This is an OPOS – One Pot One Shot recipe.
# This recipe works well ONLY in a 2 or 3 liter Indian style pressure cooker. Do not use a big cooker without adjusting the quantity. It wont work. Do not scale the recipe up or down. Use exact measurements and equipment.
Generally, making of thokku / thick chutney can be very laborious which includes sauteing the veggies in oil for not less than 30-40 minutes. Thokku made using OPOS just takes 5 minutes on the stove. You might think that pressure cooking might just steam the onion. “A paste of steamed onions with spices is the last thing you wanna eat. Its aghast.” But you are in for a surprise. There is a catch. We will not be adding any water while cooking. The onions are going to caramelize in its own juices in high heat for a short time. Believe me, this recipe is one of the best things that has happened to me in cooking.
I tried this recipe 3-4 times so far and the flavor has been phenomenal. If you are worried about burning the bottom of your pressure cooker, don’t be.
Hope you enjoy the video!
Enjoy your thokku with rice, idli, dosa etc…
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Onion Thokku – Vengaya Thokku Recipe
Tamil style recipe for vengaya thokku / onion chutney. Easy recipe using one pot one shot method. Just takes 5 minutes to make this thokku. Video recipe.
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 5 1x
Ingredients
- 6 teaspoon sesame oil
- 250 grams sliced onions ( 3 medium sized onions ).
- 5–10 dry red chillies.
- 1″ coin size.tamarind
- 1 teaspoon of jaggery.
- 1 teaspoon of home made / store bought sambar powder.
- 1 teaspoon of salt.
Instructions
- Take a pressure cooker (2 or 3 litres capacity only) and add 6 teaspoon of Indian sesame oil /gingely oil (nallennai).
- Add in 250 grams sliced onions ( 3 medium sized onions ).
- Add in 5-10 dry red chillies. (Add 5 chillies if you want a moderately spiced thokku / chutney. Increase the chillies if you want a spicy chutney.)
- Add a small piece of tamarind. About a 1″ coin size. Add in a teaspoon of jaggery. and a teaspoon of home made / store bought sambar powder. Add in a teaspoon of salt.
- Set your stove to medium high heat on a gas stove or your induction stove to 1200W. We are going to cook for exactly 5 minutes. Set up a timer in your mobile. Just 5 minutes irrespective of the number of whistles. You might end up getting 5-7 whistles.
- Wait for the pressure to release. Open the cooker. If there is a lot of liquid remaining in the cooker, just briefly simmer on high heat for a couple of minutes until the mixture is thick. Ignore this step if the mixture does not have liquid.
- Wait for the mixture to cool.
- Blend to a paste.
- Enjoy your thokku with rice, idli, dosa etc…
Notes
The term OPOS and One Pot One Shot are registered trademarks owned by Mr.Ramakrishnan. The recipes have been adapted from his OPOS Cookbook. They are used in Kannamma Cooks with prior permission. The recipes are an adaptation from the cookbook.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Category: Chutney / Pickle
- Cuisine: Tamilnadu
This came out great! My 3L pressure cooker didn’t whistle even after 5 minutes (I use the same cooker everyday so I know there are no issues with it). I switched to high and tried but still nothing after 3 minutes. So I stopped and checked and it was cooked, with nice caramelisation at the bottom. It still came out amazing, I just needed to adjust the sweetness and salt a bit to personal preference.
Thank you!
I’ve never blended the tamarind seed, curious if it tastes different with or without. Or just left in for ease.
Tamarind seeds are never used. Only the pulpy tamarind.
Do we have to add some water forst. Bcos the mixture got burnt in the bottom
Hi sis !! How do I make this on gas stove ? Will it work the same way if I keep in stove top for 5 whistles? Please advice.
BTW, thank you for all the recipes. I only use your website for most of the recipes.
I have done this so many times now. It truly is phenomenal
Tried this. Chutney was good. But I guess I added too much jaggery so it turned out sweet.
I don’t use jaggery in spicy cooking so I put too much or the sweet taste was different for me. Going to try without that. Buy the Chutney was nice and different taste.
Do u have quinoa recepies Indian style
Is it ok if no whistle comes within the five mins?
No its not ok. Try checking your safety valve or rubber.
Awesome recile. How many days we can refrigerate it?
for about 4-5 days.
I also love those uncluttered Speckle in Circles at the end with the spoon Suguna !
Thank you so much!
this was super yum.. and super quick too.. please share more such opos recipes..
Hi Kannamma ,
It really did taste amazing ! Adding sambar podi to thokku was quiet new to me . Was great when combined with hot idli.
Thanks a million !
Super cool that you tried Lucky. Really glad.
Fantastic. Love the detailed instructions. Let’s reinvent traditional recipes for today’s fast paced life.