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Talela marcha
Fried green chillies
તળેલા મરચાં: slit green chillies flash fried until blistered, tossed with salt and lemon, the side for every gathiya plate
Every plate of gathiya, dalvada or bhajiya sold in Gujarat comes with a little heap of talela marcha, green chillies dropped into the farsan seller's kadai for a few seconds until they blister and turn olive green, then shaken with salt and a squeeze of lemon. Bitten between mouthfuls of farsan they give a fresh, smoky hit of heat. Use thick, fairly mild chillies if you can find them. The common mistake is frying wet chillies: water on the skin makes the oil spit violently. Chef's tip: slit them lengthways first so steam escapes and they don't burst in the oil.
- Total time
- 13 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the chillies
- 16 medium-thick green chillieswashed, dried completely and slit lengthways
- 2 cups groundnut oilfor frying
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch black salt (kala namak) (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Make sure the 16 medium-thick green chillies are bone dry by rolling them in a cloth.
2 minStep 2: Pour 2 cups groundnut oil into a small, heavy pan so it is no more than a third full and heat to 350°F; a bread cube should brown in about 30 seconds. Keep a lid nearby and do not walk away from the oil.
5 minStep 3: Lower in the chillies 4–5 at a time, standing back as they spit. Fry for 20–30 seconds until blistered and turned a darker, olive green.
3 minStep 4: Lift out with a slotted spoon, drain for a moment and toss with ½ tsp salt, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 pinch black salt (kala namak). Serve warm with gathiya or bhajiya.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does talela marcha take?
- About 13 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 8 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 lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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