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Pharsi ko tarkari
फर्सीको तरकारी (pharsi ko tarkari): Nepali pumpkin cooked down with turmeric, cumin and fenugreek seed
When the big ridged pumpkins are harvested in the Nepali hills in autumn, pharsi ko tarkari appears at every Dashain and Tihar family meal and on ordinary weekday plates of dal-bhat. Cubes of pumpkin are tempered with fenugreek seed and cooked slowly in their own steam until soft, sweet and lightly caramelised in places, with just a hint of chilli. Children love it with rice or roti. The usual mistake is stirring too often: the pumpkin breaks into puree, so turn it gently only two or three times. Chef's tip: leave the skin on young pumpkin; it holds the cubes together and turns tender as it cooks.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb pumpkin or other orange winter squash3 cm cubes
- 2 tbsp mustard oil
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 2 cloves garlicchopped
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp red chilli powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tomatochopped
- 1 tbsp fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp fenugreek seeds and 1 dried red chilli and fry until the seeds turn dark brown.
1 minStep 2: Add 2 cloves garlic and 1 tsp fresh ginger and stir for 30 seconds, then add the 1 ¾ lb pumpkin or other orange winter squash, ½ tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp red chilli powder and ¾ tsp salt. Turn gently to coat.
2 minStep 3: Cover tightly and cook over a low heat for 12 minutes, turning the cubes gently once halfway. The pumpkin steams in its own juice.
12 minStep 4: Add 1 tomato, cover and cook for 8 minutes more, until the pumpkin is soft enough to crush with a spoon and the edges are lightly caught and golden.
8 minStep 5: Taste for salt, top with 1 tbsp fresh coriander and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does pharsi ko tarkari take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 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.
- What can I use instead of fenugreek seeds?
- Leave them out, or add a little extra mustard seed (you lose the slightly bitter, maple-like note).
- What can I use instead of dried red chilli?
- ½ tsp chilli flakes per chilli.
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