Thus, this can also be called as Red Coconut Chutney. This chutney is a speciality from Tamil Nadu and slightly spicier too. It goes best with Idli, Masala Dosa and Medu Vada.

About Red Chilli Chutney Recipe

This Tamil Nadu style Red Coconut Chutney is zingy, hot and surely packs a punch with its flavors.

Though, I have kept this chutney mildly spiced by using less chillies, you can add to the fieriness by increasing the number of chillies in it.

To get a more reddish hue in this Red Chilli Chutney with Chana Dal, you can add Kashmiri dried red chillies.

These are not too hot as well and impart a natural red color to the chutney. Another similar recipe which you must try is this Red Coconut Chutney (Kerala Style).

There’s a certain sourness in this Red Chilli Chutney which is due to the addition of tamarind. It balances out the heat in the chutney that comes from the chillies.

However, the best part about this chutney is the cracking flavorful tempering that is added in the last.

While this Red Chilli Chutney is perfect with idli, dosa and medu vada, you can also savor it with uttapam, Mysore Bonda and different pakoda. The ideal way to consume it is immediately after preparing.

How to make Red Chilli Chutney

Prep & Blend Chutney Ingredients

1. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready for making the chutney.

2. In a grinder jar or a sturdy blender, take ½ cup grated coconut (fresh or frozen) and ¼ cup roasted chana dal (split and hulled Bengal gram).

You can skip the roasted Bengal gram if you don’t have it. If skipping, then add less water while grinding.

3. Next, add 2 to 3 chopped garlic cloves (small to medium-sized), 1 teaspoon chopped ginger, 1 to 2 dried red chillies (broken and seeds removed) and 1 teaspoon tamarind.

You can increase the number of red chillies for a spicier chutney.

4. Also, add salt as required.

5. Lastly, add water as required. I have added ½ cup water but you can add as per the required consistency of the chutney you prefer.

6. Grind or blend all the ingredients till a smooth and fine consistency is achieved.

7. Take the Red Chilli Chutney in a heatproof bowl.

Temper Chutney

8. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready for the tempering of the chutney.

9. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small pan. Keep heat to a low. Add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds first and let them crackle.

10. Next, add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and fry them till they splutter.

11. Add 1 pinch asafoetida and 1 sprig curry leaves.

12. Fry them for a few seconds until the curry leaves become crisp.

13. Pour all of the hot tempering mixture over the chutney.

14. Mix well and serve the Red Chilli Chutney with rava idli, masala dosa, rava dosa, oats idli, Mysore bonda, uttapam or medu vada.

Expert Tips

• You can skip the roasted chana dal while making the chutney. If skipping the lentils, add less water while grinding.
• For a spicier chutney, you can increase the number of dried red chilies. To make the chutney less hot, deseed the chillies. Use Kashmiri dried red chillies for a deep color and less spicy chutney.
• The quantity of water while grinding can be adjusted according to the required consistency of the chutney.
• This Red Chilli Chutney with chana dal can be frozen and consumed within 1 to 2 days.

Red Chilli Chutney recipe from the blog archives was first published on April 2013.