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Til ko achar
तिलको अचार (til ko achar): roasted sesame ground with green chilli, lime and coriander, the everyday dal-bhat pickle
Walk into a dal bhat canteen in Thamel or a roadside bhojanalaya on the Prithvi Highway and a small saucer of til ko achar will be on the steel plate, a nutty, creamy, sharp paste of roasted sesame ground with green chilli, lime juice, coriander and a little turmeric. It is the most common achar in many homes because it takes ten minutes and needs nothing special, and it is equally good with momos, roti, boiled potatoes or as a dip for raw cucumber. The texture should be smooth and spoonable, a little like a loose tahini, with a bright sour finish. Bitterness is the risk if you take the sesame too dark, so stop roasting when the seeds are just golden. Chef's tip: finish with a tempering of fenugreek in smoking mustard oil poured over the top, which gives the restaurant-style aroma.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz white sesame seeds
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric
- 3 /4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp lime juice
- 1 handful fresh coriander
- ½ cup waterapproximately
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 /4 tsp fenugreek seeds
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toast 3 ½ oz white sesame seeds in a dry pan over a medium-low heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until evenly golden and popping. Cool for 2 minutes.
5 minStep 2: Grind the sesame to a fine powder, then add 3 green chillies, 1 clove garlic, 1 /4 tsp ground turmeric, 3 /4 tsp salt, 3 tbsp lime juice, 1 handful fresh coriander and ½ cup water and blend to a smooth, spoonable paste. Add more water if it is stiff.
3 minStep 3: Heat 1 tbsp mustard oil in a small pan until it smokes, add 1 /4 tsp fenugreek seeds and let it darken for 15 seconds.
1 minStep 4: Pour the tempering over the achar, stir and serve. It keeps in the fridge for 4 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does til ko achar take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 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.
- 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 white sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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