Instant Thengai Thogayal/coconut chutney
Instant coconut /Thengai thogayal sounds strange.Yes it is possible to have it every time you wish to make, saving those precious minutes of roasting the dals, the red chiilies all to golden crisp perfection. Well how long do you think it takes some might wonder and what s the necessity for creating an instant thengai thogayal post...Well although it may appear that I make so many dishes in a day , is because I have several handyy recipes to cut my work and let me tell you how many times I have patted myself when such kitchen hacks come to my aid , especially on busy mornings.
I hate some kitchen tasks like roasting as it interrupts with my seamless cooking , and everything comes to a grinding halt just because Iam roasting some few tbsps of dal or chillies, I literally fume that I did not think of reducing this trivial yet an important step in thogayal making!!
So heres my hack for this making quick delicious Coconut /Thengai podi .
Ingredients:
1 cup udad dal
15 -20- red round dry chillies
A big pinch of asafoetida powder.
salt to taste.
1 medium lime size tamrind. ball.
Method.
In a big heavy bottomed pan, first roast the udad dal slowly on medium heat , till it evenly gets a golden colour.No need to add oil.
Next , roast the red chillies till they become crisp. Add asafoetida powder with chillies just before removing from flame.
Lastly break the tamrind to pieces, roast on a slow flame till evenly crisp and browned..Tamrind should become almost brittle.
When everything becomes cool, grind to a coarse powder. Add salt too.
Now this is your basic thogayal podi/powder. Store either in fridge or in an air tight container.
Evertime you want to make coconut thogayal/Thengai thogayal , use 2-3 tbsp of this powder and add with lightly roasted fresh coconut and sprinkle drops of water while grinding to a chutney like consistency.
Your coconut/Thengai thogayal is ready.
Tip:
1. You can also pre roast some grated coconut and store in fridge. Use that instead of roasting fresh coconut everytime you want a thogayal.
2. another suggestion is to add fresh coconut , roast it till lightly brown and aromatic, then prepare the thogayal powder and store in fridge...so when you need some Fresh thogayal, sprinkle some water , give one whiz in the mixie to blend well but not too smooth.
Your Fresh thengai/ Coconut thogayal is ready..
Also check this post Instant Paruppu thogayal
Celebrate Krishna Jayanthi with 25 traditional Gokulashtami recipes — crunchy Uppu Cheedai, sweet Vella Cheedai, ribbon pakoda, aval delights and more. Grab the free downloadable recipe booklet inside!
Crispy, golden-brown Vella Cheedai — a traditional South Indian jaggery sweet made especially for Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami).
A free 49-recipe collection for Avani Avittam — traditional South Indian festival dishes from payasam to vadai, ready to download and cook.
Onam Recipes 🌿🥥
Celebrate the flavors of Kerala with a delicious collection of traditional Onam recipes—from comforting curries and creamy payasams to festive Sadya favorites. Simple, authentic, and made with love, these recipes bring the taste of Kerala straight to your table.
Five batters, five regions, one griddle. From chickpea-millet to Mulbagal and Khaali Dosay, a tasting trail of 5 dosa varieties that never make it to restaurant menus — crispy, fermented and straight from my kitchen diary.
Build your own Aadi Ammavasai thaali — pure satvik, no onion no garlic, served with love on vazhai ilai to honor our ancestors.
A humble yet essential part of the Kerala Sadya, Paruppu Thoran brings together the goodness of lentils, fresh coconut, and gentle spices in one comforting dish.
A simple Kerala Sadya classic made with fresh achinga payar, coconut oil, and spices. A homestyle vegetable dish that pairs perfectly with rice and curries.
A simple Kerala Sadya favorite made with tender chena, coconut oil, spices, and curry leaves, roasted until lightly crisp and full of flavor.
A simple and comforting Kerala Sadya classic, Paruppu Curry is traditionally enjoyed with hot rice and a drizzle of ghee.
A traditional Kerala Sadya favorite, Kootu Kari brings together vegetables, chickpeas, coconut, and spices for a hearty and flavorful side dish.
A rich and comforting Kerala dessert made with ripe Nendran bananas, jaggery, and creamy coconut milk, finished with ghee-roasted coconut, cashews, and raisins.
Colorful, comforting, and packed with the goodness of fresh vegetables and coconut, Carrot Beans Thoran is a simple Kerala classic that deserves a place on every Onam Sadya banana leaf.
Chintamani Appam is a traditional Chettinad savoury appam made with rice, spices, and aromatics. Soft, mildly spiced, and perfect for breakfast or tiffin.
Varagu Sakkarai Pongal is a delicious and healthier twist to the traditional sweet Pongal, made with kodo millet, moong dal, jaggery, and aromatic spices. This millet-based festive recipe is light, wholesome, and perfect for Pongal celebrations or as a nutritious sweet treat any day.
Make restaurant-style creamy curries in minutes with this simple red and White Gravy Premix. Mild, rich and versatile, this blend is perfect for dishes like paneer butter masala, malai kofta, veg kurma and more.
Thiruvadirai Kali is a traditional South Indian sweet made with roasted rice and moong dal, prepared especially for Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Thiruvadirai. Soft, aromatic, and mildly sweet, this classic recipe brings out the essence of festival cooking with simple pantry ingredients
A fragrant South Indian rice dish made with coconut milk, whole spices and vegetables, Brinji sits beautifully between a pulao and biryani. Light, flavourful and gently aromatic, it’s perfect for weekday lunch boxes, small gatherings or a comforting weekend meal.
Bring home the authentic taste of Tamil Nadu with this Instant Puliyodharai Podi—a fragrant, tangy-spicy mix that turns plain rice into temple-style Puliyodharai in minutes. Just mix with hot rice and gingelly oil for a delicious, travel-friendly, lunchbox-perfect meal.
Beetroot Rice or Beetroot Pulao is a colorful, one-pot South Indian dish made with rice, beetroot, and mild spices. Quick to make, healthy, and perfect for lunchboxes or weekday meals.









Aval Paal Kozhukattai - Soft and smooth poha balls in creamy coconut milk and jaggery. A easy prasadam that melts in mouth.