10 Curry Recipes without Tomatoes
5 Jul
Sometimes the universe sends you many little signals nudging you towards a certain action.
Last month I was swapping recipes with a colleague for quick lunchbox ideas when she asked: "Don’t you make anything at all without tomatoes?" I had been describing to her my red capsicum curry. Her remark made me pause and reflect. Yes, I am partial to tomatoes.
When I go to the grocery store, I pick and choose vegetables depending on whatever I plan to make over the next few days. Tomatoes are exempt from this ritual. At the tomato stall I pop in a dozen in my basket without a thought. I did the same last month. When the time came to pay the bill, I got a shock. Tomatoes were Rs.70/- a kilo!
Yesterday, I met an old friend who is on a thyroid treatment that advises avoiding tomatoes.
I HAVE to turn to recipes without tomatoes.
Luckily, an assortment of “no tomato” recipes is right here on The Steaming Pot. If you too are looking for Indian curry recipes without tomatoes, try…
Notes:
Check out the other round-up posts on The Steaming Pot:
Thanks for the recipes! They look great!
By the way, you can make curry without tomato. Before tomato was introduced to India, Tamarind was the base. Just thought I’d let you know. :)
I use that trick too but I find I don’t get the bulk and so I have to chop extra onions. I can’t eat tomatoes – so sad.
I have tomato besan corn soya mushroom baingan fish wheat allergies. Sometimes drastic things happen. So thanks.
Thanks for the recipe list. It’s costing an arm and a leg to buy tomatoes here in Bangalore.
Hi Sowmya, Glad you found it useful. Pretty much the same elsewhere in the country too. Someone from Patna sent me this on WhatsApp ;)
My daughter is undergoing a treatment that does not allow her to eat any tomato, yogurt or mango powder or any khatta for that matter. It is really challenging to cook without khatta.
Although traditional cooking like nenua chana or, dum aloo would not use tomato. I guess it more the influence from North.
@Vinita: I hear you, it must be hard to think up tasty curry recipes without any khatta at all.
Perhaps you could try more cashew, posto, or coconut based curries? I’ve got a popular one in the list above: paneer butter masala. A few more that could work: spinach in spiced coconut milk, ridge gourd potato curry in poppy seed paste.
Or you could go for dry veggie preparations and pair them with dal and ghee: carrot radish curry, cabbage coconut stir fry, for example.
All the best for your daughter’s speedy recovery to perfect health.
Am undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis so we should not take any sour items like tomato turmarind and lime .. Can u please tell me any recipes without that
Hi Devasena,
Best wishes for your recovery. I’ve got a few suggestions for no-sour curries in my comment to Vinita right above: link. I think those should work for you too.
More recipes that fit your criteria, from my recent posts:
Methi Toor Dal Dry, with Caramelized Onions
Broad Beans in Black Sesame Sauce
Sauteed Chayote with Coconut Flakes
Sesame Bell Pepper
Wow, feeling very envious! In the local market here tomatoes are around rs 500! If only food was that cheap here
:-D
I can’t eat tomatoes and don’t like coconut how can I make a curry without these ingredients
Hi Julie. Please follow the links given in the post above. The recipes don’t use either tomatoes or coconut.
Receipes look good. Now that tomatoe prices have increased tremendously will definitely try most of your receipes. Thanks for sending it and hope it will taste wonderful.
Hi Hilda, Glad you like the recipes. And I hope tomato prices come down soon :)