This til chutney will bring out the flavors in any meal! Use it as an accompaniment or as a salad dressing, or add it to yogurt to make a yummy dip. And, yes, it is definitely healthier than adding a pickle to your meal because it’s fresh and has no extra salt or oil.
Ingredients:
(makes 7 servings)
½ cup sesame seeds (white)
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
3 red chilies (adjust based on your spice preference)
1 tbsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp oil
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
How to prepare:
Heat a pan and add the sesame seeds. Roast them on a low flame until golden brown. The seeds will start to crackle when they are roasted and they also become very aromatic. Set aside in a bowl
In the same pan, roast the desiccated coconut until it turns light brown (this does not take more than a minute). Add it into the bowl with the roasted sesame seeds
Add the drop of oil in the pan and roast the red chilies and set aside
Dry roast the cumin seeds until fragrant and then set aside along in the same bowl as the other cooked ingredients
Add the salt to the hot pan and roast it for 10 seconds. This step helps remove the moisture from the salt and extends the shelf life of the chutney
Now add the sugar into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients and let it all cool down to room temperature
Grind the red chilies into a coarse powder and then add then grind all ingredients together into a coarse powder using a blender. Be sure to grind in short spurts. Sesame seeds have high oil content and can become like a paste if ground for too long
Transfer the til chutney into an airtight container and let it cool down for a few more minutes before shutting it