Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Tomator Chaatney, Bengali Tomato Chutney

If you haven’t yet noticed the ripe, plump tomatoes all around you, please do. Get some home and make this simple chutney, a Bengali is sure to swear by.

tomatoes Pree tomatoes Pree1 Traditionally, the Tomator Chaatney is served last in a typical Bengali meal, just before dessert. But I like to have it with my food. My favorite to go with Tomator Chaatney is hot khichudi with all its fanfare.

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Ingredients for Tomator Chaatney/ Bengali Tomato Chutney are:

3 large, ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 heaped tablespoon of grated ginger
2-3 green chilies, broken from the middle
Handful of raisins
1 teaspoon fenugreek/methi seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
2-3 tablespoons Mustard or Canola oil
3-4 tablespoons sugar
Salt


Heat oil in a pan, add the fenugreek and cumin seeds, bay leaves and throw in the green chilies and raisins. Let them all pop for a few seconds before you add the coarsely chopped pieces of tomatoes and the grated ginger. Mix well.
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The tomatoes will start getting soft and will release lot of juices. Season now with sugar and salt. Press the larger pieces of tomatoes with the back of your spatula. Cover and cook for five minutes on medium heat.

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Check the seasoning and make necessary adjustments. This chutney is sweet! Remove from heat, let it cool completely before you store in a glass jar. If refrigerated, it can stay up to a week, that is if its not all wiped clean already.
IMG_1784 This Tomator Chaatney is also offered to Goddess Durga as part of the Bhog. A lot of people also add dates to this chutney for natural sweetness.

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17 comments:

Satrupa said...

Dear Pree,
The rich ripe vine tomatoes look gorgeous ! I luv the recipe for tomato chutney. In Odisha we prepare something similar. You can try adding raisins or pitted dates ....
Luv the clicks as always.

Cheers n Happy Cooking,
Satrupa

http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Loved the snaps of the tomatoes...the chutney looks tempting...

PreeOccupied said...

Thanks Satrupa! I guess a lot of Orissa and Bengal cuisines are similar. Btw, this chutney does have raisins in it.

Silence, thanks, am glad you liked it.

GB said...

nice. will it go with gobi parathas?--that's what i'm making for dinner, right now! (see I cant stay away from the computer for even a minute. woeeeeee is meeeeeeee

Satrupa said...

Yah .... the neighboring states do share a lot of things in common. Sorry, I missed noticing the raisins in the ingredient list.
Thanks for the comment on my blog now ..... I am flattered ... he he.

aipi said...

I remember mom used to make this chutney during winters back home with aloo parathas n sometimes khichdi along with aloo chokha n baingan bharta...love this chutney..lovely color n recipe!
First time here..I like your space..

US Masala

PreeOccupied said...

GB, if you are still around. I don't think this chutney will go with Gobhi Parathas, try this instead -

http://preeoccupied.blogspot.com/2010/06/pocketful-of-patna.html

Aipi, thank you for visiting.

Satya said...

this tomato chutney looks so inviting ...in ous schools during ganesh puja we had a grand feast there they make this khata (chutney)n i love that ..this too looks that tempting

Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

even I love this... Dates and raisins - the more the merrier...
love the clicks too!

Sulagna said...

Yummy..There's nothing like Tomator Chutney :)

Best Regards
Sulagna
http://e-senseofspicenfragrance-sulagna.blogspot.com/

Priya Suresh said...

Fingerlicking chutney..regarding ur q"n about the hearts over the cake, i got a some decorations for cakes (plastic sheets with flowers,hearts etc from IKEA)..

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

ahha ami baddo bhalobasi...tabe ami khejur di. jano last week ekhane Am-ada pelam (oije Kancha Aamer moto gandho wala ada)...ota die chuney ami bhishon bhalobasi. tabe amar bor mishti chutney khayna. or jonye rosun peyaj die banate hay.

PreeOccupied said...

@Sayantani, Am-ada diye aaro bhalo hoye na? Ami kokhono kori ni orom kore. My husband does not like this Tomato Chutney, oke force kore khawate hoye. :-(

Kamini said...

Ooooh looks and sounds delicious, must try tomorrow. Awesome pics...can almost taste it via the pictures.

Deepa Jagarlapoodi said...

wow..a i keep telling sayantani,i love whenever there is a vegetarian dish posted related to bengali food. Iam married to a bengali and all the veg recipes of urs and sayantani's are a must try one by one..

MeghnaCL said...

Hey Rini-Di!
I actually had a craving for chutney tonight, so as is usual when I'm craving something Bengali, I turned to your blog. I hadn't any chilies on hand, and I subbed "paanch phoron" and a little turmeric for the spices, and it turned out beautifully! I'm going to post a link to this total comfort food on my blog.
Hope you, Dada and the baby are well!
Love,
Mimi
www.DesiCanadiens.wordpress.com

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