Coconut Chutney

Frequently Asked Questions

How to crack open a coconut?

Opening a coconut is a tricky process but with some practice, you can do it easily.

To start with, remove the husk from the outside of the coconut and keep it on a sturdy surface.

I generally keep it on the backyard steps and not on my kitchen counter. Now using a heavy knife or a hammer, tap hard at the center of the coconut. It should break into two halves. If not, then try a few more times.

To take out the coconut meat, I freeze the halved shells for 6-8 hours. Then thaw them for an hour. Now insert a knife all along with the corners and the coconut flesh comes out easily.

Cut the flesh in small pieces and either remove the brown skin using a vegetable peeler or a knife or use it as is.

Can this chutney be frozen?

Yes, the good news is you can freeze the coconut chutney in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to a month. It stays good refrigerated for up to a week.

Can diabetics eat this chutney?

Yes, diabetics can eat coconut chutney. Make sure you eat in moderate quantities and also consult your doctor.

Can you eat it during pregnancy?

Yes, you can eat it during pregnancy. In fact, coconut is considered very good to eat while pregnant. But make sure you eat in moderate quantities and also consult your doctor.

Is this chutney vegan?

All the ingredients in this chutney except yogurt is vegan. Skip the curd/yogurt and use tamarind instead and you have the recipe for the vegan chutney. 

How to make it without Fresh Coconut?

If you don’t have fresh coconut available, you can use coconut powder or grated dried coconut. You can even use frozen desiccated coconut if fresh is not available.

How to make this chutney without Mixer?

Traditionally this chutney is made using a mortar pestle. You can grind all the ingredients using mortar pestle if you do not have a mixer. In fact, the taste will be much better if it’s ground on a stone slab.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this chutney with masala dosa, idli, vada, paniyaram, dosa, utthapam, pongal, or any Indian meals. You can even use it as a spread in your sandwiches.

I love to serve it with Rava Appe, Rava Upma, Ragi Idli, Paniyaram or Goli Baje.

Variations

Kerala Style – For Kerala-style chutney, you will need shallots or small red onions. While grinding the ingredients mentioned for the chutney. Use tamarind instead of curd. Grind all the ingredients to get a smooth paste and temper with all the ingredients mentioned for tempering.

Andhra Style – To make Andhra-style coconut chutney, you will need tamarind paste instead of curd. Roast chana dal, urad dal, and some coriander seeds with some oil. Once brown, add red chillies, green chillies, ginger and sauté for a minute.

Now add coconut pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool. Once cool, grind it with a little water to make a smooth paste.

For the tempering, heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and urad dal. Fry till the dal turns brown. Add dry red chilies, curry leaves and hing. Once done, pour the tempering over the chutney.

With Curry leaves – Adding some curry leaves in this chutney gives a very nice yet different taste to this popular Idli Dosa chutney. Add a couple of sprigs of fresh curry leaves while blending to enjoy Curry Leaves Coconut Chutney.

Red Coconut Chutney – To make this variation, you will need whole dried red chillies. Replace green chillies with dried red chillies while grinding.

You can follow the rest of the steps as given below. Here is a detailed recipe to make Red Coconut Chutney.

Green Coconut Chutney – For green chutney, you are going to need fresh coriander leaves. Add washed and roughly chopped coriander leaves while grinding.

You can follow the rest of the recipe as is. Here is a detailed recipe to make green coconut chutney.

Others – You can also add mint in this recipe. Tomato and Onion can be added in this chutney too. 

Add peanuts for a change in taste. Make sure to roast the peanuts before adding in the chutney. Roasted sesame seeds make a great addition to this chutney.

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