To begin making the Spicy Tomato Pickle Recipe (South Indian Thakkali Thokku), finely chop the tomatoes and green chillies and keep aside.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan at medium heat; add the mustard seeds. When it starts to crackle, add the cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida and the curry leaves; sauté for a few seconds

Pour the chopped tomatoes into the pan, turn the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer the mixture for about 10-15 minutes with occasional stirring.

After about 15 minutes, the puree would be bubbling and the rawness from the tomatoes would be gone. Add the chilli powder, required amount of salt.

Uncover the pan; allow the tomato pickle to simmer until all the water evaporates and the oil starts oozing out from the pickle. The pickle at this stage would have attained a thick consistency. Once the tomato pickle has attained a thick consistency like a spread, turn off the heat.

Transfer the Spicy Tomato Pickle Recipe into a glass jar and store refrigerated for a few days.

Serve this spicy tomato pickle with idli, dosa, kuzhi paniyaram, sandwiches. It can be even had along with steamed rice and ghee as an accompaniment.