Monday, July 1, 2013

Tamarind Chutney (Hot, Sweet and Sour) / Imli Chutney aka Te(n)tuler Chutney


The thought of the word tamarind and the sourness brings water to the mouth. Tamarind carries back memories of childhood days. There was a girl in our class who used to bring the tamarind pods to the class. She used to hide and keep them in her bag and how our group waited for the bell to ring for the short break. We – the small kids -- would run out with the tamarind pods and then break open the pods with the help of a stone – hit hit hit and the pod breaks, the sour fruit comes out and then in they go into the mouth. Why was it that the sourness was not felt then but now -- simply can’t do this act again? Age has done its job and the tamarind has got its place in the kitchen to be used for so many dishes.


I also remember how we collected the tamarind seeds and played 'counting-counting' with it. The seeds were discarded and the fleshy part made into achaar/pickle that was kept in a safe place from the children so that it would last at least a year. But now who takes pain in making such tasty achaar at home? Not even me. The thought of it brings nightmares.

Making tamarind chutney at home is a simple affair. The seedless ones and those with seeds are available in the market, use any of them.

To make the chutney:

Need:

Tamarind: 100 gms
Sugar or Gur (Jaggery): adjust as per your taste -- more if you like it a bit sweet & less sour
Salt: to taste
Cooking oil: ½ tsp.
2-3 dried red chillies broken into half
½  tsp. red chilli powder
Haldi powder: a pinch

Next

Soak about half a cup of tamarind (with or without seeds) in 1 ½ cups of water for about 20-25 minutes.

Next squash the tamarind in the soaked water and take out the juice. Squeeze the solid portion and separate it from the tamarind juice.

Keep this liquid and start cooking.

Place a kadhai/wok on the gas stove.

To this add ½ a tsp. of cooking oil.

Once the oil is hot throw in the red chillies.

As the chillies start giving out the strong smell add the tamarind juice. Let the liquid start boiling. To this add salt, haldi powder and the gur or sugar and cook till you find the chutney thickening. Lastly add the chilli powder, this gives the chutney Hot, Sweet and Sour taste.

The chutney should not be too thick nor too thin (not running). Before switching off the gas taste it to find if the sweetness is properly balanced.

Can store it in the fridge for many days and relish when you want.  


© gouriguha 2013

9 comments:

  1. yummy sweet and tangy imli chutney.

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  2. Gouridi ... kemon acho? Onek din por ashte parlam ... eyi chaatni ta ajkei banabo. Aaj ratre phuchka plan hocche ... eyi ta diye darun chaat hobe! Ami ektu bhaja jeere powder o add korbo. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Hi dear, khoob bhalo laglo comment ta pore.Aami bhalo acchi. aee chutney te majhe majhe jeera and methi bhaja powder di. Even dal bhat aar bhajar saathe khete khoob bhalo lage.
      Love,
      Gouri :)

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    2. Gouri di ... bolte elam ... enjoyed your chatni. :-)

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    3. can this preparation be kept without keeping in the fridge n just keeping in normal temperature or dried in the sun like other aachar's?

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    4. ennu, nice to read your comment. This as all I can tell you...
      As this is a chutney and in liquid form this will get moulds if it is kept outside for a long time. A couple of days doesn't matter. This is also a dip that goes well with bhajjias/fried fritters (different kinds).
      Speaking of achar, you have to use the solid part of the tamarind...with or without seeds. It needs to be dried out in the sun, like mango and other achaars, for 2-3 days and then add the ground masala, some oil, salt and gur with it and again put out in the sun for all the ingredients to mix up properly with one another. And then store it in jars and enjoy not only for days but months...till the stock exhausts.
      Gouri :)

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