Chutney
Chutney Notes
Rehydrate dried coconut combining 2 parts coconut and 1 part warm water (by volume) or equal parts by weight. Mix the coconut and water, compact the coconut down, cover, and let set for 10 mins. Drain excess water, but save to use later the recipe calls for more water.
A blender does a great job of combining the ingredients, the immersion blender food processor attachment does not.
Kerala Style Coconut Chutney (Vella Chammanthi Curry)
Ingredients
Soak
1 cup dried grated/shredded coconut
1/2 cup warm water (for rehydrating dried coconut)
Blend
2 shallots, diced, blanched
1" ginger root, diced
1-2 green chilies, diced, to taste
3/4 cup water (more or less to taste)
1/4 tsp kosher salt (more or less to taste)
Tempering first
2 tbsp coconut (or vegetable) oil, to taste
1/2 tsp mustard seeds (yellow or brown)
1/2 tsp split urad dal
Tempering second
3 shallots (or small onion), minced
2 dried red chilies
few curry leaves, to taste
Directions
Rehydrate dried coconut with 1/2 cup warm water. Let sit for 10 mins, then dried but save the water.
Blend coconut, ginger, diced shallots, green chilli, water, and salt into a paste. Transfer it into a bowl.
Make tempering. Heat oil in a frying pan, pop mustard seeds and urad dal. Then add shallots, red chili and curry leaves. Saute until crispy and golden brown.
Pour tempering into chutney and mix well.
Notes
If using a Vitamix you can add the shallots, ginger, and chilies whole, you don't need to chop or dice them.
Two serrano chilies is the limit of heat for Ronda.
The dried coconut will continue to absorb water, so if you're going to store any of the chutney for later you should err on the side of adding more water.
References
Adapted from Rani's Kitchen Magic - Vella Chammanthi Curry
Mint Coconut Chutney (Puthina Thenga Chammanthi)
Ingredients
Blend
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh coconut, grated
1 shallot (or small onion), diced
1" ginger root, diced
4-5 green chilies, diced, to taste
1 tbsp tamarind juice
1/2 tsp kosher salt, to taste
water, to taste
Tempering
1 tbsp coconut (or vegetable) oil, to taste
1/4 tsp mustard seeds (yellow or brown)
1/4 tsp whole urad dal
1 shallots (or small onion), minced
2 dried red chilies
Directions
Blend coconut, shallots, ginger, chilies, and tamarind into a paste. Blend in the mint leaves, salt (to taste), and water (adding enough to reach your desired consistency).
Make tempering. Heat oil in a frying pan and pop mustard seeds Then add urad dal, shallots, red chili. Saute until golden brown.
Pour tempering into chutney and mix well.
References
Red Chili Chutney (Mulaku Chammanthi Chutney)
Ingredients
Saute
1 tsp coconut oil
5 dry red chilies
4 curry leaves
Saute
1 tsp coconut oil
8 small shallots
Grind
small piece of tamarind (optional)
salt to taste
Directions
Saute the dry red chilies and curry leaves in oil until the chilies turn dark brown, but be careful not to burn the chilies. Set aside.
Saute the shallots and oil until they are golden brown.
Grind the chilies, curry leaves, shallots, and tamarind into a paste. Do not add water while grinding. Salt to taste.