Tomato and Herb Chutney - Indian Style

My last post - April 10th, 2012
Today -June 26th, 2012

My Last post - Today = Approx 2.5 months(75 days).
I hope someone keeps me accountable.

Anyways, it all looks like I've lost my blogging mojo these days. I need to get recharged for the very same reason. If I had a genie asking me for 3 wishes right now I would ask for - creativity , creativity and allergy relief. Ok! let me not go further about the third point.
But the first 2, yes.

I guess everyone goes through these low period times, when the brain just slows down, takes a nap, refuses to wake up. I am exactly in that phase  for sometime now. So what do I do now?

Should I just swim across the Caribbean and go to Venezuela?
Should I just buy a puppy or a cat ?
Should I just gorge on a dozen donuts from Dunkin?  Should I go on a shopping spree? (Oops! Hubby would not love that! Will ya??)
Should I paint?
Should I steal my neighbor's TV for the fun of it?

OK I guess I'll stick to the 5th one, 'coz the 4th one might just irritate my hubby, all others would be so easy to do, it wouldn't do anything to recharge my brain, would it? ;))
That's about all the hoopla about loosing my mojo.

But for now you can take a note of this 'so insanely addicting that I wanna make it again and again' tomato herb chutney.

Ingredients:
Tomatoes - 6
Almost a handful each of Basil, Cilantro and Mint (If basil isn't available, worry not, use the other 2, It still should taste wackily good !)
Salt to taste
sugar- 1 tbsp (or more)
turmeric - a pinch

To Roast and Grind:
Coriander seeds - 1.5 tbsp
Sesame seeds - 2 tbsp
Chana Dal - 3 tsp
Saunf - 2 tsp
Red Chillies - 4 to 5
Tadka:
Oil , mustard, hing, curry leaves

Method:
Wash the tomatoes ,herbs, line it on a plate neatly. The plate should be a white one, with a navy blue rim. And then click it, just like I did.
Skip the above step. (except washing y'all!)

Roast and fine grind the ingredients mentioned above in a mixie. You can increase the number of red chillies as per your taste.

Now take a pan, heat some oil.

 Fry the tomatoes, herbs until done. Add a pinch of turmeric, salt and sugar. (Amount of sugar depends on the amount of tartness you desire).

Once this tomato mixture cools down a bit, add this to the same mixie having all the roasted powder. Run the mixie again enough to keep it a lil chunky or smooth chutney if you desire. 

now put the chutney back into the same pan, check the taste, adjust the ingredients, cook for a minute or two again on medium heat.

Once it is done, make the tadka and pour it over the chutney.

It tasted wonderful with dosas.

If it isn't so addicting like I earlier mentioned, don't blame me, OK? I guess your tomatoes weren't so good as mine. Gotcha!!!

Did I mention that my son is having his summer vacation, and he's so much enjoying the summer camp in his school right now?? There, see I just mentioned it. See now I know how to reboot my brain. Join summer camp.  The solution always lies in my own blog.

 I better call Miss Lisa and register myself for the summer camp in my son's school before there are no more seats left.

Have fun you All!

Love,

Ashwini.