Easy Garlic Tomato Chutney Recipe For Dosa and Idli

Name: Garlic Tomato Chutney for Dosa or Pudla
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup crushed tomatoes; 3 cloves garlic; 2 tbsp roasted urad dal; 2 tsp chana dal; 2 tbsp oil (1 tbsp for roasting 1 tbsp for vaghar/tadka); ½ tsp methi seeds; 2 dry red chillies; ½ tsp sugar; ½ tsp salt; 6 tbsp water; 10 curry leaves; ¼ tsp hing (asofetida); 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tbsp urad dal

5 from 6 votes

ByShilpa Joshi July 1, 2021January 8, 2022 Updated on January 8, 2022

Garlic tomato chutney, also known as tamatar chutney or tamatar pachadi goes so well with dosa, idli, vada and one of our family faves moong dal pudla. It can be served with so many things including chapathi or even sandwiches. It is made easily used canned, crushed tomatoes.

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Garlic Tomato Chutney in a bowl with curry leaves on top

Garlic tomato chutney for dosa, idli, pudla and more using canned tomatoes

Time to make: 20 Minutes

It’s a delicious blend of tomatoes, garlic, spices thickened with protein filled chana and urad dal. Topped with a tadka of mustard seeds (rai) and curry leaves for a luscious taste.

Here’s a quick video showing the process:

It’s a great pick because:

Made ahead of time – this chutney can be freezed to store for later or if you have extra.
Canned/tinned tomatoes – provides a shortcut using canned crushed tomatoes so you don’t have to peel and cook the tomatoes.
Pairs with many dishes – from dosas to sandwiches, once you give it a taste you will see it pairs with many dishes such as our family favorite moong dal pudla.

Spicy garlic tomato chutney recipe ingredients in small bowls on a silver rectangle tray

Key Ingredients

You don’t need many ingredients for this chutney and if you cook Indian food often, I’m sure you easily have the ingredients on hand!

Curry leaves: if you don’t have a curry leaf plant you can easily find a bag of leaves sold at your local Indian store. It is a staple in Indian cooking! In this recipe it is used in the tempering as well as blended into the mix.

Fenugreek (methi) seeds: when eaten on their own, fenugreek seeds are bitter but once cooked they give a sweetness and depth of flavor! If you don’t have it on hand you can skip, but try to find them online or at your local Indian grocery store.

Canned crushed tomatoes: Makes this recipe easier by cutting down on time to cook fresh tomatoes!

Making Tomato Chutney

Red chillies added to pan with oil, urad dal and chana dal. — Roast dals, fenugreek seeds and red chillies

Add crushed garlic and tomatoes to pan. — Roast dals, fenugreek seeds and red chillies

Tips for the recipe

Soak the urad and chana dal for an hour before starting the recipe if you have time. It is not necessary but can help make a smoother chutney. Use 1/4 cup water to soak them in. Ensure to dry the urad and chana dal completely before roasting in oil.
Make sure you get CRUSHED tinned tomatoes it will help the cooking time and absorb flavors well

Tadka on top of garlic tomato chutney — Pour tadka on top of blended chutney and mix

FAQs

How long does tomato chutney last in the fridge: Stored in an air tight container, tomato chutney can last in the fridge 2-3 weeks dependent on the temperature of your fridge. Check chutney for stickiness to ensure it has not gone bad before using. Fresh is always best!
Can you freeze tomato chutney: You can freeze tomato chutney. I prefer to use a ziploc freezer bag. It will keep for 6-8 months. Possibly longer, but you want to avoid freezer burn. Remember to take it out a few hours ahead of time to let it defrost.
How to store homemade tomato chutney: You can store it in a can, container or ziploc bag. As mentioned above, if you are not using for quite some time I would freeze it.
What do you eat tomato chutney with: My favorite is moong dal pudlas or dosas. But idlis, vadas, sandwiches are all a few other options!
How to preserve tomato chutney: Tomatoes are a preservative themselves! This recipe also includes salt and sugar which further help to preserve the chutney so you are covered.