Paruppu Thogayal is a simple and tasty South Indian style side dish made using toor dal, coconut, garlic and few spices. It is one of the easy and comforting side dish to make when you want something quick but still filling. The flavor of roasted dal with spices and garlic makes this thogayal very aromatic and full of taste.

Paruppu Thogayal is a simple and tasty South Indian style side dish made using toor dal,chilies, garlic and few spices. It is one of the easy and comforting dish to make when you want something quick but still filling. The flavor of roasted dal with coconut and garlic makes this thogayal very aromatic and full of taste.
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About Paruppu Thogayal
Paruppu Thogayal is a traditional Tamil style thick chutney made mainly using toor dal as main ingredient. The word thogayal means a thick ground paste which is mixed with rice or served along with meal. This version with toor dal has nice nutty roasted flavor and mild spice from red chilies and pepper. When mixed with hot rice and one spoon ghee or gingelly oil, it becomes such a comfort food.
The texture of this thogayal is a bit coarse, not smooth like regular chutney. The roasting of dal gives a light golden color and rich flavor. The mix of dal, coconut, garlic and hing give perfect balance of spice and flavor. It has small heat from red chilies and pepper which blends very well with creamy coconut taste.
This recipe is very easy and can be changed in many ways. You can use chana dal or moong dal instead of toor dal, skip garlic or add small piece tamarind for slight tangy taste. You can also adjust spice level by adding more or less chilies as you prefer. It is one simple recipe which can be twisted easily to match your taste.
I mostly make this on weekdays when I feel to eat something light and homely. It need very few ingredients and get ready in just around 15 minutes.
Paruppu Thuvaiyal is an easy side dish when you don't want to spend too much time at the kitchen. Serve it with hot steamed rice, its a tasty and a comforting combo. I first tasted it when I was sick, amma made this for me and it was such a comforting food. Since then I started making it often at home.

Paruppu Thogayal Video
Paruppu Thogayal Ingredients
- Toor Dal - I used toor dal for making this thogayal. It give nice nutty flavor and thick texture after roasting and grinding.
- Red Chillies - I used few red chillies to give spice and bright color. You can add more or less depending on how much spice you like.
- Garlic - I have used few garlic pods for strong flavor and nice smell. If you not like garlic, you can skip it, still the taste will be good.
- Pepper Corn - I have added few pepper corns to bring light heat and flavor. It balances the coconut taste very well.
- Rock Salt - I have used rock salt for taste, you can use regular salt too.
- Tamarind - It gives a nice balance and tangy taste to the thogayal.
- Hing (Asafoetida) - I used a small pinch of hing which gives unique flavor and also helps in digestion.
- Oil - I have used a teaspoon oil to roast dal and spices. It gives nice flavor and good color too.
- Water - I added water little by little while grinding to make thick coarse paste. You can adjust the amount based on how thick you want.

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How to make Paruppu Thogayal Step by Step
1.To a pan add ½ teaspoon oil.

2.Add ½ cup toor dal along with 6 small red chilies. Adding red chilies with dal to roast helps in avoiding burning of chilies.

3.Roast until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

4.Now add 4 cloves garlic along with 10 pepper corns.Roast until golden spots appear here and there on garlic. Transfer to the plate and set aside.

5.Add ½ teaspoon tamarind roast for few seconds and transfer to the plate.

6.Cool down all the roasted ingredients.

7.Transfer it to a mixer jar, add rock salt to taste.

8.Add ¼ teaspoon hing.

9.Add little water.

10.Grind it to a slightly coarse paste.

11.Transfer this to a plate.

12.Shape into a ball and serve.

Serve with rice and rasam which is the best combo!
Expert Tips
- Roast Dal Evenly - I always roast the dal on low flame till it turns golden. If roasted too much, it tastes bitter so keep stirring and watch carefully.
- Chilies - Adjust chilies according to your spice level. If you use long red chilies then 4 should be enough.
- Adjust Water - I add it slowly while grinding, consistency should be thick and coarse, not watery like chutney.
- Garlic - You can just skip garlic if you do not like the flavor. Still it will taste nice with dal and coconut alone.
- Tamarind - I add a small piece of tamarind for mild tangy flavor. It gives small twist and tastes very nice.
Serving and Storage
Serve this with hot rice and spoon of ghee on top. It also goes well with rasam rice or curd rice. Store leftover thogayal in airtight box and keep in fridge for one day. When serving again, mix it with warm rice so it soften little. It tastes best when made fresh and had warm.
FAQS
1.Can I use moong dal?
Yes you can use moong dal, it cooks fast and give lighter taste. Flavor will be slightly different but very nice.
2.Can I add coconut in this recipe?
Yes you can add 2 tablespoon coconut for a change in flavor and texture.
3.Can I make this thogayal smooth like chutney?
Yes you can grind fine if you like. Traditionally it is made little coarse for better taste with rice.
4.Can I store this thogayal for long time?
It stay good in fridge for one day only. Since coconut is used, it may spoil if kept longer.
5.Can I add skip tamarind?
Yes you can skip tamarind but it gives a balance in taste.

