Tamata nu shaak and Pineapple with mint sugar

dsc00782.JPGOne of the very common gujju dishes for everyday cooking is sev tamata nu shaak (sev and tomato curry). Quite a strange combination right!!!!! Now the main funda behind this wierd combination is that tomato being such a juicy vegetable fruit, it oozes out lot of water when cooked which makes the curry very watery!!!!!!!!!! And when you dip your chapati into it and put it into your mouth the juice from the curry runs all the way down your fore arm!!!!!!! And then you go licking it all the way!!!uuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! And hence the addition of sev into it which absorbs the watery part and makes the curry thick and rich!! :)

Coming from a gujju family this one was a sure favoutire of all……. except me!!!! I never enjoyed this wierd combination of sev and tomato together and hence my mum would use different kind of spices and make the gravy thick!!!! Can spices make the gravy thick????? Yes they can!! :) Addition of dhania jeera powder and a teaspoon of besan/gram flour will give a nice thick texture to any watery gravy. Let see how…….

You will need about 3-4 big, ripe, firm tomatoes to serve this curry for 2-3 people. Chop them roughly in slightly bigger pieces.

For the spices you will need:

  • 2-3 cloves crushed garlic

  • turmeric

  • red chilli powder

  • garam masala

  • dhania-jeera powder

  • salt to taste

  • 1 tsp besan (not there in the pic)

Mix them all nicely. (It is at this stage that I remembered that I had forgotten besan and hence its absence in the above pic :( )

In a pan heat the oil and let the mustard seeds and jeera splutter. Then add about 2 tsp of the prepared masala and enjoy the aroma of the garlic and masalas roasting in hot oil!!!!!! Uuummmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t get lost enjoying the aroma of hot garlic otherwise what you will make will be called burnt spice tomato curry !!!!! ;) stir for a min or 2 and then add the tomatoes, remaining masala and jaggery (as per your taste).

Mix it properly, cover and let it cook till the tomatoes are nice and soft. Stir 2-3 times in the middle to aviod it sticking to the bottom. DO NOT ADD ANY WATER!!!!!!!!

So thats your tangy, spicy tomato curry with a hint of sweetness and rich, thick curry!!! :)

dsc00783.JPG

RP, here comes my entry for JFI!!!!! :)

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This is one of my oldest posts which I am posting again. Since it was one of my initial posts, not many have seen it and I cannot let this wonderfully simple dessert go unnoticed!! :)

I made it after seeing it made by Jamie Oliver of “The Naked Chef”

 

What you need:

  • 1 Pineapple

  • 4-5 tsp Sugar

  • 8-10 mint leaves

Pound sugar and mint in a mortar till the sugar changes colour. Make sure not to over do it, otherwise it will become very soggy.

Peel and cut the pineapple into thin slices. Arrange it in a plate. Sprinkle the mint sugar over it.

Enjoy it chilled !!!!!!!!!! :)

Maheshwari, thats for you!!!!! :)

March 26, 2007 | Filed Under Mint, Pineapple, Tomato 

Comments

33 Responses to “Tamata nu shaak and Pineapple with mint sugar”

  1. Mishmash! on March 26th, 2007

    Coffeee, I had no idea that u re a gujju! :) Good that u re-published ur pineapple dish, it sounds very interesting to me as I am sure I will like that sugary mint taste with sweet pineapple.

    Take care
    Shn

    I am a hard core gujju……. in all ways. :) And proud to be one. :)
    Let me know how you like the pineapple. :)

  2. sandeepa on March 27th, 2007

    Wow Coffee you sure are back with a lot of Zing !!!
    Loved the pics, beautiful and the steps are awesome. But the pics are so bright and vibrant that I keep looking at them :) The tamata nu shaak looks yummy and easy too.

    Also liked the way you started the post. You know how the Miss at Kindergarten used to teach “Can we see the red ball ?” and we would would all go “Yes we can” :)
    Can you count the red balls……. oooonnnnneeeeee, ttwwwwwwwooooooooo, tthhrreeeeeeeeeeee……….. LOL LOL LOL !!!!!

  3. Swapna on March 27th, 2007

    Hmm..Looks so yummy..I always love ur step-by-step pics..

    Thanks dear. :)

  4. Asha on March 27th, 2007

    I saw Tomato Sev in some blog,looked great to me Coffee.Thickening with Besan or spices are great ideas.Shaak looks great.

    And Pineapple!! Mint sugar!! What a great aroma and flavor on fresh fruit.Very clever Coffee.YUM!!

    Thank u thank u !!!!! :)

  5. sia on March 27th, 2007

    let me look at these pics for some more time…
    will leave comment later…

    Are you still looking at them??????!!!!!! ;)

  6. @ on March 27th, 2007

    Both recipes sound lip smacking! and have saved them both to try it out!

    btw - can I still send my MBP entry - hope to get it posted today. you can mail me abt it, if you prefer.

    You can send it dear. :) Have mailed you about it. :)
    Do try and let me know how you like it. :)

  7. Musical on March 27th, 2007

    Coffee ji, this is too tempting :) You don’t like sev!!
    but is yummy too.

