Traditional Tomato Saar - Indian-Style Tomato Drink

Tomato Saar served in shot glasses – savory Indian tomato drink made with coconut milk and spices.

Traditional Tomato Saar - Indian-Style Tomato Drink

6 basic ingredients is all you need to make this lip-smacking, savory Indian tomato drink called Tomato Saar! It’s vegan and gluten-free, making it perfect as a party starter or a palate-cleanser for everybody. Whip up this easy vegan Maharashtrian tomato drink in just 20 minutes — it can’t get any simpler than this! Serve this chilled for a refreshing tomato drink at your next gathering – or warm it for cozy comfort.

Course beverage, Drinks, Soup

Cuisine Indian, Maharashtrian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings people

Calories 81.22kcal

Author Priya Lakshminarayan

Equipment

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegan ghee or regular ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
4-5 green chillies
8-10 fresh curry leaves
17.64 oz tomato sauce
13.5 fl.oz coconut milk
⅓ cup water
⅓ cup chopped cilantro
salt

Instructions

Heat vegan ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let the seeds splutter.
Add fresh curry leaves, minced green chillies and half of the chopped cilantro. Sauté for about a minute until fragrant.
Pour in the tomato sauce.
Followed by coconut milk and salt. Chef tip - Rinse out the tomato sauce tetrapack and the coconut milk can, and add that water to the pan. This not only ensures zero wastage but also helps retain all the flavor. Add just enough to maintain a slightly thick consistency (avoid adding more water than mentioned in the recipe).
Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium flame (on an induction cooktop this should take about 8-10 minutes). The goal is a smooth, slightly thickened texture that you could serve as a warm beverage or poured over rice.
Once boiled and aromatic, garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro. Do not overcook. Take it off the flame at the first boil. Take a small taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve saar in shot glasses for a fun, modern twist — it makes a stunning party appetizer or savory mocktail!

Notes

Adjust the spice level to your taste. If you enjoy a stronger kick, add an extra green chili or a pinch of crushed black pepper to intensify the heat in this savory tomato drink. For a deeper, more earthy flavor, add a little ginger paste and/or jaggery along with the green chillies during tempering — it enhances the warmth and balances the tanginess of the tomatoes beautifully.

Nutrition