Coconut Chutney recipe is a classic South Indian condiment made from freshly grated coconut blended with roasted chana dal, green chillies and ginger, tempered with whole spices, urad dal, curry leaves, dried red chilies and asafoetida, creating a creamy, flavorful accompaniment to Idli, Dosa, Uttapam, Medu Vada and other South Indian delicacies. Learn how to make this essential Indian side dish with my easy-to-follow step-by-step photos and a video!
Chutneys are a class of condiments that originated in India and can be made from a multitude of different ingredients.
Just on this site, I have recipes for tomato, coriander, peanut, tamarind and onion chutneys, and that isn’t even my full list!
All of these delicious savory sauces and relishes are used to enhance the flavors of various meals.
Coconut Chutney originated from the South Indian cuisine. It is most often served with breakfast or snack dishes.
In its simplest form, it is made by finely grinding fresh white coconut meat with either green chilies or dry red chilies and salt added to it.
Chilies lend a bit of heat and spice in the chutney. Garlic or ginger can be added for more savory depth.
A tempering of oil with crackled mustard seeds, fried urad dal (black gram), crisp curry leaves and asafoetida (hing) brings more flavor to otherwise plain coconut chutney.
I have been making this easy-peasy basic coconut chutney recipe for decades now, and it is still a favorite in our house.
As someone who cooks very often, the fact that this coconut chutney makes regular appearances on our table should indicate just how delicious it is!
Made in the Tamil Nadu style, this particular recipe calls for roasted chana dal to be added. Also known as chana daria, these husked and split black chickpeas have a lovely rich and nutty taste.
While roasted chana dal are readily available for purchase in India, I know that they are not available everywhere.
You can either opt to fry these lentils on your own at home, or simply skip it. Don’t worry, the coconut chutney will still be delicious without it.
If fresh coconut is not available to you, simply swap in frozen coconut or unsweetened dessicated coconut flakes instead. This easy recipe will work with whatever you have on hand.
You can also adjust the basic recipe by adding different ingredients. For example, if you add some roasted sesame seeds, dry red chilles and a touch of tamarind, it makes a lovely sauce for serving with steamed rice!
One of my favorite things about coconut chutney is how versatile it is! Apart from serving with breakfast foods like idli, dosa and vada, you can also serve it with tons of South Indian snacks.
We like to top it on Upma, Semiya Upma, Pongal and additionally serve it as side dip with snacks like Mysore Bonda, Onion Pakoda and so many other dishes.
I have a feeling that once you try it, coconut chutney will become one of your favorite condiments, too. When paired with Idli Sambar, it is even more enticing.
My mom-in-law who is Punjabi absolutely LOVES South Indian food, and this coconut chutney is one of her favorites. If you, like her, love anything with coconut, then you’re sure to love this traditional coconut sauce.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Add ½ cup tightly packed freshly grated coconut in a chutney grinder jar or a small grinder jar.
2. Add 1 to 2 chopped green chillies (depending on your heat preference), ½ inch chopped ginger (optional, can substitute with 2 small cloves of garlic) and 2 tablespoons roasted chana dal.
Note: 1 green chili will yield about ½ to 1 teaspoon of chopped chillies. I have used about ½ teaspoon of chopped green chillies. For a spicy coconut chutney, depending on the pungency of the chilies, consider to add 2 to 3 green chilies.
Tip: You can swap the Indian variety of green chillies with ½ teaspoon of Serrano or Anaheim peppers. If using Thai green chillies, add about ¼ teaspoon chopped as they are very spicy.
3. Add salt to taste. I suggest starting with less salt at first. Then, after grinding, check the taste and add some more salt if required.
Remember, you can always add MORE salt, but you can’t take it away once it has been added.
4. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons water. You can make this coconut chutney thicker by adding less water. You can skip roasted chana dal if you do not have it.
Note: Roasted chana dal is different from raw chana dal. Roasted chana dal is crunchy and directly edible, unlike raw chana dal.
5. Grind to a fine and smooth consistency. If the blade is unable to grind or the chutney looks thick, then you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water or as needed.
6. Remove the chutney with a spoon or spatula in a heat proof bowl (e.g. steel, pyrex or glass). Check the taste and add more salt if needed.
7. In a small pan or a tadka pan, heat ½ tablespoon sesame oil (gingelly oil – made from raw sesame seeds) over low heat.
Note: You can also use sunflower oil, peanut oil, coconut oil or any neutral flavored oil.
8. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and let them begin to crackle.
9. Once the mustard seeds begin to crackle, add ½ teaspoon urad dal (split and husked black gram).
Note: If you don’t have urad dal then feel free to skip in the recipe.
10. Next add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. You can skip cumin seeds if you prefer.
10. Stir often and fry keeping the flame to a low.
11. The urad dal should start becoming golden. The cumin seeds will also crackle and get browned.
12. Once the urad dal begins to turn to a golden color, then add 1 dry red chilli (broken and seeds removed), 9 to 10 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida (hing).
If the pan becomes very hot, then switch off the flame after adding the red chili, curry leaves and asafoetida.
Be careful as after adding the curry leaves the oil splutters.
Note: If you are gluten free, please be sure to check that your asafoetida is gluten free as many commercially available varieties are processed with wheat products.
13. Stir and fry for a couple of seconds till the curry leaves become crisp and the red chilli changes color.
14. Switch off the flame and immediately pour the entire tempering together with the oil on the ground coconut chutney in the bowl.
15. Mix very well.
16. Serve Coconut Chutney with idli, dosa, vada, pongal or pakoda of your choice.
Myriad variations of coconut chutney can be made by adding extra ingredients like fresh mint leaves, coriander leaves, garlic, curd (yogurt), tamarind, tomatoes, onions, almonds, carrots, beetroot, unripe mangoes, peanuts, capsicum, and greens like spinach.
The ingredient(s) you add will change the flavor of the resulting coconut chutney – e.g. adding tamarind or tomatoes will impart a sour taste in the chutney, while adding fresh herbs like mint or coriander will add a bit of fresh, herb-y flavor to the final product.
I recommend that you experiment with different ideations of this delightful condiment because there are just so many to choose from! It is hard for me to pick my favorite.
Here are some of my most favorite coconut chutney recipes
Chutney is basically a condiment used to enhance the flavors of different dishes. You can either dip your food into it, or drizzle or dollop it over your preferred dishes. This coconut chutney recipe is particularly good when paired with South Indian breakfast foods and snacks.
Absolutely! If your coconut is already grated, there is no need to defrost it first. Also, please note that I recommend you use coconut that you have frozen for yourself, rather than opting for store bought packs.
Several readers have told me that the store-bought frozen coconut has separated for them when they go to grind it, resulting in a much different taste. To avoid this I recommend adding warm to slightly hot water while grinding the coconut.
You can also opt to use unsweetened desiccated coconut instead, which I have never had trouble with. Simply grind with warm water to get the right consistency in your coconut chutney recipe.
Yes! You can also opt to omit the roasted channa dal if you do not have access.
Serve Coconut Chutney With:
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Coconut Chutney is a classic South Indian condiment traditionally served with the breakfast of Idli, Dosa, Vada and Pongal. This Coconut Chutney recipe is made from freshly grated coconut blended with roasted chana dal, green chilies and ginger, tempered with whole spices, urad dal, curry leaves, dried red chilies and asafoetida, creating a creamy, flavorful accompaniment to idli, dosa, vada and other South Indian delicacies. It is also an easy, simple recipe versatile enough to go with any Indian snack.
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
Take the freshly grated coconut in a chutney grinder jar or a small grinder jar.
Then add the green chili and ginger.
Next add the roasted chana dal. Also add salt as per taste. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons water.
Grind to a smooth consistency. If unable to grind or the chutney looks thick, then you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water.
Remove the chutney in a heatproof bowl like a steel bowl or a pyrex bowl.
Heat oil in a small pan. Add the mustard seeds.
When the mustard seeds begin to splutter, add the cumin seeds and urad dal. Fry till the urad dal starts to become golden and aromatic.
Then add the curry leaves, red chili and asafoetida.
Fry for a couple of seconds till the curry leaves become crisp and the red chillies change color making sure that the curry leaves and chilies do not get burnt.
Switch off the heat and immediately pour the tempering on the chutney in the bowl.
Mix the tempering mixture very well.
Serve coconut chutney with idli, dosa, vada, pongal or pakoda of your choice.
Nutrition Facts
Coconut Chutney Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 127 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Sodium 155mg7%
Potassium 69mg2%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 164IU3%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 35mg175%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 66mg80%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 43mg4%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 357µg89%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 10mg3%
Phosphorus 23mg2%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Coconut Chutney recipe from the archives was first published on April 2014.
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