Onion Chutney For Idli & Dosa Recipe

‘Chutney’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘chaatni’, which means ‘to lick’. Chutneys originated in India, and were adopted by the Romans and the British as a means of preserving food. A popular story of the origin of chutney can be traced back to the 17th century. Legend has it that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan fell ill and his hakims recommended that he eat something spicy but easy to digest. Following these instructions, chaat was invented, on which tangy coriander and mint chutney and tamarind chutney were drizzled. Food historians believe that chutney, being a paste made by grinding various ingredients, is the oldest form of food made by human beings. Today, chutney has taken on varied forms across the world. This chutney is a South Indian recipe and a great alternative to coconut chutney when coconut is not available. It is also called ‘vengaya chutney’ since onions are known as ‘vengaya’ in Tamil.