Onion Thuvaiyal

Onion Thuvaiyal, also known as Onion Chutney, is a flavorful South Indian condiment made primarily with onions. It's a popular accompaniment to various South Indian dishes like dosa, idli, and uttapam.
Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 12 Large onions, finely chopped
  • 8 – 10 Dried red chillies (adjust according to your spice preference)
  • Lemon-sized tamarind pulp (adjust according to taste)
  • 6 to 8 Garlic
  • 1 inch Ginger
  • 1 tbsp Urad dal
  • 4 tbsps Gingelly oil (sesame oil) or any cooking oil Salt to taste
  • 6 – 8 Curry leaves

Instructions

In a pan, heat the Gingelly oil or any cooking oil of your choice. Add the urad dal to the hot oil. Sauté until they turn golden brown. Add the dried red chillies, ginger and garlic cloves to the pan. Sauté for a minute or until the red chillies puff up. Add the finely chopped onions to the pan and sauté until they become translucent and slightly caramelized.

This may take around 5-7 minutes. Once the onions are cooked, Sauté for another minute to combine the flavours. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

Once cooled, transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Add salt according to your taste preferences. Add tamarind pulp. Blend all the ingredients into a smooth paste. You can add a little water if needed to achieve the desired consistency. Check the seasoning and adjust salt and spiciness

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a kadai. Temper mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Cook this mixture add to the Thuvaiyal and cook once again for 1 minute. Transfer the Onion Thuvaiyal to a serving bowl. Your delicious Onion Thuvaiyal is now ready to be served! It complements the taste of dosa, idli, or uttapam excellently. Enjoy the flavours of this simple yet delightful South Indian chutney!

Serving Suggestions

Accompaniments:

As mentioned, it goes excellently with dosa, idli, chapati and uttapam.

Texture:

Some people like their Thuvaiyal a bit coarse rather than smooth. If you like a bit of texture, you can pulse the mixture a few times in the blender instead of making it entirely smooth.

Storage Suggestions

Refrigeration:

Store the Onion Thuvaiyal in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last for about 1 to 2 weeks.

Freezing:

If you want to store it for longer, consider portioning the thuvaiyal into small airtight containers or zip-lock bags and freezing them. Before serving, defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheating:

If you are serving the thuvaiyal from the refrigerator, bring it to room temperature or quickly heat it in a microwave or on a stovetop.

Always use a clean, dry spoon to serve the chutney to prevent contamination and extend its shelf life. Enjoy your meal!