Tomato chutney revisited

DD was reading the newspaper this morning and proclaimed - "one Earth day in a year is just not enough, everyday should be Earth day so we can do the right thing every single day". Yes indeed. Maybe her generation over burdened with a fast deteriorating planet, debt and vanishing diversity in species will be the ones to take better stewardship of the planet with an urgency. Did you do anything special for Earth Day?

Read here how Vada Pav unites Mumbai. If only good food could solve all problems.

Remember the tomato chutney I tried to recreate after tasting at a potluck? I was way off. I caught up with the friend the next week and she gave me the recipe. No coconut was involved. I added curry leaves because I thought I saw flecks of green. The main ingredient in the chutney beside the tomatoes were green and red bell pepper. huh huh I thought to myself. But of course I could not rest till I had tried it out. I also added some sun tried tomatoes(I had soaked them earlier for making pasta but did not use them) and it gives a vibrant red color.

Tomato chutney with red and green bell peppers
Ingredients
1. 1 (1/4 cup) juicy red tomato chopped
2. 1 cup red and green bell pepper chopped
3. 1/2 inch piece of ginger (optional)
4. 4 green chilies + 2 red chilies
5. 2 sun dried tomatoes soaked in water (add another half fresh tomato if not using)
6. 1/2 tbsp channa dal
7. 1/4 tsp coriander seeds + a few cumin seeds
8. a small piece of tamarind
9. curry leaves a few
10. salt to taste
11. 1 -2 tsp oil for sauteing

Method
1. In a pan heat oil and saute the dals and as they start to turn brown add the coriander seeds, cumin and chilies. Set aside.
1. To the same pan add the bell peppers and saute till they are fully roasted (depends I am not fond of uncooked bell peppers so I saute a little longer)
2. Add the ginger, tomatoes (fresh and sundried), tamarind, curry leaves and salt, saute till the tomatoes are starting to turn mushy.
3. Cool and blend to a slightly coarse paste or smooth (again depends on taste) without adding water (a few sprinkles if your blender absolutely refuses to move)

Goes well with pretty much anything.