Tomato Pachadi (Thakkali Pachadi) is a delicious Andhra-style spicy and tangy tomato chutney recipe. It goes well with South Indian breakfast dishes such as idli, uttapam, dosa, and even appams (vegan, can be easily made gluten-free).

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About Tomato Pachadi
Pachadi means chutney in Telugu language. Tomato Pachadi (Thakkali Pachadi) is Andhra-style tomato chutney. It is a delicious spicy and tangy condiment that perks up the taste of any meal in no time
Also called Tomato Nilava Pachadi, it is super easy to make and comes together in under 30 minutes using a few simple ingredients.
This Tomato Pachadi Recipe is vegan and can be easily made gluten-free. You can also double or triple the recipe as per your requirements.
Here are some other pachadi recipes that can be served with your South Indian meals
Ingredients & Variations


Tomatoes – Choose red and ripe fresh tomatoes to prepare this pachadi.
To make variations of this chutney, you can use semi-ripe or even raw green tomatoes.
Tamarind Pulp – It adds a delicious tanginess to the dish. You can replace it with lime juice if it’s not easily available.
Red Dry Chilies – Along with tanginess, you also need spiciness and these red dry chilies do that magic. You can increase or decrease the dry red chilies, according to your spice level.
Lentils – Chana dal (Bengal gram lentils) and white urad dal (split and skinned black lentils) add a nice texture to this pachadi.
Others – You will also need oil, fresh curry leaves, brown mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds (methi dana), cilantro (fresh coriander leaves), asafetida (hing), salt, and turmeric powder.
Skip adding asafetida to make it gluten-free.
You can also add some roasted white sesame seeds to this chutney.
Many people add garlic, ginger, and onions to their pachadi recipe, however, I like to keep it simple.
In case you wish to make tomato pachadi spicier then you can add more red chilies.
If the tomatoes are slightly sour then you can use a slightly lesser amount of tamarind.
How To Make Tomato Pachadi
Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Once the oil is hot, add
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon chana dal
- 1 tablespoon white urad dal
and fry until they turn slightly brown, stirring frequently.

Add
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida
- 15-20 whole curry leaves
- 8-10 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
and fry for 30-35 seconds, stirring continuously.

Now add 9 oz (250 g) of chopped tomatoes and mix well.

Reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pan with a lid and cook until tomatoes are well cooked and mushy (12-15 minutes), stirring a few times in between.

Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.

Add the mixture to a blender or a food processor along with 2 tablespoon cilantro and 1 teaspoon salt and blend to make coarse chutney.

Check for salt and tamarind pulp and add more if needed.
Transfer the chutney to an airtight glass container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can temper it to enhance the taste. Heat 2 tablespoon coconut oil, sesame oil, or any other cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon white urad dal, and 10-12 curry leaves, and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds. Add 2-3 dry red chilies and fry for 4-5 seconds. Pour the tempering over the pachadi and mix well.
To make it with onions and garlic, add ¼ cup of chopped onions and 2 teaspoon chopped garlic once the lentils are roasted. Cook until they are softened and then add in the tomatoes and follow the rest of the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Tomato Pachadi tastes delicious with Goli Baje, Medu Vada, Idli, Rava Idli, Dosa, Uttapam, Pesarattu, Paniyaram, Bondas, and Fritters.
It also tastes great with Upma and Khara Pongal.
You can also serve it on the side with your South Indian meal of Sambar, Rice, and Thoran or even with the popular combination Rasam Rice!
You can even try it with Roti or Tawa Paratha.
Storage Suggestions
This Tomato Chutney will last in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days when stored in an air-tight container.
Take it out from the refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes before serving so that the chutney can come down to room temperature.
You can also reheat the amount you want to serve in a pan or in the microwave.
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Recipe Card

Andhra Style Tomato Pachadi Recipe (Thakkali Pachadi)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
- 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds (sarson)
- 1 tablespoon chana dal (Bengal gram lentils)
- 1 tablespoon white urad dal (split and skinned black lentils)
- 15-20 whole curry leaves
- 8-10 whole dry red chilies (stalks removed)
- ¼ teaspoon asafetida (hing) (skip for gluten-free)
- 9 ounces tomatoes (250 g, chopped)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons cilantro (fresh coriander leaves)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, chana dal, and urad dal and fry until they turn slightly brown, stirring frequently.
- Add asafetida, curry leaves, and dry red chilies and fry for 30-35 seconds, stirring continuously.
- Now add tomatoes and mix well.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Cover the pan with a lid and cook until tomatoes are well cooked and mushy (12-15 minutes), stirring a few times in between.
- Add turmeric powder and tamarind pulp and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
- Add the mixture to a blender or a food processor along with cilantro and salt and blend to make coarse chutney.
- Check for salt and tamarind pulp add more if needed.
- Transfer the chutney to an airtight glass container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Smitha girish
Super
Neha Mathur
Thanks
Shekar Iyer
Thanks for sharing this, looks yummy & mouth watering. Also goes well with just hot rice, roti & poori. Being a pure veggie please share more such recipes.
Neha Mathur
Thanks
Pooja
Hi, the recipe intro mentions cumin seeds but it’s not listed in the recipe. Could you confirm?
Neha Mathur
You can skip adding it. Just updated.
Avanti
It’s delicious! Thank you, my kids enjoyed it
Neha Mathur
Thnx for trying 🙂
Babu
Excellent and appetising!!! would you add the famous Andhra Chuntney with the Brinjal that is Vankaya in Telugu language…..would equally be keen to know about the cucumber-mango combo chutney!!! Once again, sincere thanks for the delicious Tomato chutney preparation!!! It will make a delectable addition to any meal apart from Breakfast…also for tiffins of monsoon cookery !!! My best wishes
Neha Mathur
Thnx. Will try to post it soon.
Ishanee
Hello Neha ji !
I am really grateful for such a comprehensive and easy representation of varied dishes on your blog. A big thankyou from my family ????
Just one thing, in the ingredients I couldn’t find the amount of tamarind paste used. In the supporting snaps I can figure out the quantity (around 1 tsp I think ) but it will be helpful if you mention in the recipe too.
Neha Mathur
Hi Ishanee, Thnx a lot for your kind words. I will update the recipe. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Smita Mayekar Singh
I can feel the juiciness and all the flavors in my mouth right now Neha 🙂 Lovely !!!
Neha Mathur
Thnx Smita. It’s a delicious chutney 🙂