How to Prepare Onion Thokku

Thokku in Tamil Language means mashed food items prepared to be used as sides with Rice or Chapati. The consistency of Thokku is very thick like paste. Different kind of items like pulses and lentils can be used to make Thokku. Some soft ingredients like onions can be mashed earlier and then cooked. Items like lentils and pulses are cooked and then mashed.

In this instructable, I have explained how to make Thokku with small onions (Shallots)

• 250 grams of small Onions (Shallots)
• 10 pieces of dried red chillies
• A lemon sized tamarind piece
• 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon of Asafoetida powder
• Salt to taste

• Dry roast Red chillies and fenugreek seeds
• Soak tamarind in water and extract the juice

• Make fine powder of roasted red chillies and fenugreek seeds and keep aside
• Mash the small onions in a mixer grinder to a fine paste

• Heat about half a cup of cooking oil in a frying pan
• Once the oil is heated, add mustard seeds
• When the mustard seeds start to crack, add the powdered ingredients to oil and mix
• Add the mashed small onions to the pan and salt to taste
• Stir with a ladle continuously tp prevent mix from sticking to the pan

• Once the mix starts to become thick, add Asafoetida powder
• Continue stirring till Thokku reaches the required consistency
• Remove the pan from stove and allow to cool
• Once the Thokku is cooled, transfer to another container

Onion Thokku can be stored for a long time and can be used as side with Rice and Chapati