This spicy Indian tomato onion salad is a quick 10-minute side dish that pairs well with any Indian food. With simple ingredients like fresh tomatoes, onions, herbs, and spices, this salad is versatile and easy enough to whip up on busy days.
Whether you're making a simple dal, a rich curry, or a rice-based dish, this salad complements your meal beautifully. It's perfect for adding a burst of freshness and spice to any Indian meal.
Why This Indian Salad Stays on My Menu
The magic of this salad lies in the balance of tangy lemon juice, crunchy onions, and the kick from fresh jalapeños or green chilies. I like letting it rest for a few minutes so the flavors meld into something greater than the sum of its parts.
This is one of those quick sides I make often because it's so versatile. If you enjoy this simple salad, try my Indian cucumber salad and spicy chickpea cucumber salad. These Indian-flavored salads bring variety to the table without adding extra prep time.
Happy Cooking!
-Sravanthi
Detailed Steps
Step 1: Chop the tomatoes into small bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the onion, cilantro, and jalapeño.
Step 2: Add the tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, lemon juice, salt, red chili powder, ground cumin, and cilantro leaves to a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Mix everything gently until well combined.
Step 4: Let the salad rest for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.
Serving Tips
- At home, I often serve this salad over crisp masala papad for a crunchy, tangy bite.
- I like pairing it with amaranth crackers for a wholesome and flavorful starter.
- It's a regular side for burger patties, such as my black-eyed peas patties or mushroom potato patties.
- I enjoy it alongside Indian dal and steamed rice for a comforting, balanced meal.
- Sometimes, I use it as the base for making spicy avocado guacamole.
I'd love to hear how you enjoyed this spicy Indian tomato onion salad! Leave a comment and star rating below. You can also explore more refreshing ideas in my no lettuce salad recipes collection or try the Indian cucumber salad for another quick side dish.
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Recipe
10-Minute Indian Tomato Onion Salad with Lemon and Spices
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Ingredients
- 1 cup tomatoes finely chopped
- ¼ onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or lime juice
- 1 jalapeno optional, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
Instructions
- Chop the tomatoes into small bite-sized pieces. I prefer removing the seeds from the tomato.
- Finely chop the onion and jalapeño.
- Add tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, lemon juice, salt, red chili powder, ground cumin, and cilantro to a mixing bowl.1 cup tomatoes, ¼ onion, ¼ cup cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 jalapeno, ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Mix gently until everything is well combined.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
Notes
- I often chill the salad for 15 minutes before serving it.
- Adjust spice level by changing the amount of jalapeno or chili powder. If serving for kids, skip the jalapeno.
- Resting the salad helps the flavors blend more effectively.
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ANNE Cohen says
Delicious! Good reminder to remove seeds from tomatoes! Made for my East Indian priest. Added chopped garlic since he ilkes things spicy!
Sravanthi Chanda says
Thank you so much for sharing the feedback! Im so glad that you all enjoyed this simple dish 🙂