Sneha's Recipe: Tamarind

Date & Tamarind Chutney/Khajur Imli Ki Chutney is a sweet and sour tangy chutney. This sweet chutney is an essential component in dhoklas, chaats like pani puri, bhel puri, samosa etc. I make this in the pressure cooker since it reduces the cooking time and also helps you make it in one pot.

Ingredients
20 Dates – pitted
50 Grams Tamarind
2 Teaspoons Cumin seeds
1½ Teaspoon Saunf/Fennel seeds
½ Cup Grated Jaggery
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
½ Teaspoon Dry Ginger powder
½ Teaspoon Sendhav Namak/Black/Rock salt
¼ Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Cup Water

Method

Dry roast cumin seeds and fennel seeds. Cool slightly and grind to a powder. Wash, de seed dates and chop roughly.
Clean the tamarind to remove any seeds.
In a pressure pan add the dates, tamarind, sugar and jaggery together, with a cup of water and pressure cook on high for one whistle then reduce the flame and cook it on low flame for 5 minutes. Switch off the flame and allow the pressure to release naturally.
Once the pressure has cooled open the pressure cooker and with the help of a hand blender blend the tamarind and dates to make a coarse mixture. Strain this paste. Pour this into a pan and add all the spices, chili powder, cumin, fennel powder, black salt, salt and ginger powder into the pressure pan and bring it to a boil, then lower the flame and simmer the chutney till it reached the right thick consistency or for about 6 - 8 minutes.

Cool and serve with Samosa or Bread Pakora or add it to Dahi Batata Puri Chaat, Pani Puri, Bhel Puri etc., Enjoy!!
My Notes

This chutney can be stored in refrigerator for days or make it in bulk and freeze it for up to 6 months. The best part of freezing this chutney that it remains soft (not frozen) and can be eaten any time, just microwave for 15 - 20 seconds and your chutney is ready to use.

Labels: Chaat, Dates, Tamarind, Chutney, Dipping Sauce, Homemade, Preservatives free, Pressure Cooker

What differentiates East Indian food from other Indian cuisines, is its use of masala. The Bottle Masala, which forms the basis of most East Indian preparations, is made up of 36 ingredients, which are hand-pounded to give the food a unique taste. This Chinchoni is mostly made in Mother's house and is a traditional recipe, sometimes with coconut or without, with a single type or fish or mix of different fish.

This is without coconut and oil. In this recipe the 'chinch' or the sourness comes from tamarind. This is tangy and lightly spicy curry. This can be had with steamed rice or Hand Breads (Apas) -East Indian.

Ingredients
8 Bombils - or any fish
500 ml water
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Tamarind paste

For the Masala

5 - 6 Dried Red Kashmiri chillies

4 Garlic flakes - roughly chopped

1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

2 Teaspoons Rice - washed

Method

Soak red chillies in hot water for 1 hour. Drain and grind with remaining masala ingredients to a smooth consistency, gradually adding 3-4 tablespoons of water,or as required.

Wash fish and set aside to drain.

In a pan or mud vessel (which we East Indians call it a treezal), add the ground masala, tamarind paste, water and over low flame, let this boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Adjust the consistency of the gravy and sourness accordingly, then only add the fish. After 15 minutes add fish and bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 4 - 5 minutes. Serve hot with steamed rice.