Tomato- Dates Chutney

Now that the festivals are around the corner most of us observe vrats and prefer eating food cooked without using garlic or onions or satvik ahaar as we call it.I usually make this chutney during festivals when there is a vrat and we prepare food without garlic and onions.
This sweet and sour chutney is rich in iron that comes from the dates and antioxidants from tomatoes.This is a quick to make chutney and tastes great with plain steamed rice or with chapati and parathas.

Ingredients
Tomatoes-3 medium sized,ripe
Dates-4-5,seedless
Roasted Cumin powder-2 teaspoon
Refined vegetable oil/ghee-2 teaspoons

Dry red chilli-2 

Panchphoran (Saunf, jeera, methi,kalonji seeds) -1teaspoon
Salt -a generous pinch
Sugar or Jaggery powder -2.5 tablespoons
Water-2 tablespoons 

Method

-Wash the tomatoes and dice them into small pieces
-Soak the dates in water for 10-15 minutes.Wash well and cut them into small pieces.
- Take a pan and dry roast the cumin seeds for 3-4 minutes in low flame till they are light brown and a nice aroma comes out.Cool it and crush it roughly using and rolling pin.
-Take a pan and heat oil in it.Add the Panchphoran and the dry red chilli in oil.
-Now add the diced tomatoes and cook them on medium flame.Keep stirring.
-Add the chopped dates and cook for another 2-3 minutes and add water and a generous pinch of salt and sugar or Jaggery powder as per your taste.
-Cook till the tomatoes are done.Do not let the water dry completely.
-Keep mixing and finally add the roasted cumin powder.
-Serve hot with rice,chutney,chapati or puri.

 

store it in a clean glass jar and keep it in the fridge. It stays fresh for 15 days.