Cold Onion Chutney

Sharing is caring!

Curry House Style Cold Onion Chutney is so easy to make!

You know those sliced onions that are served in a red sauce with poppadoms and samosas before the meal at Indian restaurants? Well, it’s a lot more popular than you may think. I get asked for this recipe all the time.

The fact that you are looking at this recipe means that you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

So many Indian restaurants purchase commercial brand pickles and chutneys. It just isn’t cost effective to make their own. I think that one of the reasons this cold onion chutney is so popular is that it has to be made fresh.

Working Ahead

When you dine at a restaurant that serves this delicious onion chutney, you know you’re in a good place.

It does take some preparation though. All of this is better done ahead of time for best results.

The onion chutney needs to be served super cold right from the fridge. Therefore, you should make that sauce and get it chilled. As a result you will get the perfect sauce for the chutney.

Slice up you onions and stir them into the sauce.

This will keep in the fridge nicely for a few days.

How to Serve

Dip your poppadoms in or spread a little over tandoori dishes.

This easy chutney just plain gets it. If the onion chutney sounds like it will be good on what you’re serving, do it!

How do you make onion chutney?

As you can see from the photos and short video, it really is easy to make this red cold onion chutney. 

It only takes minutes to make and will keep in the fridge for 3 – 4 days. Therefore, if you are planning a curry feast for friends, you might as well get this one done early.

All you need to do is slice the onions and mix the red sauce ingredients. Then place the onion chutney in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

Variations…

You will see in the video that I used less ketchup than I did on the day I made the cold onion chutney and photographed it.

You can do the same.

If you like a lot of sauce, go for it. Add more ketchup and/or tomato paste.

Taste as you go. That’s what making these curry house recipes is all about. By tasting as you go, you will be able to get the right flavour balance for your taste preferences.

Those toasted cumin seeds… Do you have to toast them?

No. But personally I prefer the flavour of toasted cumin seeds in the onion chutney.

It’s the difference between bread and toast! By toasting the seeds, you not only bring out the flavour of the cumin but I think it makes the chutney more interesting too.

What else?

As I mentioned above, this curry house style cold onion chutney can be made ahead of time. I suggest you do this because this of course isn’t the case with many recipes.

As it will keep in the fridge covered for at least three days so it’s one you can easily check off your list of things to prepare for that upcoming curry feast.

I recommend serving it with papadums and a selection of other pickles and chutneys like my homemade lime pickle and/or spicy vegetable pickle. You might also like to try this smooth garlic, chilli and mint raita.

What to serve this famous onion chutney with? Here are some delicious ideas.

Pappada Vada
Home Fried Papadums
Homemade Stovetop Naans
Smoked Toor Dhal Samosas
Lamb Seekh Kebabs

I hope you enjoy this recipe as my family and I do. 

When you try this curry house style cold onion chutney, there’s no turning back. Isn’t it great that something so simple, tastes so good?

I hope you enjoy this easy cold onion chutney. If you do try it, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.