Coconut Chutney: Epic Side Dish, Pretty Much Any Time
Coconut chutney is an essential accompaniment in Indian cuisine, particularly in states from South India like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. And super simple to make, combining fresh coconut with spices and herbs to create a flavorful side dish. It’s versatile, making it appropriate to pair with dosas, idlis, vadas, rice and even parathas. The sweetness of coconut catalyzed by the tangy-ness of tamarind enhanced by heat from green chillies comes together as one great balance of flavor in coconut chutney.
In this article, we will read about coconut chutney including its history, significance, different types of coconut chutney and methods to prepare it, and tips to make it at home.
What is Coconut Chutney?
Coconut chutney is a sauce that primarily consists of fresh coconut — grated and ground, with green chilies, ginger, tamarind or yogurt blended to a smooth or mildly gritty paste. The coconut chutney can also be tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves and other spices to elevate its flavor.
That bright, clean taste balances with various Indian foods, especially breakfast foods such as dosa, idli and vada, but it can also serve as an accompaniment to rice, parathas or even snacks, such as samosas or pakoras. Coconuts in the chutney make it creamy and smooth in texture, resulting in a mild sweet flavor that nicely balances the pungent qualities of other spices used in the preparation.
Coconut Chutney: Why It Matters
Coconut chutney has been a staple of South Indian culinary traditions for a long time. Since coconut is in abundance around the coastal line of South India, it is used in its fresh form itself in chutneys, curries and other food items. The presence of coconut chutney in South Indian cuisine is so strong that no traditional breakfast meal is complete without a bowl of it.
The chutney is also popular outside of India, particularly in countries with notable Indian populations where it is either served in Indian restaurants, or cooked in homes looking to recreate the real South Indian taste. Its medley of coconut and spices creates a rich yet balanced flavor that is savory and refreshing.
Basic Coconut Chutney Recipe
The coconut chutney recipe is straightforward and takes only a handful of ingredients and no cooking time. Here’s the most ubiquitous version of this chutney:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1–2 green chilies (to taste)
- 1-inch piece of ginger
- 1/4 cup roasted chana dal (with this, you do not need to add any dal for thickness, it is optional)
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
- For tempering:
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp urad dal (broken black gram)
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- A few curry leaves
Instructions:
Grind the Ingredients: Add the fresh grated coconut, green chilies, ginger, and roasted chana dal (if using) to a blender along with salt. Add a little water as needed to process into a smooth very thick paste. You can control the thickness of the chutney by adding more water or less.
Make the Tempering: Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Then mix urad dal and fry till they turn golden. Next add a pinch of asafoetida and curry leaves. Fry a few more seconds till the leaves are crisp.
Pour and Mix: Pour the tempered spices over the prepared coconut chutney and combine. Your chutney is now fit to serve.
This simple coconut chutney is light and tangy and mildly spiced, a classic accompaniment at breakfast to a variety of South Indian foods.
Variations of Coconut Chutney
The basic coconut chutney recipe is well loved but there are some alternative coconut chutneys as per different regional tastes. Some popular versions are:
Coconut and Tamarind Chutney
Tamarind adds tanginess, and subtle sour notes to coconut chutney, balancing out the sweetness of the coconut. This version is common in numerous South Indian homes and it augments the flavor of the chutney.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1-2 green chilies
- 1/2 tsp tamarind paste
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
Directions: The tamarind gives a pleasingly natural tang to the chutney.
Coconut and Mint Chutney
The mint provides the chutney with a refreshing flavor, making it a great companion to spicy meals or fried food. This variation of chutney is often served with snack food such as samosas and pakoras.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1-2 green chilies
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
How to make it: Grind coconut, mint leaves and green chilies together adding salt and water to adjust the paruppu consistency. This is particularly nice in summer.
Coconut and Coriander Chutney
Coriander, or cilantro, adds a fresh, herbal note to the chutney. Plus a sharp, herb-flecked chutney is a blend of coconut and coriander.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1-2 green chilies
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
Instructions: Using a mortar and pestle, make a coarse paste of coconut, coriander and green chillies with salt to taste. The coriander adds such a lovely fragrant freshness to the chutney.
Coconut and Onion Chutney
Onion chutney is sweet, it gives some depth of flavor to coconut chutney. The chutney gets a lot of the complexity and savory flavor from the caramelized onions.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1-2 green chilies
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
What to do: Sauté the onions until golden brown, then blend with the coconut, green chilies and salt to make the chutney.
Nutritional Benefits of Coconut Chutney
Coconut chutney is not only tasty but also packs in a lot of the health benefits due to the nutritional value of coconut and spices used. Some of the benefits include the following:
High in Nutrients: Coconut is rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, E as well as several B vitamins. It is also a source of healthy fats, especially medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which may encourage heart health and weight management.
Digestion Booster: Coconut and spices like ginger and cumin help in digestion. It is particularly ginger of which the digestional benefits are most widely known, aiding nausea and feelings of indigestion.
Builds Immunity: Probably the most restorative, the spices used in coconut chutney (curry leaves, mustard seeds) have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help the body build more immunity.
Anti-inflammatory: The chutney, contains spices such as turmeric, ginger, and cumin, which have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation and prevent chronic diseases.
Low Calories: Coconut chutney is rich in low-calories and fat so it will help you to make your eat healthy food.
Connect with Tasting TableIt Has Perks Join now to get the latest scoop.
If you want to make fresh, flavorful, perfectly balanced coconut chutney, remember these tips:
Fresh Coconut: Fresh grated coconut is the key ingredient for determining the quality of the chutney. Fresh coconut adds a creamy texture and natural sweetness to the chutney. You can also use frozen grated coconut, but it does not give the same rich flavor if no fresh coconut is available.
Control Spice: Coconut chutney is as mild or spicy as you’d like. You can also vary the number of green chilies and the type of chilies used to adjust the amount of heat in your chutney.
If you like a smooth chutney, grind the ingredients smoothly. For a thicker texture, you might also grind the chutney more coarsely. It allows you to season it to your taste and add water as needed so that it gets the desired consistency.
Tempering is Key: Tempering (or tadka) is essential, as it brings out a lot of flavors and enhances the taste of the chutney. Be sure to temper the chutney just before serving, for optimum freshness and flavor.
Store: Ideally, coconut chutney is served fresh, but any remaining chutney can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days. If the chutney becomes too thick in the fridge, stir in a little water to bring it back to serving consistency.
Conclusion
Coconut chutney is an excellent condiment that pairs well with all kinds of Indian dishes. Complementing dosa, idli, or rice, coconut chutney brings a fresh and aromatic element to your meal. Its sweet, spicy, tangy flavor makes it a great condiment that pairs well with many different kinds of dishes.
Easy to prepare with very few ingredients, coconut chutney is a recipe which you must try if you are ever interested in learning about the beautiful culinary landscape of South India. Feel free to play around with the ratios, or to tweak to your tastes — I designed this to work well with many of your favorite dishes. So go ahead and grab some coconut chutney the next time you find yourself craving a zesty side dish – the taste is sure to bring out the best in your meal!
Read More: Coconut Chutney