This is a very famous condiment from state of Maharastra, India from my home state. We love hot food. I heard eating hot food during summer months helps in sweating and it cools down your body temperature.
Mirchi cha thecha is a very easy simple side dish/condiment which you can accompany with bhakhari/roti. Even less fortunate people can afford and can enjoy their simple meal by adding extra flavours with this thecha. Every family prepares this with slight variation. Some fry chili and garlic and then crush it mortar pastel. Some crush raw chili garlic and salt. Some people do add few coriander leaves as well. I have added peanuts to reduce the heat. It was so delicious and very healthy.
Product recommended:
Mortar & Pastle
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw peanuts
1/2 cup chopped mild chilies
8-10 garlic cloves
Salt to taste
Oil for tempering
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
Procedure
1. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add peanuts and sauté for 1-2 mins until changes colour.
2. Then add cumin seeds and few seconds add garlic (skinned) and chopped green chilies. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until garlic has brown spots and chilies are slightly tender and charred. Make sure to stir frequently. When ready, let it cool slightly.
3. Grind (crush) the above mixture and salt (as needed) using mortar and pestle (traditional method) or using chopper. You need coarse paste. I chopped finely using big knife. It was perfect rustic texture.
4. To increase the shelf life, you need to saute this mixture. In a pan, heat 2 tsp oil. When oil is hot, lower the heat to medium. Add cumin seeds and asafetida. In few seconds, cumin starts to change colour then add thecha in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes stirring continuously. You will notice this mixture starts to dry out and changes colour. Turn off the heat.
5. You can store this in clean jar in the fridge for a week or so.
6. Serve this spicy thecha with bajri roti or bhakhari or with other indian snacks like vada, samosa. It enhances the flavour of the food you eat it with.
if you like it spicy, add few hot chilies. You can skip peanuts if someone is allergic to it. You can also add sesame seeds if you like. Do try for sure.
Please comment below and let me know if you try.
Also, check out sweet and sour Gujarati thecho prepared using raw mango.
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