Tomato saar is a tangy curry made using tomatoes commonly in Konkan and Coastal Maharashtra.
This curry is made on the days when you do not consume garlic and onion. Generally, coconut is ground while making this Saar but you can skip it like me.
Contents:
- Tomato Saar and me
- Why MSK Tomato Saar Recipe
- Let's get started
- For Your Questions
- Some of the curries we love
- Recipe card
- Pin for later
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Tomato Saar and me:
One of the essentials at home is tomatoes. I cannot do without it so you will find me adding tomatoes in most of my dishes. Tomato chutney, rasam are my favourites.
I have been making this tomato saar for the last about 30 years after I learnt it from my mother-in-law. She added coconut I do not that is the only change. The tang of the tomatoes I balance with a little jaggery.
How about pairing tomato saar with yum Jeera Rice Recipe.
Why MSK Tomato Saar Recipe:
Make this recipe as Saar is
- Easy
- Delicious
- No-onion, no-garlic recipe
- can be made vegan and gluten-free too
- Pairs well with rice or pulao
Let's get started:
Ingredients:
These are the ingredients you will need. For quantities please check the recipe card.
- Tomatoes
- Cumin seeds
- Chilli powder/ red chillies
- Jaggery
- Clarified butter
- Curry leaves
- Salt
- Water
Method:
- I prefer to pressure cook my tomatoes. But you can also chop them roughly and boil them in an open pan.
- Let the pressure drop naturally. Cool, the tomatoes there will be some liquid in the pan of tomatoes.
- Peel the tomatoes if you wish then transfer them to the mixer grinder.
- Add the jaggery, salt and some cumin seeds. Cumin is optional but I like the aroma, in case you are using red chillies add them to the mixer and grind fine.
- Transfer to the pan. And heat it.
- Add the water that has collected in the tomatoes and run the mixer again. This will remove all the residue of the tomatoes.
- Check the thickness of the mixture in the pan, you will need to thin this out. Add water to the mixer and run the mixer again. Add the water to the pan.
- Check for seasonings.
- In a separate pan heat, the clarified butter add the cumin seeds, curry leaves and chillies.
- Pour over the Tomato saar. Your Saar is ready.
Substitutes:
- If you want a vegan curry use an odourless refined oil in place of clarified butter.
- I like to use a combo of red chillies and chilli powder but you can use only one of them.
- I add cumin seeds and curry leaves while grinding. The cumin for aroma and some curry leaves go into the tummies and not adorn the edge of the plates.
- If the girls are around I peel the tomatoes before making the curry.
Variations:
- If you add fresh coconut to the cooked tomato while grinding the taste is amazing. The curry thickens with the addition too. The amount of jaggery you add will need to be lesser.
- You can always add a tempering of garlic. Grind some with the tomatoes for added flavour.
- To make a vegan version use vegetable oil that is odourless.
- To make gluten-free avoid the asafotida.
Equipment:
- Pressure cooker
- 2 Pans
- Mixer
- Small pan for tempering
How to serve:
- Serve steaming hot tomato saar in a bowl, to taste check, you see.
- Serve with steamed rice with a vegetable and some ghosali kappa on the side
- Or like me serve with jeera rice.
How to store:
- You can keep the saar in the fridge for 2-3 days. I tend to discard stuff after that. Never tried freezing it but I guess you can store for about a month. Thanw and use immediately.
This is an old post that I am updating with newer pictures and a write up as a part of the group Foodies_RedoingOld Post.
For Your Questions:
Protips:
- Use red jucy tomatoes for a better curry.
- Let the tomatoes cool down before grinding them.
- Grinding a few curry leaves gets the healthy leaves in the tummies. Without complaints.
Some of the curries we love:
Recipe card:
Tomato Saar Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pressure cooker
- 2 Pans
- Mixer/Grinder
Ingredients
- 4-5 tomatoes
- 2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder adjust as per your taste
- Jaggery adjust as per your taste
- ½ teaspoon ghee /clarified butter
- 2-3 dried red chillies
- 1 spring curry leaves
- 3 cups Water
- Salt as per taste
- ½ coconut freshly grated optional
Instructions
- I prefer to pressure cook my tomatoes. But you can also chop them roughly and boil them in an open pan.
- Let the pressure drop naturally. Cool, the tomatoes there will be some liquid in the pan of tomatoes.
- Peel the tomatoes if you wish then transfer them to the mixer grinder.
- Add the jaggery, salt,curry leaves and some cumin seeds. Cumin is optional but I like the aroma, in case you are using red chillies add them to the mixer and grind fine.
- Transfer to the pan. And heat it.
- Add the water that has collected in the tomatoes and run the mixer again. This will remove all the residue of the tomatoes.
- Check the thickness of the mixture in the pan, you will need to thin this out. Add water to the mixer and run the mixer again. Add the water to the pan.
- Check for seasonings.
- In a separate pan heat, the clarified butter add the cumin seeds, curry leaves and chillies.
- Pour over the Tomato saar. Your Saar is ready.
How to serve:
- Serve steaming hot tomato saar in a bowl, to taste check, you see.
Video
Nutritional Disclaimer: I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Please check with your nutritionist for your dietary needs and restrictions. Ultimately you are responsible for your decisions.
Smita says
yum!!really great to sit with a bowl of this saar in the cold!!!The site looks good!!!
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram says
There was a sudden change in the weather recently and this rain, chill and sun together were doing no good to the throat. We loved your soothing tomato saar recipe. So tasty.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you, Seema, for trying and the feedback.
Mayuri Patel says
Archana, I am actually waiting for the tomato season to begin so that I can make this tomato saar. Am sure I'll love it on its own like a soup. Hubby will love it with some rice.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Kalyani says
It sounds a bit like Mysore Rasam, sans the coconut. but with the cumin being ground makes it a must try! more soupy and my elder one will be a sure fan as it has her fav ingredient - tomato - in this 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Try it, Kalyani.
Jayashree T.Rao says
I love tomato saaru but somehow do not make it at home. Thanks for the reminder Archana.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Chef Mireille says
This tomato saar was so delicious and best of all, it utilizes so few ingredients so that it is super quick and easy to make!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mir. Glad you tried and liked it.
Shobha Keshwani says
I love this saar specially on a rainy day it makes a comfort meal with some rice. I would love to have it like a soup too.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Renu says
I would love to have this tomato saar with some hot piping rice and I would be in heaven :-). looks perfectly done and I love the colour of this. Bookmarking this to try soon, as I have loads of home grown tomatoes.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks, Renu.