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Mosdeng serma
Roasted tomato and chilli relish
Tripuri fire-roasted tomato, green chilli and raw onion relish
Mosdeng serma is the fresh relish Tripuri families in Agartala put on the table almost every day: tomatoes and green chillies roasted until blackened, then crushed with raw onion, coriander and salt. Some versions mash in dried fish; this one doesn't, and leans on a squeeze of lime and plenty of coriander. It is lighter and more salsa-like than Naga raja mircha chutney: chunky, juicy and smoky, more vegetable than chilli. Chef's tip: crush, don't blend; a few whole bits of tomato make it.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes
- 1 small red onionfinely chopped
- ⅔ oz fresh corianderchopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp mustard oil (optional)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Roast 4 medium ripe tomatoes and 4 green chillies over a flame or under a very hot grill for 6–8 minutes, turning, until charred all over and the tomatoes are soft.
8 minStep 2: Peel the tomatoes and stem the chillies. Crush the chillies with ½ tsp salt in a bowl with a spoon, then add the tomatoes and crush to a chunky pulp. Common mistake: blitzing it smooth; it turns watery and loses its texture.
Step 3: Fold in 1 small red onion, ⅔ oz fresh coriander, 1 tbsp lime juice and a few drops of raw 1 tsp mustard oil if you like. Serve with rice or roti the same day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 35 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mosdeng serma take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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.
- 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 ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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