Updated on by Raks Anand 67 Comments
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Tomato kurma or thakkali kurma is an unbelievable tasty kurma that can be made in a jiffy! It can make a perfect pair for soft dosa, idli, puri or chapathi. Full video and step by step pictures.
Prepare this in just under 20 minutes for dinner or breakfast! Perfect to go with idli, dosa, idiyappam, aapam, poori, chapati.
Jump to:
- 🍅 Star ingredient
- Substitutions
- 👍🏻 Top tip
- My notes
- Stepwise images
- Recipe card
I always wanted to make this kind of kurma for long time. So when I heard this recipe from Raji, mom of Aj’s friend, I was very excited to try this one.
She was happy to share two simple recipes from her handwritten note recipe book from her mom.
One amongst the two is this kurma. Even though she told this recipe as ‘Vengaya Kuzhambu’ I made it more like Thakkali/ Tomato kurma.
I think my tomato ratio is more than she mentioned. Though I have not brought the same recipe she told, the taste was amazing!
I kept appreciating the simplicity of the recipe and yet the whole house smelt so good of this kurma.
🍅 Star ingredient
Tomato - The tomato ratio can be reduced to half in this recipe to make it vengaya kuzhambu as she called it.
But since we have named it as tomato kurma, use more tomato. Naatu thakkali or Bangalore tomato, whatever variety you use.
Just make sure to balance the spice accordingly.
Substitutions
Sambar powder - My sambar powder is combination of red chilli and more of coriander powder, traces of turmeric, cumin etc. No kopra or asafoetida in it.
So if you want, you can use Aachi or Sakthi sambar powder which are close to homemade.
Or even Red chilli powder and coriander powder (1 teaspoon chilli powder ½ to 1 teaspoon coriander powder)
If you do not like any masalas like Cinnamon, clove or fennel seeds, you can skip it. You can use ½ teaspoon garam masala alone.
👍🏻 Top tip
- Do not add any ingredient more than mentioned as it could totally over power the flavors. Everything has to be mild.
My notes
This recipe is naturally gluten free, vegan. You can keep thakkali kurma in fridge up to two days.
Click here to read thakkali kurma in Tamil
Stepwise images
- First grind coconut, fried gram dal,green chillies and fennel with little water to a fine paste.
- Heat a kadai with oil. Temper with cinnamon and cloves. Add finely chopped onion and fry till transparent.
- Add finely chopped tomatoes and little bit of salt. Fry until it becomes soft.
- Add sambar powder and turmeric. Mix well and fry for two more minutes. Add 1 & ½ cups of water, add more salt if needed and bring to boil. Add the ground paste and boil for 3-4 minutes. Adjust water consistency if it is too thick.
Serve with idiyappam / Chapathi/ Idli / Dosa. Below is with idiyappam. Yumm!!
Recipe card
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5 from 5 votes
Tomato kurma or thakkali kurma
Tomato kurma or thakkali kurma is an unbelievable tasty kurma that can be made in a jiffy! It can make a perfect pair for soft dosa, idli, puri or chapathi. Full video and step by step pictures.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Author Raks Anand
Servings 3
Cup measurements
Ingredients
- 2 Onion
- 2 Tomato
- ¾ teaspoon Sambar powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Turmeric
- Salt
To grind
- ¼ cup Coconut grated
- 5 Green chillies
- ½ teaspoon Fennel
- 1 tablespoon Pottukadalai Fried gram dal
To temper
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 2 Cloves
Instructions
Firstly grind coconut, fried gram dal, green chillies and fennel with little water to a fine paste.
Heat a kadai with oil. Temper with cinnamon and cloves.
Add finely chopped onion and fry till transparent.
After that, add finely chopped tomatoes and little bit of salt. Fry until it becomes soft.
Then add sambar powder and turmeric. Mix well and fry for two more minutes.
Add 1 & ½ cups of water, add more salt if needed and bring to boil. is too thick.
Then add the ground paste and boil for 3-4 minutes. Adjust water consistency if it is thick.
Switch off flame. Thakkali kurma ready.
Notes
- According to original recipe, the kurma has to come out more on whiter side. But I was happy with the orange look 🙂
- Do not add more masalas like cinnamon or cloves or fennel than mentioned, otherwise the kurma tastes different.
- Adjust the water quantity to get a kurma consistency.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Divya Kudua
I love tomato based curries and they go too well with Idiyappam and dosa.I follow a similar recipe for vegetable kurma.This one's easier with just onions and tomatoes.Btw,love how lovely your idiyappam looks:)
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Akila
Just love the simple version..
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Radhika
I have the recipe your friend gave you which I too got it from my MIL's neighbor who also happens to be from Chettinad and I do just the same way to go with idlis. Tastes best with idiyappams in my opinion.
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Sangeetha Nambi
Love this tangy ever....
http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.comReply
Chitra
As sen dont like tomato base , I make the same with vegetables.. will try this version atleast for myself. simple n yummy 🙂
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Veena Theagarajan
I love tomato kurma..Normally I do it for Idli
http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.comReply
VineelaSiva
Wow tomato kurma sounds new to me.Will try.
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prathibha Garre
lovely kurma..looks delicious and that idiyappam look so soft n fluffy too
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srividhya Ravikumar
love this Raji....yummy kurma..
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Rani's gourmet
never heard of kuruma with tomato..looks delicious and easy too..
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Hemalatha
more like adding thengai chutney to the kurma! Isn't it?
