Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 30 min
Serves: 2 cups

Ingredients: (measuring cup used = 240ml)

1. 10 medium sized tomatoes
2. 10 red chillies (or as per your spice level)
3. 1 tsp mustard seeds
4. 1 tsp cumin seeds
5. 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
6. 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
7. 3 tsp salt (or as per your taste)

Ingredients for tempering:

1. 4 tbsp cooking oil
2. 1 tsp mustard seeds
3. 1/4 tsp asafoetida
4. 7 - 8 curry leaves

Instructions for making tomato thokku:

1. Fry red chillies until crisp.
2. Add in methi seeds, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Fry until methi seeds turn slightly brown.
3. Wait until cool and make a fine powder.
4. Rinse and take the tomatoes.
5. Chop the tomatoes.
6. Transfer them into a mixie jar and make a puree.
7. Heat oil in a pan. Prepare tempering by adding mustard, asafoetida and curry leaves.
8. Wait until mustard seeds start to splutter. Add the tomato puree, give a quick mix and keep it for boiling.
9. Add in turmeric powder and salt. Give a quick mix.
10. Next allow it to boil under medium flame for about 10 - 15 minutes by stirring occasionally.
11. Add in prepared masala powder once it turns thick.
12. Adjust salt level. Optionally you can add jaggery as per your taste.
13. Stir and cook until it starts to leave the oil. Once it is cool store it in an airtight container.

Dear reader, We have a Kannada version of this recipe. Click here to read this recipe in Kannada.