Peanut chutney is a popular South Indian condiment made from roasted peanuts, spices, and herbs. It’s typically served as a side dish with dosa, idli, or other South Indian snacks. Here’s a simple recipe to make peanut chutney at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup roasted peanuts (unsalted)
- 2-3 dried red chilies
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste or lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- Water, as needed
- For tempering (optional):
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- Few curry leaves
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- If you’re using raw peanuts, roast them in a pan over medium heat until they turn golden brown. Let them cool, then remove the skins by rubbing them between your palms.
- Peel the garlic cloves and ginger.
- Grind the Chutney:
- In a blender or food processor, combine the roasted peanuts, dried red chilies, garlic, ginger, tamarind paste or lemon juice, and salt.
- Add a little water to help with blending and grind until you get a smooth paste. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
- Prepare the Tempering (Optional):
- Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat.
- Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
- Add urad dal, cumin seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Fry until the dal turns golden brown.
- Mix the Tempering with Chutney:
- Pour the tempering over the ground peanut chutney and mix well.
- Serve:
- Transfer the peanut chutney to a serving bowl.
- Serve it with dosa, idli, vada, or any South Indian snack of your choice.
Enjoy the delicious and nutty flavor of homemade peanut chutney! Adjust the spiciness according to your taste preference by adding more or fewer red chilies.
