Tomato Pickle
Issues that required my immediate attention and also the planning, preparation and celebration of a themed birthday party for Nehal, who turned 6 a few days ago, had me away from the blogging world and internet. I have a long email list to clear and a couple of queries that need to be answered which hopefully will get done this week. 
Last summer we grew a few tomato plants which gave a good yield of tomatoes. This summer we had a good bumper crop from our backyard vegetable garden at our ancestral home in our village. Early March this year, my mother prepared tomato pickle. There have been requests for a tomato pickle recipe (since its summer in US with many a backyard garden growing tomatoes) and I am blogging this recipe today.
I swear by Amma’s recipe for sun-dried tomato pickle. There are two types of tomato pickle she usually prepares, based on availability of fresh tomatoes, time and a good amount of sunshine. The sun dried version is labor intensive but totally worth the effort and time. Having said that, the other version she prepares is an instant tomato pickle that tastes equally good. It’s full flavored, well balanced, a little spicy with a superb garlicy tang and not to mention - a beautiful vibrant shade of red!
This flavorful, tangy and spicy pickle works good with idlis, dosas and rice. One mouth-watering favorite combination of mine is to combine a tablespoon of tomato pickle in a cup of thick yogurt and serve with hot aloo parathas. Remember to use fresh, ripe and firm tomatoes for this pickle recipe.
Tomato Pickle recipe
Recipe Source & Prep: Amma
Prep & Cooking: 1 hr 15 mts
Cuisine: Andhra
.
1 1/2 kg tomatoes, wash, dry and slice
large lemon sized tamarind (use if the tomatoes lack tang)
2 tbsps red chilli pwd (adjust)
1 tsp methi pwd
1 1/2 - 2 tbsps salt (adjust)
2-3 tbsps oil
For tempering/poppu/tadka:
1 tsp mustard seeds
pinch of methi seeds
15 fresh curry leaves
3-4 dry red chillis
15 cloves garlic, slightly crushed
2 tbsps oil
1 Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, add the sliced tomatoes and cook on high heat for 5 mts. Reduce heat to medium high and continue to cook till the oil separates and the tomatoes turn mushy.
2 Towards the end of the cooking process as the oil seperates, reduce heat and keep stirring till the oil separates completely (the tomatoes could take a good 45 mts to an hour to cook). Turn off heat, add the tamarind and place lid. The tamarind will soften with the heat of the cooked tomatoes. Cool completely.
3 Once cool, add salt and grind the cooked tomatoes along with tamarind to a paste. Remove onto a vessel. Add chilli pwd and methi pwd. Combine.
3 In a pan, add 2 tbsps oil, add mustards seeds, methi seeds and fry till the mustard splutters and the methi turns red. Add the dry red chillis, curry leaves and saute for a few seconds and turn off heat. Add the crushed garlic and leave aside the tempering for 4-5 mts.
4 Once cool, add this tempering along with oil to the tomato paste. Combine well. Cool and store in an airtight bottle. Refrigerate.
Note:
Use tamarind only if the tomatoes are sweet without any tang. Usually slightly tangy tomatoes work best for this pickle.
By sailu • Aug 25th, 2008 • Category: All Recipes, Andhra Recipes, Chutneys & Pachadis, Pickles, Vegetables, Vegetarian Recipes
Excellent recipe and glad to see ur post after a long time.
What a lovely color! Gald to see u back Sailu! and a themed ‘day party sounds very interesting. I know u would have an idea about posting it but I insist one soon so that I can do something for my kid’s b’day too
With Garlic and floating oil and the color..it looks so Attractive. I had tasted the sun dried tomato pickle a long back..It will be Nice, if you could share your mom’s SUN Dried Tomato Pickle Recipe..
Hi Sailu,
first time at ur blog…have found interesting recipes here. I love ur step-by-step recipe for dosa with snaps. this Tomato pickle look yummy…! Thanks for sharing.
Sonu:)
Nice to see you back with yummy tomato pickle.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo happy to c u back…..wish belated happy b’day to Nehal. Will love to hear all the fun and frolic at the b’day party….my kid will turn 6 in few months..so i guess cud take some handy hints and tips abt arranging party
And do i need to say anything abt the pickle?As such sindhis are mad about any pickle …more the spice and tanginess…more the craze…so obviously i just loved reading the recipe.
