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    Home

    Easy Thakkali Kuzhambu Recipe / Tomato Kulambu Recipe

    Last Updated On: Apr 8, 2025 by Aarthi

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    Tomato Kuzhambu is a spicy and tangy curry usually served with rice. This is a popular kuzhambu recipe like vatha kuzhambu and puli kuzhambu. You can make them two ways one with coconut and one without coconut. In this recipe post, I have shared thakkali kuzhambu without coconut for speedy preparation.

    Thakkali Kuzhambu with coconut & without coconut

    Thakkali kuzhambu, one of of the popular and most searched kulambu recipe. One recipe which taste so delicious with steamed rice. We like to enjoy tomato kuzhambu with rice and papad.

    Table of Contents

    • About Thakkali Kuzhambu | Tomato Kuzhambu
    • How to Make Tomato Kuzhambu without Coconut
    • Preparation of Tomato Kuzhambu without Coconut (Step by Step)
    •  
    • How to Make Thakkali Kuzhambu with Coconut
    • Preparation of Tomato kuzhambu with coconut (Step by Step)
    •  
    • 📖 Recipe Card
    • Thakkali Kuzhambu Recipe | Tomato Kulambu Recipe

    About Thakkali Kuzhambu | Tomato Kuzhambu

    Kuzhambu is nothing but a vegetable gravy which is balanced with tamarind, spice powders. The thickness is achieved through ground coconut, boiled dal or spice powders. Sometimes rice flour is added to achieve the thickness in kuzhambu.

    Thakkali kuzhambu is made using tomatoes cooked with spices like mustard, urad dal, asafoetida. Then spice powders are added along with some tamarind juice. You can add coconut or rice flour to get the consistency right.  I have shared both version in this recipe. 

    As soon as i saw this recipe, i tried it. It is so easy to make and so delicious to eat. You just need some tomatoes and few spices to make this. This is great when you have no time on hand and want to make lunch quicker, this with some papad makes a great lunch.

    Check my collection post for 100+ kuzhambu recipes

    Similar Recipes,
    Puli Kuzhambu
    Maa Vatral Kuzhambu
    Sundaikai Vathal Kuzhambu
    Pumpkin Theyal

    How to Make Tomato Kuzhambu without Coconut

    • Tomatoes - use tomatoes which are red and ripe. You might need to add more sugar to balance the gravy based on the sourness of the tomatoes. I didn't use tamarind in the gravy since my tomatoes are pretty sour.
    • Spices - use spices to your taste preference.
    • Rice flour - the thickness for the gravy is achieved by adding a slurry of rice flour.

    More Recipes, 

    Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu
    Ulli Kuzhambu
    Cucumber Pulikary
    Kara Kuzhambu

    And you have to check this link for the array of kuzhambu recipes

     

    Preparation of Tomato Kuzhambu without Coconut (Step by Step)

     
    Take all your ingredients
     
    Heat oil in a kadai
     
    Add in mustard, cumin and urad dal
     
    dry red chillies
     
    curry leaves
     
    add in little hing / asafoetida
     
    mix well
     
    Add in some tomatoes
     
    cook them 
     
    season with some salt and sugar
     
    saute well
     
    cook till it turns mushy
     
    add in chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder
     
    mix well and cook till raw smell leaves away
     
    add in water
     
    mix well and bring it to a boil
     
    take some rice flour in a bowl
     
    pour little water to it
     
    add it to the kulambu
     
    mix well
     
    cover and simmer for 5 mins or so
     
    done
     

    Serve

     

    How to Make Thakkali Kuzhambu with Coconut

    Thakkali kuzhambu with coconut makes a delicious side dish for rice. This gravy has tamarind added in it to get more sourness to it.

    How to Make Thakkali kuzhambu with coconut

    • grind coconut to a fine paste. set aside.
    • season oil with whole spices. 
    • add in chopped tomatoes.
    • tomatoes are cooked down with spices till mushy.
    • spice powders are added in.
    • tamarind juice, salt and sugar is added to balance the taste.
    • coconut paste is added and mixed. 
    • cook for few minutes and turn off the heat.

    Preparation of Tomato kuzhambu with coconut (Step by Step)

    Chop up tomatoes
    Puree coconut and set aside
    Heat oil, add mustard and urad dal
    whole spices are added.
    add curry leaves
    chopped tomatoes are added
    and some salt
    mix well and cook till it is done
    add chilli, coriander and turmeric powders
    mix well
    tamarind juice is added 
    add water
    add some sugar to balance
    simmer for 10 mins
    add coconut paste
    mix well
    simmer for few mins
    Serve

     

    RECIPE CARD

    📖 Recipe Card

    Thakkali Kuzhambu Recipe | Tomato Kulambu Recipe

    Tangy, spicy tomato kuzhambu made in two different ways to suits every taste buds. Thakkali kulambu made with coconut and without coconuts.
    4 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 136kcal

