Tomato Thokku / Thakkali Thokku

This is a recipe that I learnt when I was in college. My friend Suganya used to bring it to hostel whenever she goes home.Once I got to taste it and I liked it.I asked her what it was.She immediately called her grandma who made it and she was kind enough to share the recipe over phone.

I call this recipe "multi- talented" as it pairs equally well with idli, dosa, chapathi, poori, upma, bread and curd rice. I like to have it with poori. This is suited for travel as it stays good for 1-2 days depending on the climate. Most of my solo train journeys have been accompanied by chapathi and this thokku and i have so many memories related to this dish.

What you will need:

• Tomato- 1/2 kg

• Garlic- 10 pearls

• Red chilli powder- 2 tsp

• Oil- 1 tbsp

• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

• Urad dal- 1 tsp

• Salt- as needed

How to:

1. Add garlic into mixie jar. Pulse once or twice.Cut tomatoes into two or four. Add tomatoes. Grind it into fine paste.

                     

2.Heat oil in a pan. Add musatrd seeds. Let it splutter. Add urad dal.

 

3.When urad dal turns golden in colour, add ground paste, chilli powder and salt.

 

4.Close with lid. Let it cook till it reaches the consistency of thokku. Stir in between.This will take around 20 - 25 mins.

 

When it cools down store it in an air tight container and have it with any tiffin item you like.

P.S:

• This is a simple version of thakkali thokku that doesn't use tamarind. So it does not have a long shelf life.
• Adjust the quantity of chilli powder according to your preference.

Mixed Veg Kurma

My amma and chithi make veg kuruma in different ways. I have combined the two and came up with this recipe.I have made this many times for my guests and have always got compliments.The addition of cashewnuts gives a nice taste to this dish.Do try this and you will love it.

What you will need:

• Mixed vegetables- 1 cup(I used carrot, beans, potatoes and peas)
• Onion-1
• Tomato-1
• Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp
• Green chillies- 2
• Red chilli powder- 1 tsp
• Coriander powder- 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
• Garam masala powder-1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
• Oil- 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp chopped
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp
• Salt - as needed
• Water- 1 cup

To grind:

• Coconut-1/4 cup grated
• Cashewnuts- 4
• Poppy seeds- 1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Chop onion, tomatoes and slit green chillies. Chop the veggies.Grind the items given into a fine paste. 

          

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. Let it splutter. Add onion,green chillies and curry leaves. When onions turn pink, add ginger garlic paste and let it fry till raw smell leaves. 

3. Add tomatoes , turmeric pwd,red chilli pwd, coriander pwd and garam masala pwd and salt. Mix well. Let it get cooked till tomato turns mushy. 

4. Add chopped veggies.Mix well. Let it cook for 5-7 mins in oil. Add a cup of water for the veggies to boil.

 

5. When the veggies get 3/4th cooked, add ground paste.Dilute with water if the kuruma is too thick and let it boil for around 10 mins. 

 

6. When the kuruma thickens and reaches desired consistency ,add coriander leaves,mix well and switch off.

This kurma goes very well with poori,chapathi, idiyappam,appam and even with plain bread.

P.S:

• Just before serving add lemon juice and mix well.
• You can add cauliflower in this recipe.

Kothu Chapathi

If you are left with few chapathis from previous day's dinner but dont have any side dish you can try this.To me left-over recipes like this one are something to look forward to. So sometimes I purposely make extra chapathis to make this one the next day. 

Once my friend and her parents came to visit us and stayed with us for a day. I made Chapathi, Paneer butter masala and Peas pulao for dinner. We had some chapathis left over from dinner. The next morning aunt asked me what I was making for breakfast. And she gave this recipe and asked me to try this on seeing the leftover chapathis.

What you will need:

• Fresh/left-over chapathis- 3

• Onion- 1 big

• Tomato- 1 big

• Green chillies- 1

• Sambar powder- 1/2 tsp

• Pav bhaji masala powder-1/2 tsp

• Curry leaves- 1 sprig

• Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp chopped

• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp

• Salt - as needed

• Oil - 1 tsp

• Water-2 tbsp

Method:

1. Tear the chapathis into small pieces.Chop the onion,tomato,curry leaves and slit green chillies. 

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2.  Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, let it splutter.Add onion, green chillies, curry leaves.When onions turn pink in colour, add tomato.

 

3. Add sambar powder,pav bhaji masala powder and salt.Mix well. Let it cook till tomato turns mushy.Sprinkle handful of water so that the masala can be easily absorbed by chapathis. Mix well and close with lid for a minute.

 

4. Add chapathis.Mix well. Finally add coriander leaves. Mix well and switch off.Serve this along with onion raita.

 

P.S:

• I always make this along with Spicy Oats Lassi which is again very easy recipe for a complete meal. You can try this combo .

• This is a simple version of kothu chapathi. You can add scrambled eggs finally to make Egg kothu chapathi.

• You can add chopped carrots and green peas.

• If you have left over Vegetable kurma you can add it too after adding tomatoes .

• If you dont have Pav bhaji masala powder, you can replace it with chicken masala , biriyani masala or meat masala  .