Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (2024)

By Dassana Amit
Last Updated: February 8, 2023

Vegan
4.92 from 36 votes37 Comments

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This onion chutney recipeis a great alternative to coconut chutney when you do not have coconut to make it. Make this onion chutney recipe in 20 minutes and serve with South Indian snacks like Rava Idli, Masala Dosa or Uttapam.

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (2)

Table of Contents

  1. Why Onion Chutney Recipe Works
  2. How to Make Onion Chutney (Stepwise Photos)
  3. Expert Tips for Vengaya Chutney
  4. Recipe Card

Why Onion Chutney Recipe Works

Firstly let me tell you that this is a South Indian recipe of onion chutney. It is also known as vengaya chutney as onions are called vengaya in Tamil language.

This chutney has complex flavors that taste so good. The tamarind adds a slight tart flavor while the red chilies add a smoky flavor to the dish. Garlic makes this chutney slightly pungent, the lightly browned onions add sweetness, while the lentils give a delicious earthy flavor.

This dish is bursting with flavors and goes very well with tiffin snacks such as rava idli, masala dosa, or uttapam. On this occasion, I served onion chutney with Poha Dosa.

The color of the chutney will vary depending on the type of red chilies used. I prefer to add Kashmiri red chilies as they are low in heat and have a beautiful color. You can also use another Indian variety of mild chillies known as byadagi red chilies.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Onion Chutney

Fry Lentils and Red Chillies

1. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a pan. Lower the heat and add1 teaspoon of chana dal (husked and split bengal gram). Then add ½ teaspoon of urad dal (split and husked black gram).

TIP: You can use sunflower oil, peanut oil or gingelly oil (oil made from raw sesame seeds) or any neutral oil.

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (3)

2. Fry stirring often until the lentils turn golden. Do not burn them.

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3. Then add 2 to 3 Kashmiri red chilies (broken or halved and seeds removed). Stir and fry for someseconds till you see the chilies change color and become aromatic.

Fry on a low heat, so that the chilies do not get burnt. Kashmiri red chilies give a nice color and are not too spicy.

You can also use byadagi red chilies. If you are using medium hot or very hot red chilies thenadd less.

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Sauté Onions

4. Add 1 cup of chopped onions and ¼ to ½ chopped garlic (1 to 2 small or medium garlic cloves). You can also use pearl onions or shallots instead of regular onions.

Red onions, white onions or yellow onions, all work well in the recipe.

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5. Sauté onions on a low to medium heat and stir continuously.

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6. Sauté until the onions turn light golden. Then switch off the heat and let the onions cool at room temperature.

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Blend Sautéed Ingredients

7. Next transfer the entire onion mixture into a mixer-grinder or a small blender.Add ¼ teaspoon of dried tamarind and salt to taste.

If you do not have this dried tamarind that we easily get in India, add ⅛ teaspoon of bottled or packaged tamarind sauce or as needed.

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8. Add ¼ cup of water and grind ingredients into a smooth paste. Set aside for later.

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (10)

Temper Spices

9. Heat2 teaspoons of oil on a low heat in the same pan. Then, add ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds and cook them until they start to crackle.

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10. Once the mustard seeds crackle, add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) and 5 to 6 curry leaves.

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11. Fry for a few seconds until the curry leaves become crisp.

Make Onion Chutney

12. Keep the heat to a low and add the ground chutney.

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13. Mix the chutney with the tempering ingredients.

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14. Add ¼ to ⅓cup of water. I poured water to the blender jar, swirled it around and added the water into the pan.

This ensures that leftover chutney sticking on the walls of the jar does not go to waste. You can alter the consistency of the onion chutney by adding less or more water.

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15. Mix very well and then switch off the heat.

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Serving Suggestions

Serve this tasty onion chutney with snacks like Idli, Dosa, Rava Dosa or Medu Vada. You can also eat it as a dip with various pakoda varieties like Onion Pakoda, Potato Pakora or Paneer Pakoda.

I also like to have it with toasted bread. I slather some onion chutney on the bread and enjoy it.

Storage and Leftovers

Store any leftovers in a covered container for 1 to 2 days. I would not suggest to make ahead a large batch of this onion chutney. Simply make the quantity you need.

