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South Indian · Indian

Coconut chutney

Vegetarian

தேங்காய் சட்னி · tēṅkāy caṭṉi

Fresh coconut ground with green chilli and ginger, finished with a sizzling tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. The essential partner to idli and dosa.

Coconut chutney is a South Indian condiment, ready in about 12 minutes and made with coconut, green chilli and fresh ginger. It serves 4 and is rated beginner to cook.

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A serving of Coconut chutney
Photo: Mailz2kumar / Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SA-4.0
Prep
10 min
Cook
2 min
Total
12 min
Serves
4
Level
Beginner
Calories
135

Ingredients

4 servings

For the tempering

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    If the coconut (opens in a new tab) is frozen, let it thaw. Put the coconut, green chillies, ginger and salt in a blender (opens in a new tab).

  2. Step 2

    Add the water and blend to a slightly coarse, thick paste. Add lemon juice (opens in a new tab) if you like and transfer to a bowl.

    A spoonful of roasted chana dal (pottukadalai) blended in makes it thicker and creamier.

  3. Step 3

    Heat the oil, add mustard seeds (opens in a new tab) and, once they pop, the urad (opens in a new tab) dal, dried chilli and curry leaves (opens in a new tab). Fry until the dal turns golden and pour over the chutney.

About this dish

Origin
South India, India · Commonly attributedAlso popular in Sri LankaMore food from India
Dish
Breakfast · Condiments, chutneys & relishes · Dips & spreads
Cooking method
Blended, No-cook
Taste
fresh, creamy, spicy (chilli heat), nutty
Diet
Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Keto-style · Low-carb
All labelsVegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Keto-style · Low-carb
Worked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Everyday · Budget-friendly
Cook more with
Coconut · Green chilli · Fresh ginger · Black gram (urad dal) · Coconut oil · Mustard seeds
Techniques
Wet grinding · Emulsification

Allergens

  • Contains: Mustardfrom mustard seeds

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

135 kcal per serving

Estimated

1 serving ≈ 64 g · recipe makes 4

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 4%
  • Carbohydrate 17%
  • Fat 79%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy135 kcal211 kcal
Protein1.5 g2.3 g
Carbohydrate6 g9.4 g
Net carbohydrate2.9 g4.6 g
Sugars2.1 g3.2 g
Added sugars0 g0 g
Fibre3.1 g4.8 g
Fat12.5 g19.5 g
Saturated fat10.8 g16.8 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol0 mg0 mg
Sodium299 mg466 mg
Salt equivalent0.7 g1.2 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
147 mg
Calcium
10 mg
Iron
0.9 mg
Magnesium
16 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
7 µg
Vitamin C
8 mg
Vitamin D
0 µg
Vitamin B12
0 µg
Folate (DFE)
12 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • Optional ingredients are not included: lemon juice.
  • Not counted (tiny amounts or “to taste”): curry leaves.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • Add the tempering just before serving so the mustard seeds and curry leaves stay crisp.

Common mistakes

  • Over-blending to a watery purée — keep it thick and slightly coarse.

Serve with

  • Serve with idli, dosa, uttapam or medu vada.

Storage

  • Keeps 1 day refrigerated; fresh coconut sours quickly.

Variations

  • Green coconut chutney: Blend in a handful of coriander and mint leaves.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Goes with

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Customise in Sauce & Drizzle

Built from the recipe’s own sections. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

  • Coconut, freshly grated (or frozen grated)120 g
Used in step 1

Make it milder, swap ingredients for your diet, change the batch size or thickness — the original stays as it is.

Customise in Sauce & Drizzle

Reviews & corrections

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