Green Coconut Chutney

Serve coconut chutney with Idli and enjoy!

Though we knew the health benefits of coconut and used it in our meals, its usage was reduced in past few decades and is now slowly finding its way back into our diets. But I had been using coconut in moderate amount in cooking all these years. Being born in South India, coconut chutney was staple food for me. Even though I had ground the chutney many times for my mom in an old fashioned way, I never knew the ingredients until I got married. In the years that followed, the ingredients of the chutney has evolved and I have my own version of the chutney which not only tastes good, but the aroma of the chutney with the seasoning is very inviting. So here goes my version of coconut chutney.....

Preparation time: 10 min

Main ingredients needed for the chutney

Serving size: 2
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

• Coconut diced - 1/4 cup
• Roasted Channa dal(dalia or pottu kadalai) - 1/4 cup
• Curry leaves - few
• Mustard & split urad dal - 1/4 tsp for seasoning
• Coriander leaves - 2 strands
• Garlic - 1 clove
• Green chilli - 1 no
• Red chilli - 1 no(optional for seasoning)
• Oil for seasoning

Preparation

Grind the ingredients as directed and season it with mustard

1. Pulse the coconut, roasted channa dal, green chilli, curry leaves, coriander leaves, garlic with required amount of salt in a blender/mixie.
2. Add 1/3 cup of water and grind all the ingredients until the coconut gets well grounded. Check to see the consistency and texture of the chutney so that it is not coarse or does not have any chunks. 
3. Transfer the chutney to a serving bowl.
4.  Heat oil warm enough to splutter mustard seeds. Add few urad dal and curry leaves.



Enjoy the coconut chutney!

5.  Pour the seasoning to the chutney and give it a mix.
6. Very aromatic and tasty coconut chutney is ready to be served with Idli  or Dosa or Pongal.

Health benefits of coconut chutney

Coconut boosts immunity and provides fatty acids. The antioxidants and vitamin A in coconut protects the skin and prevents from premature aging. Roasted channa dal along with protein has dietary fiber that helps digestion and prevents constipation. It also helps lower blood sugar level by releasing carbohydrate slowly. The garlic helps in thinning down the blood. The vitamin A in green chillies helps improve your eye sight. For health benefits of herbs used refer

"Herbs for Cooking and their Health Benefits" and for the spices used refer "Essential Spices for Healthy Cooking". 

Try the simple coconut chutney any time you make  Idli  or Dosa or Pongal and enjoy its rich and fresh taste. Let me know how you like the color and the taste of it.....

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