↑

Cook Click N Devour!!!

Easy Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes For Everyone

  • About Me
  • Home
  • Recipe index
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy
Home / Chutney Recipes / Kara Chutney Recipe | How To Make Kara Chutney

Published: November 3, 2018 | Updated November 14, 2020 | By Harini

Kara Chutney Recipe | How To Make Kara Chutney

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Kara chutney recipe– tangy and spicy tomato chutney served in Tamil nadu hotels that is truly delicious. This spicy kara chutney goes best with all south Indian breakfast/tiffin recipes. Here is how to make restaurant style kara chutney with video and step by step photos.

spicy and tangu, delicious kara chutney served with idli for breakfast.

South Indian restaurants are famous for its array of chutneys served with idli. In Tamil nadu the restaurants serve a white coconut chuney, coriander chutney and this kara chutney with hot idli. Of all chutneys this spicy red chutney is my all time favorite.

This kara chutney is spicy, tangy and goes perfectly well with soft idlis. You can use more or less chilies in the chutney to use the taste.

In our home too  we love tomato based chutneys than coconut ones. Last week I made this kara chutney recipe to go with super soft poha/aval idlis. Spicy tomato chutney was an excellent combination with veggie poha idli.

Serve kara chutney with idli, dosa. I especially like to eat it with hot rice and oil too.

kara chutney served with idli on banana leaf for breakfast.

How To Make Kara Chutney Restaurant Style

A combination of tomatoes, shallots and dried chilies go into the making of kara chutney.  As a result the chutney we get is so vibrant, tangy and very spicy too.

Heat oil in a thick pan. Add dried red chilies, channa dal and fry well. Next add chopped onions and saute. Next add chopped tomatoes and saute well.  Remove the ingredients to a mixer jar. In the hot pan saute the tamarind piece for a minute. Add salt to taste and grind the ingredients to a smooth paste.

Variations with kara chutney recipe

  1. This chutney is especially popular in Saravan Bhavan hotels. To make saravana bhavan style kara chutney use 1 cup chopped normal onions instead of shallots.
  2. If you prefer a strong flavor you can also use 3-4 garlic pods.
  3. You can also add 2 green chilies along with red chilies.

Tips For Making Best Kara Chutney Recipe

This chutney is spicy and vibrant as it uses red chilies. I use kashmiri red chilies to retain the color and tame down the heat. If you prefer spicier chutney then you can also use regular dark and round dried red chilies.

To make kara chutney recipe I suggest you use gingely oil/nallaennai. Gingely oil elevates the flavor and taste by leaps and bound. It is also very good for health. We also mix gingely oil with chutney while serving. It is mainly done to reduce the heat of chutney.

Addition of tamarind gives a nice tang to the chutney, also helps in keeping the chutney well for more time.

Use plump desi variety tomato for this spicy tomato chutney recipe.

If you are looking for more chutney recipes do check badam chutney, tomato chutney, onion chutney. Mango chutney 

How to make kara chutney recipe video:

How To Make Kara Chutney Step by Step

1. First of all heat 2 tablespoons oil in a kadai. To the hot oil add channa dal, dried red chilies and fry well till channa dal color changes to golden.

sauteing lentils and dried red chilies for kara chutney

2. Once the lentils are fried, add shallots and saute well till the color changes slightly.

3. Next add chopped tomatoes and saute well till it shrinks and turns mushy.

Sauteing onions and tomatoes for kara chutney

4. Remove the contents to a bowl and allow to cool.

5. Switch off the flame and saute the tamarind piece in hot kadai for few seconds.

6. Grind the onion tomato mixture to fine paste. Add little water if needed. Also season with salt.

7. Heat 3 teaspoons oil in a kadai. Temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add the tempering along with oil to the chutney. Mix well. Serve with idli or dosa.

tempering kara chutney

Kara Chutney Recipe

kara chutney recipe

Kara chutney recipe | How to make kara chutney for idli

Harini
Kara chutney recipe, south Indian style spicy and tangy tomato onion chutney for idli, dosa.
4 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 3
Calories 162 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 10 shallots
  • 3 tomatoes ripe
  • 6-8 dried red chilies I used kashmiri variety, less spicy ones (adjust according to taste)
  • 2 green chilies optional
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon tamarind paste OR a small piece of tamarind
  • 2 tablespoons channa dal
  • Salt

For tempering kara chutney

  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 3 teaspoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 10 curry leaves

Instructions
 

  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a kadai. Add channa dal, dried red chilies and fry well till channa dal color changes to golden. Add garlic cloves and saute well if using
  • Add shallots and saute well till the color changes slightly.
  • Add chopped tomatoes and saute well till it shrinks and turns mushy.
  • Remove the contents to a bowl and allow to cool.
  • Switch off the flame and saute the tamarind piece in hot kadai for few seconds.
  • Grind the onion tomato mixture along with tamarind piece to fine paste. Add little water if needed. Season with salt.

For tempering Kara chutney

  • Heat 3 teaspoons oil in a kadai. Temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add the tempering along with oil to the chutney. Mix well. Serve kara chutney with idli or dosa.

Notes

1. Use gingely oil for nice taste and flavor.
2. You can store the chutney for 2-3 days in fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 3gCalories: 162kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 107mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1150IUVitamin C: 88mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe? Snap a pic and share 🙂Mention cookclickndevou or tag cookclickndevour

 

832shares
  • Share 3
  • Yummly 1
  • Flipboard
  • Twitter

Shared by Harini

About Harini

I am Harini. The recipe developer, food photographer and chef behind cook click n devour. My aim behind this blog is to provide easy, tried and tested recipes that beginners can cook with confidence. I took keen interest in cooking and took courses on cooking, baking during teens purely out of passion. With a decade of cooking experience I am glad to share my recipes and culinary knowledge with you all here. Stay tuned and happy cooking!
Harini :)

Comments

  1. sridevi reddipalli says

    September 6, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    5 stars
    This chutney is new one for me .I will try today itself to prepare to my kids.This chutney is different from routine break fast chutnies.

  2. Manicka says

    August 10, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    5 stars
    It was spicy and delicious.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, I am Harini


The chef, author and photograper of cook click n devour.Here I bring to you tried and tested vegetarian recipes with step by step photos and videos to make cooking a pleasure and fulfilling experience. Happy cooking!
Read More

As Seen In

AboutContactPrivacy
Copyright ©2021, Cook Click N Devour!!!. All Rights Reserved.