Vara Milagai Chutney | Red Chilli Chutney | Kaara Chutney Recipe

Vara Milagai Chutney or Chilli chutney popularly know as Kara Chutney has become my favorite chutney now a days. I first tasted this chutney in my chithi's house. She is a great cook and cooks variety of chutneys. When I tasted this chutney for the hot hot idli's, I could not resist myself from asking some more. So here goes the easy recipe for the Vara Milagai Chutney.

Some chutney recipes for you to view
Groundnut chutney
Coriander chutney
Pottukadalai Chutney
Coconut chutney

Mint coriander and yogurt chutney

Vara Milagai Chutney

Preparation time: 5 min | Cook Time: 10 min | Serves: 4

Recipe Category: Sidedish | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

Red chillies - 10 nos
Onion - 1 medium sized ( or 10 shallots )
Tomato - 1 medium sized
Tamarind - a small piece
Garlic cloves - 4 to 5
Salt - as per taste
Water - as needed

For Tempering
Cooking oil - 2 tbsp (Gingely oil works best)
Mustard seeds - 2 pinch
Urud dal - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - few

Method

1. Take the mentioned ingredients. ( I had only 3 cloves of garlic and so added 1 tsp of garlic paste while grinding)

2. Transfer them to the food processor adding little water. Add required salt. 

3. Grind to a coarse paste. 

4. In a pan or vessel, add oil and then the tempering ingredients one by one. Fry till light brown. 

5. Now add the ground paste.

6. Sauté it nicely till the extra water and raw smell goes off.

7. When it comes to thick consistency, switch off the stove. 

8. Serve it with hot idlis or dosas. I had it with hot kuzhipaniyaram. 

Notes:

1. Adding shallots gives more taste. 

2. The spice level of the chutney can be increased or decreased as per the taste.
3. Gingely oil gives a nice taste, compared to other cooking oil. So try to use gingely oil.