Thakali Thokku - Spicy Tomato side dish

Thakali thokku or a spicy tomato chutney is a side dish that can be made and preserved for atleast a week in the refrigerator. This will come in handy during the morning rush hour or lazy evenings when you don't have the time or interest to make a chutney. 

Ingredients:

- 4 or 5 ripe tomatoes

- 2 tbsp urad dhal

- 7 to 8 red chillies

- a small pinch of tamarind

- 1/4 tsp asafoetida or hing

- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

- mustard and channa dhal for seasoning

- Salt to taste

- 2 tbsp oil

Prep time: 15 mins          Cook time: 20 mins

Preparation:

- Wash and boil the tomatoes for 10 minutes. Drain the water and allow the tomatoes to cool.

- Meanwhile, heat little oil in a pan and roast the urad dhal and red chillies. When they are roasted to a slightly red colour, add the tamarind and hing and roast them for a minute. Switch off the heat and set aside for cooling. 

- Peel the skin off the tomatoes, add them in a blender along with the roasted ingredients above and grind them all together to a fine paste. 

- Heat the 2 tbsp of oil in a deep pan and splutter the mustard seeds and roast the channa dhal.

- To this add the ground tomato paste. Add salt to taste and turmeric powder. Mix well and simmer on medium for 15 minutes or until the oil separates.

- On cooling transfer to an air tight container and store in fridge. This goes very well with idli, dosa or even chapathis.