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Bilahi chutney
Sweet-sour tomato chutney
বিলাহীৰ চাটনি: Assamese sweet-sour tomato chutney with jaggery, nigella and dried chilli
Bilahi is the Assamese word for tomato, and this glossy red chutney, sweet with jaggery and warmed with nigella and dried chilli, closes a festive Assamese meal, especially at weddings and on Bihu, as the sweet-sour last course before curd and sweets. Everyday cooks in Jorhat and Guwahati make a quick batch in winter when tomatoes are cheap. The mistake to avoid is adding the jaggery too early, which scorches before the tomatoes have broken down. Chef's tip: a few dates or raisins added with the jaggery give the chutney a deeper, jammy sweetness.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the chutney
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
- ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji)
- 1 tsp gingergrated
- 1 ⅛ lb ripe tomatoeschopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 ⅞ oz jaggerygrated
- ⅔ oz raisins or chopped dates (optional)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp mustard oil until it smokes lightly, lower the heat and add ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji), 2 dried red chillies and 1 tsp ginger for 30 seconds.
1 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb ripe tomatoes and ½ tsp salt and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring, until they collapse into a thick pulp.
10 minStep 3: Stir in 2 ⅞ oz jaggery and ⅔ oz raisins or chopped dates and simmer 6–8 minutes until glossy and jammy, and a line drawn through it with a spoon stays open. Cool before serving; keeps a week in the fridge.
8 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 80 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bilahi chutney take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of jaggery?
- Dark brown or muscovado sugar, same amount.
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