If you have any more questions about this Paruppu Thogayal Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
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📖 Recipe Card
Paruppu Thogayal Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup toor dal
- 6 red chillies
- 4 garlic cloves
- 10 pepper corns
- ¼ teaspoon hing
- ½ teaspoon oil
- ½ teaspoon tamarind
- rock salt to taste
- water as required
Instructions
- To a pan add ½ teaspoon oil.
- Add ½ cup toor dal along with 6 small red chilies. Adding red chilies with dal to roast helps in avoiding burning of chilies.
- Roast until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Now add 4 cloves garlic along with 10 pepper corns.Roast until golden spots appear here and there on garlic. Transfer to the plate and set aside.
- Add ½ teaspoon tamarind roast for few seconds and transfer to the plate.
- Cool down all the roasted ingredients.
- Transfer it to a mixer jar, add rock salt to taste.
- Add ¼ teaspoon hing.
- Add little water.
- Grind it to a slightly coarse paste.
- Transfer this to a plate.
- Shape into a ball and serve.
- Serve with rice and rasam which is the best combo!
Video
Notes
- Roast Dal Evenly - I always roast the dal on low flame till it turns golden. If roasted too much, it tastes bitter so keep stirring and watch carefully.
- Chilies - Adjust chilies according to your spice level. If you use long red chilies then 4 should be enough.
- Adjust Water - I add it slowly while grinding, consistency should be thick and coarse, not watery like chutney.
- Garlic - You can just skip garlic if you do not like the flavor. Still it will taste nice with dal and coconut alone.
- Tamarind - I add a small piece of tamarind for mild tangy flavor. It gives small twist and tastes very nice.







Shobha
Nice...I like these side dishes with hot plain rice...yum
Priya dharshini
Yummy i luv this thovayal a lot..Nice clcik with padi and dal.
Torviewtoronto
flavourful delicious thogayal
Gayathri NG
Flavourful n delicious thogayal, perfect hot rice n ghee...
Shabitha Karthikeyan
My favorite one. Mom used to make this with kanji when my Dad goes out of station. Looks so good Sharmi !!
Raji
Oh wow...I have never made paruppu thogayal...but today I am going to make this for lunch. Looks super delish..and I am off to kitchen.
Aarthi
wow..yummy looking tyhogayal..will try soon
Sangeetha Nambi
Add cumin seeds a bit, will add more taste.. Btw, healthy recipe.. Love it ever....
cfp123
Tempting as well as mouthwatering…
chennaiflowerplaza.com
jeyashrisuresh
Even i love the addition of garlic, yummy thogaiyal
Suja Manoj
Healthy dip..tempting..
Premalatha Aravindhan
wow yummy thogaiyal,love it...
Priya
I survive for many days with this paruppu thogayal,my all time fav..
Nalini's Kitchen
Delicious and flavorful thogayal..heavenly combo with white rice and ghee...yummy...
Farah
simply delicious!
Laavanya
My mom makes it like this whilst my MIL makes it with mung dhal... both are super tasty esp. with puli kuzhambu 🙂
Roshni
Beautiful clicks.. mouthwatering thogayal
Recipeswap
Its a little like chutney pudi/ powder only a littl more wet. looks very nice as a dip too.
Shoba Shrinivasan
nice one sharmee,
although the one we make is pretty thick and almost like a thick sour cream consistency. We dont use garlic too....yours almost reminds me of a nice chutney.
Shobha
Sharmilee! :)
@Shoba : Yes we can make it thick too as per our preference, we like it this way as its easy to mix with rice.
Nithya
Garlic addition will make this thogayal so flavorful. Bookmarking. Will make it soon 🙂