Ingredients

1. Oil – 2 tsp
2. Hing (asafoetida) - 1/4 tsp or a pinch
3. Mint leaves – 1 cup or 30 gms
4. Ginger (optional) – 1/4 tsp
5. Dry chillies - 3
6. Green chillies - 2
7. Mustard seeds – 1/2 to 1 tsp
8. Urad dal – 1 tbsp
9. Dry tamarind paste – gooseberry size or 1 tsp (if using concentrate)
10. Water – 1/2 cup or 120 ml
11. Salt – as per taste

Method

1. Soak tamarind in hot water for a few minutes. You can add tamarind (remove the seeds) directly to the mixer or extract the pulp and use it.
2. Preheat a vessel. Add oil and when it gets warm add mustard seeds, urad dal, dry chillies and green chillies. Sauté for a few minutes in a medium to low flame, until the urad dal and dry chillies are light golden or brown in colour.
3. Add hing. Stir quickly and add mint leaves. Sauté until the leaves get reduced (water is absorbed) but don’t sauté too much so that it does not become crispy or changes its colour. Allow to cool.
4. Put all the ingredients in a mixer with ginger and tamarind (added directly or paste). Grind without water first.
5. If using tamarind water or pulp, add water as per the requirement. Add water as per the consistency required. Grind to a smooth paste or lightly coarse paste.
6. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve as a side dish or dip with dosa or idli.

Notes

1. With the same ingredients you can make coriander leaves chutney by replacing the mint leaves with coriander leaves.
2. In this chutney, I have used dry red and fresh green chillies. They are optional and you can even use one of the two. Add chillies as per the heat you require.
3. If you want, you can add tempering (oil 1 tsp, mustard seeds 1/4 tsp and 5 curry leaves) after transferring the chutney to a serving bowl.
4. You can use dry tamarind - soak in hot water for a few minutes, extract its pulp and use it. Alternatively, you can just remove the seeds and add the tamarind directly to the chutney. You can also use 1 tsp of ready made thick and concentrated tamarind paste.
5. If you want the chutney to be a little thinner, you can add water to achieve the consistency you want.