Last week I was unable to make weekly purchase of my weekly essentials which primarily is about buying vegetables. I had a critical issue to address at office, and it demanded my complete attention. Well that is the sad part of my job, I never know when the emergency comes calling. So as it panned out, I could not go out and make purchase of vegetables and all that I was left with was few ripe tomatoes that kept staring back at me as I pulled out my vegetable tray, asking for my attention.
Most of the times, I add tomatoes to gravies or other dry vegetables to enhance the taste and thickness of gravy. It has been some time that I have not made “Tomato Bhaji” or also known as “Tomato chutney” which is a semi dry vegetable preparation chiefly consisting of tomatoes.
This preparation is an ideal one for tiffin box recipes or to be prepared as a side dish to accompany the mains. I like to prepare it for my afternoon lunch and have it with Plain paranthas. The sourness of tomatoes is countered by adding little amount of sugar and roasted peanuts are put in that adds a delicious crunch to the preparation.
The only step that may take up some time is roasting and grinding of peanut, however you can do this step in advance. I like to store some ingredients like roasted, grinded peanuts, grated coconuts which actually makes your job lot easier when they actually need to be added in the recipe.
Make this simple tomato veg preparation and share your feedback with us in the comment section below.
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Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3-4

- 500 grams ripe tomatoes finely chopped
- 125 grams onions sliced into lengths
- 5-6 green chilies finely chopped
- ¼th cup fresh coriander(cilantro) finely chopped
- 100 grams roasted and coarsely powdered peanuts
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 7-8 cloves of garlic finely chopped
- 10-12 curry leaves
- ¼th tsp asafoetida powder
- 1 and ½ tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp red chili powder
- Cooking Oil
- Salt
- Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan
- Put mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida,Add garlic, and fry until it turns brown.
- As garlic turns brown, add onions, curry leaves,green chilies and fry until onions turn tender.
- When onions become tender, add turmeric powder, red chili powder and fry for a min.
- Now add tomatoes and salt to taste.Stir in all the ingredients.
- Cover and cook the tomatoes until they have softened.After 15 minutes of low flame cooking tomatoes become soft. Mash them gently with back of the ladle.
- Now add sugar and stir it in.
- As sugar gets dissolved, add roasted peanuts and stir it in.
- Tomato Bhaji can be served with Phulka or Paranthas. A perfect dish for your lunch box.

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