    Ingredients

    Tomato Kuzhambu without Coconut

    • 1 tbsp Gingelly Oil
    • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds / Kaduku
    • 1 tsp Urad dal / Ulundu Paruppu
    • ½ tsp Cumin Seeds / Jeera
    • Curry leaves a sprig
    • ¼ tsp Asafoetida / Hing / Kaya Podi
    • 2 no Dry Red Chillies
    • 4 medium Tomatoes chopped
    • 1 tbsp Chilli Powder
    • 2 tbspn Coriander Powder / Malli Podi
    • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder / Manjal podi
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 tsp Sugar
    • 2 tsp Rice Flour / Arisi Mavu
    • Water as needed

    Tomato Kuzhambu with Coconut

    • 1 tbsp Gingelly oil
    • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
    • 1 tsp Urad dal
    • ¼ tsp Fenugreek Seeds
    • Curry leaves a sprig
    • 2 large Tomatoes chopped
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 tsp Turmeric powder
    • 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
    • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
    • 1 tsp Sugar or Jaggery
    • 1 tsp Tamarind Pulp
    • Water as needed
    • 1 cup Coconut grated

    Instructions

    Tomato kuzhambu without coconut

    • Heat oil in a kadai. Add in all seasoning ingredients and saute them for a min.
    • Add in tomatoes, salt and sugar. Mix well and cook till they turn mushy
    • Add in all spice powders and mix well.
    • Add in water and bring it to boil.
    • Take rice flour, water in a bowl and mix well.
    • Add this mix into the curry and cook till it thickens slightly.
    • Serve

    Tomato kuzhambu with coconut

    • Puree coconut and set aside.
    • Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, fenugreek and curry leaves.
    • Add tomatoes and salt. Cook that down till it cooks well.
    • Add in all spice powders, sugar and mix well.
    • Add tamarind pulp, water and mix well. Bring it to a boil, simmer for 10 mins.
    • Add in coconut and mix well.
    • Simmer for 5 more mins.
    • Serve over rice.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1588IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @yummytummyaarthi or tag #yummytummyaarthi!
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    26
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    Corn Flour Halwa Recipe | Karachi Halwa »
    Aarthi

    About Aarthi

    Over the past few years I’ve been on a mission to find and create recipes that I can make from scratch. I hope you enjoy the recipes on this blog as they are tried and true from my kitchen to yours!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      at

      Wow

      Reply
    2. Anonymous

      at

      Wow

      Reply
    3. Aarthi Jayakannan

      at

      Y do we add rice flour

      Reply
    4. Aarthi

      at

      @Aarthi Jayakannanit thickens the gravy

      Reply
      • Abi Ragul

        at

        Whether we can add gram flour instead ofrice flour

        Reply
        • Aarthi

          at

          yes u can

          Reply
    5. Roser Font

      at

      mmm delicious!! I love tomato soup!! it's seems incredible! kisses

      Reply
    6. Anonymous

      at

      Any substitute for rice flour

      Reply
    7. Aarthi

      at

      @AnonymousU can use some cornflour. or some maida

      Reply
    8. Aarthi

      at

      @AnonymousU can use some cornflour. or some maida

      Reply
    9. Anonymous

      at

      Looks yummy. BTW wat Kadai is it?

      Reply
    10. Aarthi

      at

      @Anonymousit is wonderchef brand

      Reply
    11. Anonymous

      at

      Great recipie. I tried with coconut milk nd cashew paste instead of rice flour. Also added some nicely chopped shallots while frying. It tasted awesome.

      Reply
    12. KALA SUNIL

      at

      Yummy in my tummy

      Reply
    13. Anonymous

      at

      I'm fan of ur receipes. Most of the kulambu recipes your adding sugar. What is the purpose of it

      Reply
    14. Aarthi

      at

      @Anonymousa touch of sugar or jaggery in kuzhambu will round up the taste and give nice taste to the gravy

      Reply
    15. Anonymous

      at

      Can we eat this with rice or just for idly dosas?

      Reply
    16. Aarthi

      at

      @Anonymousu can have with rice too

      Reply
    17. Anonymous

      at

      taste good with rice, yogurt and brinjal masiyal.

      Reply
    18. Anonymous

      at

      kk

      Reply
    19. Anonymous

      at

      Hi,

      Acn we ignore sugar n this? Will it taste good?

      Reply
    20. Anonymous

      at

      Can we ignore sugar in this? will it tastes good?

      Reply
    21. Bhuvana Suresh

      at

      Am ardent fan of tomato. This recipe came out so well and too easy to prepare as well.
      Love ur efforts
      Thanks

      Reply
    22. Deepthi

      at

      I don't know how many times I've made this dish at home... Everyone loved it sooo much that they mix with rice & also take as side with curd rice... Cooking or eating, am not that craving person... But the recipe is soooo easy to make... Thanks for the delicious recipe...

      Reply
    4 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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