Coconut Chutney Recipe

Coconut Chutney is a popular south indian condiment which is served during breakfast with iidli, dosa, paniyaram, masala dosa, pongal and vada. Learn how to make different variation of the classic coconut chutney easily with my step by step guide to detailed recipe and pictures.

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Coconut Chutney

Coconut chutney takes place in our breakfast menu quite often, whole family loves coconut chutney. I make quite a few variations to it each time. I have covered all the variation of the chutney which I make in this recipe post of coconut chutney.

About Coconut Chutney Recipe

Coconut Chutney | Thengai Chutney | Nariyal Chutney is one of the most popular south indian chutney variety. Typically served during breakfast. But let's not forget that this classic condiment pairs well with snacks like pakora and vada.

Coconut chutney is made with coconut, green chillies or red chillies, garlic, roasted gram dal, salt. A essential tempering is given with coconut oil, mustard, urad dal, chana dal, curry leaves which adds a nutty note to the chutney.

I have shared a version of making hotel style coconut chutney along with 6 other version of making coconut chutney in this post so make sure you read till the end. Different versions of this coconut chutney pairs beautifully with our Indian breakfast dishes. So learn how to make this classic coconut chutney many different ways.

Along with this recipe, make sure you check my capsicum, onion, tomato chutney varieties too.

Watch Coconut Chutney Recipe Video

Coconut Chutney Ingredients

Coconut Chutney can be made many different ways. The most basic coconut chutney recipe is made with coconut, roasted gram dal, ginger & garlic(optional), green chillies, salt and a tempering is given.

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Fresh Coconut

Make sure you use freshly grated coconut (nariyal) when making coconut chutney. Also make sure when scraping coconut don't scrape the brown part of the shell which discolour the coconut chutney.

Roasted Gram Dal

Roasted gram dal, also known as udacha kadalai | pottu kadalai | pori kadalai is used in hotel style coconut chutney for giving creaminess and texture to the chutney. Some people like to add cashews in their coconut chutney for richness.

Green Chillies

Green chillies is used in hotel style coconut chutney. but dry red chillies can be used in certain version (recipe below). Also you can add more of less green chillies as per your taste.

Garlic & Ginger

Some people like to add ginger and garlic to enhance the taste of the coconut chutney. Fresh ginger and garlic adds wonderful aroma to the chutney.

Tempering Spices

Tempering is one of the main step in making the best coconut chutney. Frying whole spices like mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, dry red chillies, curry leaves in hot oil. This hot oil is poured over freshly ground nariyal ka chutney.

Optional Ingredients

Optional ingredients like shallots, chilli powder, curry leaves, onions, is added when grinding coconut chutney.

Which Coconut to use for Chutney

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Coconut chutney is traditionally made using fresh coconut. Whole coconut is broke using a special tool named as "vettu kathi" which looks like a heavy duty iron knife. Freshly cracked coconut is scraped or use a knife to remove the flesh from coconut. In some areas fresh coconut is not available, in which case you can use frozen coconut or desiccated coconut. To make coconut chutney using frozen or dried coconut, You should be doing some modifications to the recipe.

Desiccated coconut : Dried coconut doesn't have the moisture content to make chutney smooth. Also coconut chutney made with desiccated coconut will be grainy. So you can try making my roasted coconut chutney.

Frozen coconut: scrape fresh coconut and store in an air tight container. You can store the container in freezer and preserve more than a month. For making chutney, Take frozen coconut and other ingredients given in the recipe as mentioned in a blender. Use hot water for grinding the chutney which results in smooth coconut chutney.

Serving Suggestions

How to Make Chutney Idli | Serving Idli with Coconut Chutney

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Coconut chutney taste amazing when poured generously over mini idlies and served as chutney idli. It taste amazingly delicious and it is my favorite, I am still not sure why this didn't get as popular as sambar idli.

I followed the recipe of my coconut chutney given below made with roasted gram dal. Make sure you make chutney very runny. Add extra water when grinding coconut chutney. You might need to add extra green chillies and salt to the chutney. Make sure you give a tempering with coconut oil.

Coconut Chutney is a popular south indian breakfast dish which goes well idli, dosa, paniyaram, masala dosa, pongal, upma & Vada. I love to serve coconut chutney with piping hot rava kichadi.

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Expert Tips

• Use fresh coconut when making coconut chutney. This results in the creamy and fragrant chutney.
• Use required amount of green chillies when making chutney.
• Garlic and ginger adds aroma so don't skip them.
• For tempering use coconut oil for aroma.