Thank you Alka for the bday wishes. The party was sure fun and Nehal and his friends enjoyed to the hilt. Arranging a bday party for 6 year old boy is no joke and managing nearly 50 kids in the age group of 5-10 is no easy task but all my efforts paid off.:)
I’m in New York and my mother has a ton of tomatoes– I will be making this for sure! My son just turned 6 as well– I’d be interested to see what you did. I’m sure it was wonderful!
Belated bday wishes to your son, Maryam.
Very nice recipe and Happy Birthday to Nehal!
Best,
Paz
Thank you Paz for the bday wishes.
I really love this pickle. thanks for posting.
hello, i like this recipe but it is more chutney looklike rather than saying it is a pickle. what wud be shelflife of this pickle? thanks.
If refrigerated, stays fresh for many months.
The pickle looks delicious - can just take a bite right off the screen. Happy Birthday to Nehal !!
Thank you, Revathi, for the bday wishes for Nehal.
Hi Sailu,
i’m Punitha, What a comeback????!!!!
Really it is a pleasant surprise!!!!
Please keep in touch with us Sailu.
Hereafter Sailu, no leave to you from your mail friends……
Hi Sailu,
I want to taste the pickle from the photo itself. It’s mouth watering. Can’t wait. Right now don’t have enough tomatoes. Very soon will get them and give a try.
Thanks a lot for the pickle.
Looks mouthwatering!
Great use of summer tomatoes. I could eat some right now!!
Hi sailu, thank god u r back! Nice recipe again
I want the recipe for the sun-dried version too.
Belated wishes to Nehal! The pickle is in right timing … I looked in ur archives for tomato pickle few days back and here u re
Mouthwatering pickle!
Thank you, Cham, for the bday wishes for Nehal.
Sailu,
That looks simply yummy - bookmarking the recipe. Happy belated birthday to Nehal.
Thank you, Mamatha, for the bday wishes for Nehal.
great to see you back
i am yet to try out pickles full swing but surely this and green chilly pickle from my mom will top the list!
Its quite a relief to see ur recipe after such a longbreak.
Hope Nehal had a great time for his B’day.
How long will this pickle stay refrigerated??????
Nehal had lots of fun, Raaji.
The pickle stays fresh refrigerated for a very long time - atleast 6-8 months.
Hi Sailu
Happy Birthday to Nehal! This is lovely lovely recipe..one that I will try out for sure. We’re quite crazy about tomatoes and this pickle looks very tempting!
Thank you for your wishes for Nehal, Bharti.
Forgot to wish…Belated Happy B’day to ur son Nehal…!
Thank you for your bday wishes for Nehal.
Looks yummy - both pickle and Rava dosa
That’s a nice recipe. I make something like this, with kadhipatta tadka, add spices to the cooked tomatoes and consume at once.. grinding the cooked tomatoes and re-doing the tadka is something that will add to the longevity I guess.. Looks delicious, and 6-8 months shelf-life is a major add-on!
I have said this before, and saying again, your family is so lucky to have such a wonderful, proactive food-person in the family…
What was theme? Wishes to Nehal… Also, am curious to know the menu
Thank you for your bday wishes for Nehal, Gauri. The theme for Nehal’s bday was his favorite character (TV) - Ben 10. I was lucky to be able to receive some Ben stuff (including some take home gifts) from my sister who lives in US. These are not available in India yet as they were just released in the US market last month. I got a few characters, about 11 of them, painted on four foot plastic sheets which were pasted along the walls of the venue. The highlight was a large digital print, 4 ft by 5 1/2 ft, of Ben 10 with his team (downloaded the image from internet) which I got framed and put up near the cake table. Two cakes were ordered with Ben 10 theme. I didn’t cook/bake anything as it was a party for over 125 people with 50 kids and 75 adults, we arranged at a hotel which served good food. The party started at 6 and ended at 10. I arranged a tattoo trap and beauty corner (for the little girls). The decorations were yellow and green balloons and the chef tried to follow a green and yellow theme food-wise.:) There was ballooning (swords, flowers and poodle) and games (prizes). The menu was as follows:
1. Welcome drink - fruit based
2. 4 appetizers - 2 veg + 2 non-veg - [kids & adults just loved all of them]
a) Spinach and Cheese dumplings
b) Vegetable lollipops
c) Chicken Winglets - Chinese style
d) Crispy Prawn - Chinese style
3. Chaat Counter
Bhel Puri, Papdi Chaat, Pani Puri
4. Live Dosa Counter
Masala Dosa and Plain Dosas (3 chutneys and potato curry)
5. Vegetable Hakka Noodles
6. Vegetable Manchurian in Hot Garlic Sauce
7. Curd Rice (with a couple of pickles, papad and sun-dried chillis) (on special request from two parents whose kids don’t eat much food outside their home and they requested for curd rice)
8. Desserts - Ice cream with Hot chocolate Sauce & Hot Jalebis (live counter) and of course the bday cake.:)
belated birthday wishes to Nehal. i hope he had gr8 time…
and that tomato pickle is to die for. thanks Sailu for this recipe. I am going to make it pretty soon.
