Chintha Thokku Chutney | Fresh Tamarind Chutney

Happy Onam to all my readers!

 

Every year we plan for an Onam Sadya for lunch. This year we had to skip it for various reasons. The attire is also kerala special and we do Pookolam on the entrance and in the lobby as well. Somehow all these were missed and to compensate our cook made puttu. Well that was okay on many fronts as it's been ages since I made puttu. 

Coming back to the weekend cooking post this week, I made this quick meal for the Saturday lunch. It included Chaaru, Potato Roast with Chintha Thokku Chutney.

Chintha Thokku Chutney refers to the chutney made from the preserved tamarind pulp that has been ground along with the outer skin, with salt, turmeric and preserved for a year. During the season, which happens to be the Summer, the fresh tamarind is taken and ground as such in huge pestle and mortar, with fenugreek powder, salt and turmeric. It is then dried under sun or in shade just as they would do with pickles. 

Then it is stored in air tight containers for a year, when it has to be cooked, they just take what's needed and make as chutneys, pulihora and so many things.

Athamma had made the batch she got home during this Summer and we made this chutney for the lunch

Chintha Thokku Chutney

For the Chintha Thokku

Fresh Raw tamarind
Methi powder
Salt

All the above are taken together and ground to a paste and stored. It is also dried in sun for couple of weeks.

To make the Chutney

Chintha Thokku - 3/4 cup
Onion - 1 medium
Green chilies - 3 -4
Garlic - 3 cloves
Roasted peanut - 3 tbsp

For tempering

Oil - 2 tsp
Curry leaves
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

How to make the chutney

Take the thokku along with the rest of the ingredients and coarsly grind it.

Heat a pan with oil, temper with curry leaves, mustard. Now add the ground chutney and cook for couple of mins.

Remove and serve with rice.

This simple meal joins the cooking weekend that I do with Vaishali and Champa.

Until I have something more interesting to share, enjoy!