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (18)

Tips

Expert Tips for Vengaya Chutney

  • Onions:This chutney can be made with different types of onions like red, white, yellow onions including shallots and pearl onions. However, scallions (spring onions) cannot be used for this recipe.
  • Consistency:You can alter the consistency of the chutney to suit your taste. For a thick chutney add less water and for a medium-thin chutney add more water. Be careful not to add too much water because the chutney will become thin and the flavors will become diluted.
  • Spiciness: The heat and pungency of the chutney can be reduced by using fewer red chilies or chilies that are less to medium-hot. If spicy pungent chilies are used, the chutney becomes hot and spicy. As you see in the recipe, I have used kashmiri red chilies that are not spicy and give the chutney a lovely orangecolor.
  • Sourness:The sour element in the chutney comes from tamarind. If you don’t have tamarind on hand then you can use lemon juice instead. It will taste slightly different though.
  • Scaling: Easily make a large batch of this onion chutney recipe if serving for pot-lucks or small get-togethers.

FAQs

Which mixie do you use?

I use the Preethi mixer grinder blue leaf model. It does a great work of grinding chutneys as well as making batter for idli, dosa, and medu vada.

What can I use onion chutney for?

Onion chutney can be served as a dipping sauce with snacks like rava idli, masala dosa, or uttapam.

Can I add peanuts in the onion chutney?

Yes of course. Use roasted peanuts (unsalted) or roast them separately in a separate pan. When the onions are light golden, add them and sauté for a minute. Later grind or blend everything in a blender.

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Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (23)

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney

By Dassana Amit

This onion chutney recipeis a great alternative to coconut chutney when you do not have coconut to make it. Make this onion chutney recipe in a jiffy and serve with tiffin snacks like rava idli, masala dosa or uttapam.

4.92 from 36 votes

Print Pin Save

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Cuisine South Indian

Course Side Dish

Diet Vegan

Difficulty Level Easy

Servings 2

Units

Ingredients

Main ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped onions – 120 grams or 1 large
  • ¼ to ½ chopped garlic or 1 to 2 small to medium garlic cloves
  • 2 to 3 kashmiri red chilies
  • 2 teaspoons oil (can use sesame oil or sunflower oil or peanut oil)
  • 1 teaspoon chana dal (husked and split bengal gram)
  • ½ teaspoon urad dal (split and husked black gram)
  • ¼ teaspoon tamarind or a small piece of tamarind
  • salt as required
  • ¼ cup water or as needed, for blending/grinding
  • ¼ to ⅓ cup water or as needed, to be added later

For tempering

  • 2 teaspoons oil (can use sesame oil or sunflower oil or peanut oil)
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) – optional
  • 5 to 6 curry leaves

Instructions

Frying lentils and red chillies

  • Heat oil in a pan. Lower the heat and add chana dal and urad dal.

  • Fry stirring regularly until the lentils turn golden. Take care that you do not burn them.

  • Then add the kashmiri red chilies. Fry for some seconds until you see the chilies change color and become aromatic.

  • Fry on a low heat, so that the chilies do not get burnt. Kashmiri red chilies give a nice color and also do not make the chutney spicy.

Sauteing onions

  • Then add the chopped onions and chopped garlic.

  • Mix the onions and begin to saute on a low to medium heat. Keep on stirring onions while sauteing them.

  • Saute until the onions turn a light golden. Switch off the heat and let the onions become warm or cool at room temperature.

  • Transfer the entire onion mixture in a small blender or mixer-grinder. Add tamarind and salt as per taste.

  • Add water and blend to a smooth paste. Set aside.

Tempering Spices

  • Heat in the same pan or a tadka pan. Keep the heat to a low. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle.

  • Once the mustard seeds crackle, add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) and curry leaves.

  • Fry for a few seconds until the curry leaves become crisp.

Making Onion Chutney

  • Keep the heat to a low or sim and now add the ground onion chutney.

  • Mix the chutney thoroughly with the tempered ingredients.

  • Add water. You can make this chutney slightly thick or of medium consistency by adding less or more water.

  • Mix very well and then switch off the heat.

  • Serve onion chutney with dosa, idli or uttapam.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve this tasty onion chutney with snacks like idli, dosa, rava dosa or uttapam. You can also eat it as a dip with various pakoda varieties like onion pakoda, potato pakora or paneer pakoda.

  • I also like to have it with toasted bread. I spread some onion chutney on the bread and enjoy it.

Storage and Leftovers

  • Store any leftovers in a covered container for 1 to 2 days. I would not suggest to make ahead a large batch of this onion chutney. Simply make the quantity you need.

Video

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney

Amount Per Serving

Calories 117Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 588mg26%

Potassium 109mg3%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 230IU5%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 29mg145%

Vitamin B6 1mg50%

Vitamin C 55mg67%

Vitamin E 3mg20%

Vitamin K 1µg1%

Calcium 39mg4%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 306µg77%

Iron 1mg6%

Magnesium 11mg3%

Phosphorus 27mg3%

Zinc 1mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This onion chutney recipe post from the blog archives (July 2016) has been republished and updated on 20 April 2021.

