As we progress in life, whether it’s considered as moving by age or otherwise, a lot of changes come by. Some, you embrace it as a part of the flow of life; some, you take it with a slight tinge of disappointment; while some, you reject it outright. What approach is correct? I always feel that we have to adapt our reaction as per the situation presented. When it comes to our family – parents, spouses and kids – we always tend to take it as a part of life, whether we like the change or no. Why do we do that? Mainly because, we overlook our personal opinions and likes over the wider interest. We tell ourselves that our sacrifice is much worth as it would mean only we are dissatisfied, while we see much more faces glad and smiling. We value our close ones more than our thoughts and intentions in this case. But when it would come to other matters which are trivial, we may react in a far different manner. All depends on the situation…
Coming to today’s post, something that my HD taught me during our early married days. I’ve already said in my tea post that I was a total zero and I had to be taught from making tea to what not, in order to survive in the kitchen. Not the fault of my umma, not at all! It was just that I never took interest in the kitchen, and like many of us, stuck to my favorite dialogue each time she called out for a help in the kitchen – “Umma, I’m studying!!!” Since HD had to ensure that he doesn’t go hungry every time, he taught this to me as one of the kindergarten session – in Malayalam, we call it “baalapaadam”! 🙂 The first time, I made it on my own, I ended up burning one of my mother-in-law’s saucepans! Thank God I was a newly married bride at that time! After that, my lazy go-to has always been this simple curry, which just goes so well with a bowl of rice. Just reminds me that I’ve not had any kitchen lessons from HD for quite some time and I’ve to ensure that I eat his head to get some soon!!! 😉
As I finish this post, I get a feeling that I am already done with that little bowl of thakkali curry up there, all dumped into a little bowl of rice and pushed in… hmm… some food, though may be simple, yet tend to play around with your tastebuds a lot… 🙂
Thakkali/ Tomato Curry - Two ways!
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 2 ripe tomatoes chopped
- 1 onions minced
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp urad dal
- 5-6 curry leaves
- 1 green chilly slit
- 1/2 tsp ginger paste
- 1/2 tsp garlic paste
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp garam masala powder
- Water as required
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- No. 1, which is the way he taught me:
- Heat oil in a saucepan, splutter the mustard seeds. Fry the urad dal till lightly browned, add the curry leaves and saute for a couple of seconds.
- Now add the onion and the green chillies and cook till the onions become slightly browned. Add the ginger and garlic paste and cook till the raw smell is gone.
- Now add the tomatoes, cook on low flame with close lids till the tomatoes get really mashed up. Keep stirring continuously so that it doesn't stick to the pan.
- Add water little by little while cooking.
- Now add the masalas and cook for another 5 minutes. Add water as required, not too much! Allow to boil till it incorporates all the masala. Adjust the salt and serve warm with rice, dosas, idlis, etc.
- No. 2, the way I like to make it:
- Chop the tomatoes into big chunks and boil with little water in a saucepan until mushy. Switch off and allow to cool completely. Grind this into a fine paste and set aside.
- In a saucepan, heat oil, splutter mustard seeds. Fry the urad dal and the curry leaves for a few moments.
- Add the ginger and garlic paste and saute continuously till raw smell is gone. Now add the onion and green chillies and saute till soft. This will keep the crunch of the onion - if you don't like it to bite, then saute more, as simple as that!
- Add in the masala powders and saute for around 5 minutes till well done. Add in the ground tomato and bring to boil, mixing in between for the flavors to incorporate.
- Add a little water if you find it too thick. Keep on simmer for around 5-7 minutes and switch off. Adjust salt and serve warm.
Mmm…kollam rafee …
thank u so much shaami…
Rafee I loved your version of making tomato curry. Will tryout soon.
thank u so much sanoli…
Adipoli Rafee. When you get married, you have to learn the dishes what is likable by your in laws. Meaning the whole learning process starts again. If someone asks me what dishes you cooked at your moms place. I am completely blank. he he.
so true humi… 🙂 thank u so much…
tomato curry looks delicious, I like to go by the first version with no grinding part 🙂
thank u so much aruna… 🙂
Tangy tomatoe curry .. Yummy with hot steamed rice ..
thank u so much shey…
Your hus taught very nice curry preparation now this will helpful for all……yummy curry
thank u so much resna…
simple and quick.. bt tasty.. goes with everything:)
thank u so much laxmi… 🙂
Rafee.. when nothing is there as a curry for dinner , this is one easy to make it recipe with less ingredients.. i try.. make it hot hot..
thank u so much preetha…
Very delicious. Bookmarking this. Will try this version very soon.
thank u so much nandoo…
Yummy curry
thank u so much akhila…
looks too good and tempting
thank u so much gaju…
Never tried tomato curry with garam masala, interesting!!! I am sure it goes well with Chapthi's too!!!
thank u so much shibi…
wow such simple and yummy curry dear…would love to try it soon..beautiful presentation
thank u so much ruxana…
Must have tasted good along with Idlies and dosais too..)
thank u so much suja… 🙂
simple n interesting curry …will taste yumm with some hot steamed rice…
thank u so much gloria…
Its hard to please everyone in the family but still we try our best. Cooking wasn't my forte too but I learned from my mum and now with blogging, I seem more keen in trying out new recipes. I am loving this simply curry Raf. While I am not a big fan of curries, I made them, mainly for my other half. I shall try it out for this weekend for sure.
thank u so much nava…
tomato curry looks delish…perfect dish for crispy dosa
thank u so much gayathri…
very very delicious and inviting curry love both the ways 🙂 tempting me !!
thank u so much manjula… 🙂
Simple yet very flavorful for sure! I tried once but it turned out to be so much tangy.. so never dared to try again 😛 This way seems easy to follow…
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thank u so much shruthi… this is not that tangy, just enough…
simple curry for idli dosai.
thank u so much savitha…
Delicious thakali curry, I too started cooking only when I started staying alone.
many of us seem to be like that… thanks a lot, swathi…
Wow this looks so good…. I have never had it with rice though…this curry was introduced to me by my roomie and we used to have it with dosa or idli.
thank u so much anupa… tastes too good with rice, do try…
delicious curry, love both ways!!!
thank u so much sangeetha…
This looks fantastic! I would love this on a cold day!
thank u so much cathleen…
Simple yet very flavorful ..
thank u so much smitha…
Love both the versions. Everyone has one basic recipe that is prepared when confused what to cook.
Thanks for sharing.
thank u so much sara…
Your tomato curry looks delicious!
thank u so much mich…
yummy recipe, liked both the ideas 🙂
thank u so much preeti… 🙂
This tomato curry looks yummy.
thank u so much ambreen…
i follow various versions to prepare tomato curry.. it is one of the simple curry which cab be prepared in 10 mins..
thank u so much preeti…
luking yummy n tangy…nice clik…:)
thank u so much usha… 🙂
Delicious and beautifully made dear, love it …
thank u so much priya…
Simply the best! Love it…
thank u so much…
Thakkali curry yummm… ,lessons learnt still u want two ways 🙂
haha meena… i can't stop laughing… i only meant for life's cases, we need just one… for cooking, we can always have plan B in place! 🙂
Simple and homely recipe… Tomato curry looks really delicious.. Nice one Rafee 🙂
thank u so much nilu… 🙂
Both versions seem to be simply perfect, but would vary in taste for sure.. I too was not aware of a simple dishes till I was married .. 🙂
thank u so much sangeetha… 🙂
Hey really looks delicious and awesome
Shobas Delight
thank u so much shobana…