Peanut/groundnut Chutney

Ingredients:

Peanuts/groundnuts - 1 cup
Big onion - 1 (diced)
Red chillies - 3
Garlic cloves - 3 (optional)
Tamarind - 1 inch piece
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp

For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Dry red chillies - 2 (broken down)
Urad dhal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
2 tsp

Method of Preparation:

1) Dry roast the peanuts. Remove the skin by rubbing on them on a plate and keep the cleaned peanuts aside.
2) Heat oil in a wok. Add the red chillies.
3) When the red chillies start changing color add the onions and garlic followed by tamarind broken into smaller pieces and fry till they turn golden brown. Remove from heat and let it cool.
4) Once everything is cold grind the onion mixture along with the peanuts and salt to a fine paste adding enough water.
5) Heat oil in a wok again and add the mustard seeds.
6) Once the mustards splutter add the urad dhal, red chillies and curry leaves and saute for a few seconds.
7) Pour this over the ground paste and check for salt.
8) Serve with Idli, dosa and if you are anything like me, you would enjoy this heavenly flavored chutney with some hot rice and pappad.

Variation: Use one tomato instead of onion. Saute the tomatoes separately for a few seconds and grind along with the other ing.
Variation: Use onion and tomato.
Variation: Omit both onion and tomato.
Variation: Omit garlic with any other combination.
Variation: Use green chillies instead of red chillies in the grinding ingredients.

Happy cooking :)