Bilahir Tok (Tomato Chutney)
Bilahir Tok is a traditional Assamese dish that is made with unripe green tomatoes, jaggery, and tamarind. It is a sweet and sour chutney-like dish that is often served as a side dish or condiment with rice, dal, or other curries.
Equipment
- 2 Pans
Ingredients
- 4-5 medium-sized unripe green tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 cup jaggery grated
- 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1-2 dried red chilies
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
- 2-3 tbsp mustard oil
- Coriander leaves chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a pan, add the chopped tomatoes and enough water to cover them. Bring it to a boil and then let it simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and mushy.
- Turn off the heat and mash the tomatoes using a potato masher or a spoon.
- In a separate pan, heat mustard oil until it starts to smoke. Add the mustard seeds and let them splutter.
- Add the dried red chilies and fry for a few seconds.
- Add the mashed tomatoes to the pan and stir well.
- Add the grated jaggery, tamarind pulp, red chili powder, roasted cumin powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well.
- Add some water to the pan and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the mixture thickens and forms a chutney-like consistency.
- Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves (optional) and serve as a side dish with rice, dal, or other curries.
Notes
Bilahir Tok is a low-fat dish and is a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. However, it is also high in sugar due to the use of jaggery, so it should be consumed in moderation as a part of a balanced diet. Additionally, the nutritional value of Bilahir Tok can be increased by using less jaggery and more tomatoes to reduce the sugar content.