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Chura sabji
Fermented cheese curry
ཕྱུར་བ: Monpa fermented-cheese curry with green chillies and onion from Tawang
High in Tawang, Monpa families make chura sabji from chhurpi, a cheese of yak or cow's milk left to ferment until it is pungent and soft, cooked down with green chillies and onion into a creamy, fiery curry. It is everyday food in the cold months, eaten with rice or buckwheat bread. The usual mistake is cooking on high heat once the cheese goes in, which splits it into oily curds; melt it gently. Chef's tip: if you cannot get fermented chura, use a strong, crumbly blue or feta mixed with a spoon of curd to imitate the tang.
- Total time
- 23 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
For the curry
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onionsliced
- 6 green chilliesslit lengthways
- 1 tomatochopped
- 7 oz fermented chura cheese (or feta)crumbled
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp spring onion greens (optional)sliced
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Add 6 green chillies and 1 tomato and cook until the tomato is soft.
3 minStep 3: Pour in ¾ cup water, bring to a simmer and lower the heat.
2 minStep 4: Add 7 oz fermented chura cheese (or feta) and stir gently until it melts into a thick, creamy sauce coating the chillies; do not let it boil hard.
5 minStep 5: Taste and add ¼ tsp salt only if needed, scatter 2 tbsp spring onion greens and serve with rice.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chura sabji take?
- About 23 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of tomato?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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