Don’t you think it’s the small and simple things in life make that make it so much more beautiful and worthwhile; a good cup of tea in morning can set the entire day, a stranger smiling, an unexpected compliment, good hair day, your favorite song on FM or your mom making your favorite dish for dinner; these can make your heart melt and leave you smiling for a long time.  Don’t you think?

Coriander chutney is one such simple joy of my life. I hardly not like anything, when it comes to food but if this chutney is there I can have a sumptuous meal with simplest of things. Chutney is basically a dip, These can be made with different ingredients and in so many different flavors and colors.  There will be countless chutneys that we Indians make and which are part of our everyday food, one of which is mint chutney I made before. We make them sweet, spicy or some sweet and spicy.  I recently posted sweet and sour tamarind chutney recipe which is also very popular and loved chutney. This , very simple and basic coriander chutney is my favorite chutney for two reasons; first, coriander is my most loved herb. I use coriander in everything and i mean it. There can never be enough coriander in fridge, so of course i love coriander chutney. The second reason, very close to my heart, is that this chutney reminds me of home. 

I remember mom making fresh coriander chutney on the old fashioned mortar and pestle. looked something like this.  These days blenders have replaced old fashioned mortar and pestle and no one has time and strength to patiently grind and make paste of coriander and chili. It was good exercise though! But i still can feel that coarseness and how that fresh chutney enhanced the taste of simple daal chawal (lentils and rice) to thousand folds.  Even though very basic and simple, this chutney goes with everything; from pakoras, tikkas, roti or rice. It adds to the taste of the dish. 

Actually there is no recipe for this chutney. You take handful of coriander, green chili based on how spicy you want it to be, garlic based on how garlicy you like, salt and dash of ginger. Make a paste, add a little lemon juice, if you like, and that is it. I like it spicy and add garlic lavishly and i like  it fresh. So i like to make just before eating and just enough for one meal. You, however, can make in bulk, if you like and keep if fridge for couple of days.

As i said there is no recipe as such, hence instead of printable version i will simply mention ingredients and method here as it is stupidly simple:

Ingredients:

• Handful of coriander
• 3-4 green chili
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 tsp grated ginger
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Method:

• Wash coriander and green chili. Coarsely chop both and transfer in a blender. 
• Add peeled garlic cloves, ginger, salt and little water, Blend to make a coarse paste. Add very little water in beginning and add gradually. You do not want it watery. We need water just so that it blends easily
• You can also add one small tomato if you like.
• Take it out in a bowl and add lemon juice. 
• Coriander chutney is ready. 

There can be many versions of coriander chutney. You can add mint or tomato, omit garlic or add a drizzle of oil; totally up to you. This is just the way i like and hope you will like it as well. 

Take care!

 

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