Thank you, Sia, for the bday wishes for Nehal.
A big hug to little Nehal and hope he had a great Ben10 Party Sailu, Just saw the menu and I am like, gosh I so wish I was there at the party with Noel. Hope u all had a great time!!
Nehal had a great time, Padmaja, and wish Noel was around too. I’m sure he would have enjoyed the Ben 10 party.:)
tomato pickle looks nice,,,and fab menu for dinner..;-)..
Hi Sailaja, Belated happy Birthday To Nehal. After coming to bangalore we got to know abt tomato pickle and we always have it at home now:). Now I found to make this at home too. I tried ur palak paneer too it was tasty.
Going thru comments I found the menu of the party, did you make all the things for so many people??? or ordered from hotel???
Thank you, Bhawana, for the bday wishes for Nehal. I could never prepare a menu like that for over 125 people at home, Bhawana. We had organised the party at a hotel.
wow it must have been a great event :). Post some pics if it is fine for you. So far I have not attended any event based on theme. I wish I could be a friend of Nehal and attended the party, coooooooooool :).
hi sailaja,
convey my belated birthday wishes to nehal.wish i was 6 yrs old too,i would have made friendship with him and attended his rocking party.
if possible do post few of his party snaps sailaja,would love to see them.
hi sailu:
have been to ur web site quite a number of times and have also tried some of ur recipes, incl the set dosas..
I think ur USP are the pix-crystal clear…not to mention the amazing recipes and cool step by step instructions !! kudos to all ur efforts…its amazing to see the passion u display in detailing out ur recipes…
basically from bangalore, I have been dying to eat andhra food as I am foodie myself..I enjoy cooking for others !! I did get some opportunity to taste some food in hyderabad on my occasional visits there but in mumbai where i live now, I strongly recommend u should start a restaurant..or rather a chain !! can strongly assure u that the food would go flying off the shelves!!
do give it a thought !!
the chutney is amazing although I do make a slightly less spicier version, am sure i will try it out.. however PLS post that sun dried version soon pls.
cheers and lots of hugs to Nehal on his happy birthday
best regards
kalyani
hi sailu
i am sunitha. i am a great fan of your wonderful recipes. We live in canada so dont get all indian veggies, still i cook typical south indian food at home (we r from tirupati). Most of the recipes i do r posted by u only, we r really enjoying,thank u.
hi sailu,
Yummy tomato chutney….but i would like to know the time to dry tomatoes.
You have mentioned ….”1 1/2 kg tomatoes, wash, dry and slice”
I would be happy if the amount of time to dry tomatoes is known.
Regards,
Sangeetha.
You can wipe dry with a kitchen towel and leave to dry completely for a few more minutes.
Hello sailaja,
thank you for the wonderful recipe. i have always loved ur recipes and love ur writing style too..keep up the good work.
i have a few questions and i hope to get a reply. thanks for ur time in advance. I will be grateful if you can send me an email.
1. Can i use tamarind paste for this pickle? (mom sends me the paste from india..i believe it has turmeric and some salt).
2. have u posted a sun dried version of this pickle? i couldnt find one..
3. how do i know if i have boiled the tomatoes enough..is there a need for all the water(from the tomatoes) to be evaporated completely?
Thank you for your kind words, kv. Yes, you can use the tamarind paste sent by your mother. Just reduce salt in the pickle as the tamarind already contains some salt. But I’d advice you to use fresh tamarind. You could always make a small portion of pickle and test.
I am yet to post a sun dried tomato pickle. You will know when the tomatoes have boiled as it becomes like a thick mass of paste and the oil separates. Its important that the water evaporates completely.
Dear Shailu,
I am new member to your site, recently while browsing i encountered your site and from then onwards i am hooked. I was just going through the tomato pickle recipe and found it interesting and immediately tried out and it came out very well, thanks for the recipe. My child is turning 8 and i am planning to organise a theme bday party in coming january, thanks for the details you shared of nehals bday. i will take a cue from it and last but not the least can you give us recipes of authentic recipes like ulava charu, bommidayala pulusu etc?