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RAKS KITCHEN
Hema, we dont usually add fennel in thengai chutney! More over, a kurma will become a kurma only after we add a coconut based ground mixture to it!! Hope u get it?!
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APARNARAJESHKUMAR
raks ! ur idiyappam is amazing ! usually i prepare this kind of kuruma with Brinjal for Vegetable Briyani ! adding fennel to coconut wow its divine taste
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Meenal Ramanathan
hi
i love ur clicks with idiyappam
i usually saute the items given to grind with little oil and follow ur procedure
i will use red chilly powder instead of sambar powder
it will also taste gud.try it outReply
Kaveri Venkatesh
Very yummy kurma...looks too good
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Aruna Manikandan
my lil one loves to have idiyappam with kurma, delicious combo 🙂
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Sharmilee! :)
I can feel the aroma here...looks very tempting with idiyappam!
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jeyashrisuresh
Super flavorful kurma. chettinad cusine has its unique and nice taste. Beautiful clicks
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Priya
Love to have this kurma simply with idlis, flavourful gravy.
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gais
Tried this kurma today for idli. Before trying i had a doubt whether i would taste good without adding ginger and garlic but the taste was awesome without much ingredients and long process. thanks....
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RAKS KITCHEN
Thank you very much gais. Appreciate your feedback 🙂 I too had the same doubt that without Ginger or garlic, how its going to be, but its amazing right? 🙂
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divya
Wow! Delicious..
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Tamilarasi Sasikumar
Love this kurma...very perfect side for idlis...
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Suja Manoj
Tangy and yummy gravy,perfect side dish
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Sangeetha
tomato kurma looks sounds very yummy...great ccombo with idiyappams...looks very tempting...love ur clicks always..
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g3
yummy!
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Chitra
i dont like fennel seeds.Can i substitute with poppy seeds?
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Premalatha Aravindhan
yummy kurma,me too makes this same way without sambar powder...clicks are too gud as usual:)
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raaji
yesi really like the taste of karma without ginger or garlic paste
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Nagalakshmi V
i love anything chettinad too, especially since they are more known for non veg 🙂
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Nivedhanams Sowmya
Wow Raji!!! Love this kurma!! and yes even I like chettinaad cuisine!!! so delicious and so flavorful!!! question - what did u add to get the orange color instead of the white one?
Sowmya
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Priti S
I do without adding coconut ....looks very yum ...nice clicks
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Kalpana Sareesh
i always love this kurma.. looks gorgeous..
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Janani
I love it with idiyapaam they taste so good.
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Vanamala Hebbar
Kurma looks very nice
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Kavitha
Made this today for chappathi.... Turned out perfctly... 🙂
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Sushma Mallya
Looks tasty...Nice clicks as usual
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Sireesha Puppala
i liked the black bowl.its so authentic
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Sudha Sabarish
Never tried this type of kurma. Simple and a tasty one.
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Nithya
today i m going to try dis i crossed my fingers to come out well
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sri
today i am going to prepare this kurma
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Sarada Subramaniam
I have tried many of ur recipes including dum aloo,dhokla...it's really fantastic...thanks a lot...I am going to try this
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Sarada Subramaniam
Sarada
I have tried many recipes that you have posted...it's really amazing...thanks a lot....Reply
jyoti singh
Nice work ..
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ponmozhi
tonite i tried this one really good and easy dish..i added sambar powder + chilli powder..
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Bindhu
Hi,more than the kurma...i am very eager to know how u made the flat hotel-like idiyappam (background)
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Raks anand
I used a bamboo mesh that my maami got from karaikudi
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Vanishree Ranganath
Hi raks, I tried this recipe today.....wow came out super.....I like all your posts......really admire your effort in clicking those pics......thank you so much........
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Vanishree Ranganath
Hi raks, I tried this recipe today....wow super....I like all your posts......really admire your effort in clicking those pics.....thank you so much.......
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Iswarya Sureshkumar
I tried it today... It was too good with idiyappam... Thank u for ur wonderful recipe raks....
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Naga Rathinam
Hi mam,i tried it and came out well...but i have a doubt..after adding d paste kuruma turns thicker..even after adding enough water i felt a raw smell..y so mam??pls clear my doubt...
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Nazia Hussain
I tried it. It came out very well. Will share the pics
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Thulasi
Today i made it.came out very well..time saving too..
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Shobana Chandrasekaran
Hi rakskitchen, I tried this kurma today morning. It has come very nice.
Thanks for sharing.
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gunny
I made it and it tasted delicious!
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gunny
to make the paste did you put fried gram dhal and cashew nuts ? In the video and pictures I do not see the fried gram dahl? And in the recipe I do not see cashew nuts?
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Saran Durai
Wow.. Great receipe.. Made this as side dish for idly tonight.. Turned out yummy.. Thank you
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Lolita
Wow! Tried it out. Was awesome!
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Bharagavi Kanth
Simple as well as nice
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Padma Ramaswamy
I like all your recipes and i have tried so many... this one is my favorite with idiyappam.... ☺
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Unknown
Tried this today and it was seriously awesome... one of the next kurmas i have tasted!
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Bhagyashree Chari
Hi... Can we replace coconut with anything else as i am allergic to coconut
ThanksReply
Raks Anand
Can just add some cashew paste 🙂
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Priya
Quick and foolproof recipe...loved the taste!
Thank you!Reply
Raks Anand
Thank you for your feedbacK 🙂
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Kavitha
Very good recipe.. Loved it.
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Raks Anand
Thank you 🙂
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