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How to Make Coconut Chutney (Step-wise Pictures)

1)Take coconut in a blender jar.

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2)Add in green chillies

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3)Add in roasted gram dal | pottu kadalai.

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4)Add salt to taste.

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5)Add in ginger and garlic

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6)Grind to a smooth puree

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7)Add more water to adjust the consistency. Mix well and set aside. At this point taste and adjust the salt.

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8)Now make tempering. Heat coconut oil in a small tadka pan. Add mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves. You can add dry red chillies as well.

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9)Pour this over chutney and mix.

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10)Serve

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make coconut chutney with frozen coconut?

The Answer is Yes you can make coconut chutney with frozen coconut. First Thaw the frozen coconut for at least 15 mins prior grinding. Use hot water when grinding the chutney to get smooth texture and to prevent the fats from coconut separating.

How to Make Coconut Chutney White in Colour?

• Try to use young tender coconut. Not so tender. it should be little young coconut.
• Grate coconut till the white part alone. Don't scrape it too much so the grated coconut gets the brown shell parts.
• Don't add anything except green chillies. That too very less green chillies.
• Make seasoning using coconut oil and very less whole spices.

How do you preserve coconut chutney for a long time?

• Use fresh coconut for making coconut chutney.
• When grinding the chutney make sure the blender doesn't heat up.
• You can store coconut chutney in fridge upto 2 days.
• Make sure you store it in fridge in an air tight container immediately after making to retain its freshness.

Coconut Chutney Variations

White Coconut Chutney Recipe

If you are wondering how they make the pure white coconut chutney in hotel. This is how. Some hotels make their coconut chutney usually with just green chillies and give minimum tempering to keep their chutney white.

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• Take 1 cup coconut, 1 chilli, salt in a blender.Add little water and grind into a smooth paste.
• Make tempering, heat 1 tsp coconut oil, add ½ tsp mustard, ½ tsp urad dal and curry leaves.Pour this into the chutney and mix. Serve.

Coconut Chutney Recipe(Kerala Style)

This is a Quick coconut chutney recipe with shallots adds keralan flavors and taste to the chutney. It goes so well with dosa and idlis.

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• Take all 1 cup coconut, 2 tsp chilli powder, 1 piece ginger, 4 garlic, 2 shallots and salt in a blender, add some water and blend it to a smooth paste.Transfer this to a bowl.
• Now heat 1 tbsp oil in a small kadai. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp urad dal, curry leaves and 2 tbsp chopped shallots. Saute for a min or till the onions turn golden.
• Pour this over the chutney and mix well.Serve.

Red Coconut Chutney Recipe

Spicy red coconut chutney made with coconut, dry red chillies, garlic which is ground with salt and tamarind and gets a simple tempering.

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• Take 1 cup coconut, 2 dry red chilli, 4 garlic, salt and a small piece tamarind in a blender and puree.
• Make tempering, heat 1 tbsp oil, add 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp urad dal, 1 tsp chana dal and curry leaves.Pour this into the chutney and mix. Serve.

Green Coconut Chutney Recipe

Coriander coconut chutney is a flavourful way to make coconut chutney. Adding a bunch of fresh coriander leaves adds so much freshness to the chutney. Instead of coriander leaves you can add mint leaves too.

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• Take 1 cup coconut, ½ cup coriander leaves, 3 green chilli, 1 piece ginger, salt and small piece tamarind in a blender and puree.
• Make tempering, heat 1 tbsp oil, add 1 tsp each of mustard, urad dal, cumin and curry leaves.Pour this into the chutney and mix. Serve.

Garlic Coconut Chutney Recipe

Looking for a coconut chutney that goes well with rice, Then this is the answer. Grind together 1 cup fresh coconut with 4 garlic, 4 dry red chillies and salt. Add minimal water and make this chutney pretty thick. This poondu thengai chutney goes well specially with neeragaram.

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Grind together 1 cup fresh coconut with 4 garlic, 4 dry red chillies with salt. Use very little water when grinding. This chutney doesn't need any tempering.

Roasted Coconut Chutney Recipe

Roasting coconut when making coconut chutney gives a toasted aroma to your chutney. I specially make this when serving dosa for breakfast.

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• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan, add in 4 dry red chilli and 3 tbsp urad dal and cook till golden. Add in 1 cup coconut, a small piece tamarind and toss well for 2 mins.
• Now take this in a blender, add salt to taste. Add little water at a time and puree till smooth.Serve with idli or dosa.

More Chutney Recipes

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