Quick Onion Chutney Recipe | Vengaya Chutney (2024)

FAQs

What is onion chutney made of? ›

Onion Chutney is a Indian chutney variety made with onions as the main ingredient. Various spices like dried red chilies, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds are used to add flavor and heat. Herbs like curry leaves and coriander leaves are used to add some freshness to the onion chutney.

How long should you leave homemade chutney before eating? ›

Chutneys are best eaten after a long maturing period so we recommend storing them in a cool, dry dark place and leaving them for no less than 8 weeks before opening them.

Why do you add vinegar to chutney? ›

Vinegar is always needed to add the tang that chutneys deliver but also it helps preserve the mixture and as chutneys will sit around for a long time, that's important.

Does chutney have to be canned? ›

The long cooking time, that evaporates most of the water in the mixture, combined with the high proportions of sugar and vinegar, helps to preserve the chutney without the need for canning after the chutney has been cooked.

What are the main ingredients in chutney? ›

Chutneys are made by slow-cooking fruit or vegetables with peeled ginger, garlic, Korintje cinnamon, and chilies. Spices and vinegar are added to preserve the chutney and give it a tangy flavor.

Which vinegar is best for chutney? ›

Vinegar used in making chutney must be good quality and have at least 5% acetic acid content. Any good brand white, malt, wine or cider vinegar should possess the correct qualities. Brown sugar is used for darker coloured chutney but where a lighter colour is required granulated sugar is recommended.

How to tell when chutney is done? ›

As it thickens, stir more frequently and watch that the sugar does not begin to stick to the bottom of the pan. The chutney is done when you can scrape a wooden spoon across the bottom of the pan and the chutney does not flow back into the gap.

Do you put homemade chutney in jars hot or cold? ›

Fill the hot dry jars right to the top – preserves shrink slightly on cooling and a full jar means less trapped condensation. Seal the jars while still hot. This rule applies to all jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys.

Why is my homemade chutney runny? ›

If the chutney is too runny then in our opinion the best solution is to put it into a pan and bring it back to the boil, then simmer rapidly until it is the required thickness. If you can do this in a couple of deep frying pans (not aluminium) then it should help to speed up the process.

Why does my chutney taste bitter? ›

Pudina is a green leaf with an essential oil that gives it the menthol flavour. There is only one good reason why pudina chutney turns bitter. It can turn bitter if you grind it too much of for too long in the electric grinder. The oils in the leaves start to turn rancid.

What can I use instead of cider vinegar in chutney? ›

Apple cider vinegar substitute: Your best apple cider vinegar 1:1 substitutes are rice wine vinegar, distilled white vinegar, or white wine vinegar.

Can I use old jam jars for chutney? ›

It's quite alright to reuse jam jars and they don't have to be Kilner jars either. It's not necessary to put a greaseproof or a waxed disc in the top of the jar - just fill it nearly to the top with the aim of having the smallest air gap. This is to prevent mould spores in the air spoiling your chutney.

Why is my chutney sour? ›

Generally the vinegar in the chutney will mellow over time and we suggest that you allow 2 months for the sealed jars of chutney to "mature" in a cool, dry place.

How to process chutney? ›

Pour boiling hot chutney into hot jars, leaving a half-inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; adjust two piece metal canning lids. Process pints for 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

Is onion chutney the same as onion jam? ›

Both a jam and a chutney will contain sugar, although a jam would be much sweeter, with the chutney having a more acidic, tangy flavour from the addition of vinegar. To preserve a chutney a combination of vinegar and sugar are used, whilst in a jam it is the sugar alone which acts as the preserving agent.

What the heck is chutney? ›

Chutney is a condiment or spread made from chopped fruit cooked with vinegar, spices and sometimes sugar, that can be served fresh or preserved. It's often associated with Indian cuisine.

What to use onion chutney for? ›

10 Ways To Eat Chutney
  1. Pair up with Cold Meats. Eaten alongside a meat platter or with a pork pie is a classic food pairing that will jazz up real simple food. ...
  2. Mix it for a Dip. Add chutney to Mayonnaise, Greek yogurt or hummus and mix. ...
  3. Pair with Lamb or Poultry. ...
  4. Serve on a Burger. ...
  5. A Yummy Appetiser. ...
  6. On Bruschetta.
Mar 26, 2019

What's the difference between a chutney and a sauce? ›

The texture of this condiment is what primarily distinguishes it from a sauce. Because it is made from slow-cooking fruits and vegetables, chutney often has a chunky yet spreadable consistency and is created similarly to jam. Sauce, on the other hand, is typically much thinner.

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