    Tamata nu shaak with hot parathas!

    and fruits really do make the best desserts :)
    I like sev my dear!!!! But I don’t much enjoy this combo of sev and tomato. :)

  8. Richa on March 27th, 2007

    hey coffee,
    tametu nu shaak is one of the shaaks which can be made in such a jiffy, yours looks yummy, specially with that home-made masala. maney bau bhave, pan sev sathey!
    Will try pineapple with mint, sounds delish!!

    Well….. then with sev it is for you!!! :) Do try and let me know how you like it. :)

  9. Mallika on March 27th, 2007

    Hi Coffee, I can’t remember what sev is. Is it besan? Also, do you have a good recipe for Kadhi?

    Thanks

    Sev is a fried crispy snack like thing .

    Kadhi will be coming up soon!!! :)

  10. Jyothsna on March 27th, 2007

    Tamata sev nu shak loooks interesting! I particularly like the pineapple dessert…with that mint and sugar it’d taste yum! :)
    Thanks Jyothsna. :)

  11. sra on March 27th, 2007

    Coffee, one of the most unusual things I’ve seen is sev on a sandwich, courtesy one of the cafes near my office! I guess the ‘Master’ puts the sev in (with pre-cut tomatoes and onions) for garnish!!!

    hahaha……. we gujjus atleast have a reason behind putting sev int he curry ;)

  12. sia on March 27th, 2007

    ah!!!! just beautiful and guess what i had pineapple ur way… minty and sweet…beautiful combo:) loved it girl… than u for refreshing, cool recipe:)

    WAH!!! Thats was quick!!!!!! Thanks for letting me know dear. :)

  13. Menu Today on March 27th, 2007

    Hi Coffee,
    Curry and pineapple looks delicious. In which stage you will add sev?? to tomato curry. What type of sev?? (thick or thin)?? Thanks

    Its usually the medium or thick sev…… and you add it last….. absolutely in the end, just before you sit for the meal. If you add it before then it becomes very muushy!!!!!! So add it just before your meal.

  14. sandeepa on March 27th, 2007

    Coffee
    Lagta hahin ki Roce ‘n’ Roll ho payega mujhse :( abhi to time bhi nahin hai. So sorry

    Don’t worry dear…… maine bhi kuch roak and roll nahin kiya!!!!!!!!!!! :( One lazy bum that I am. :)

  15. sandeepa on March 27th, 2007

    sorry “Rock”

  16. Just for fun on March 28th, 2007

    Hi Coffee, I love the pineapple with mint. i have to try this.
    And ur tomato curry is something new for me with Sev. Never heard of it.
    loooking nice :)

  17. Trupti on March 28th, 2007

    Sev-tameta….aaah…the pride of us Gujjus…mast lage yaar, tane bahu nathi bhavtu?? I love it….I normally don’t add garam masala and besan in it, will have to try it that way.

    Pineapple dessert is simply lovely….!

    take care…

    Mane bhave che…… but not so much with sev……. this version is what i like better. :)

  18. swapna on March 28th, 2007

    Tomato nu shak is tempting coffee..hope it taste good!!:-D
    MINTY pineapple is looking good.

  19. Vee on March 28th, 2007

    Coffee,

    Your Tomata na shaak is very, very tempting . The spouse goes bananas over gujju food. I have to try this soon.

    Sure…. let me know how you like it. :)

  20. nz on March 28th, 2007

    thats the simplest dessert I have come across !! No reason not to try it - get the hubby to cut pineapple, kids to pound mint and sugar !!!! all done :-)
    Hahaha…. smart girl!!!!! ;)

  21. viji on March 28th, 2007

    Coffee, Felt as though we prepared along with you when i see your pictures. Very nice. So spicy too. Viji

    haha… thanks Viji. :)

  22. bee on March 28th, 2007

    you no like licking forearm? bad indian, you. :-)
    You like licking forearm???? Dirty indian you!!!!!! :P ;)

  23. Roopa on March 28th, 2007

    Hi coffee
    Loved both your recipes. pineapple dessert very tempting
    roopa

  24. shilpa on March 28th, 2007

    Too good coffee. I am reading a lot about the “nu shaak” these days. I would definitely love to try it. My gujju food experiments are too limited, with the fabulous gujju blogs, I am sure I would learn most of them. Thanks…

    Do I need to say anything about pineapple?? I am just drooling here..

    Nu shaak means …………’s veggie. tamata nu shaak is tomato’s veggie. :)

  25. Sangeeta on March 29th, 2007

    Mmmm Mmmm, finger-lickin’ good :)
    mmmmmmmmm :)

  26. seema on March 29th, 2007

    Coffee,
    Oh your tomato curry looks so delicious. Loved your step to step depiction of the same. And the pinaple combo is so very new to me. Loved them both.
    :)

  27. Sig on March 29th, 2007

    Coffee, both dishes look delicious… I love the mint sugar idea, that will go nicely with a lot of fruits right? And in a cocktail too… yummmmm.

    Lot of other fruits??? Oh yeah!!!! I never thought of trying it with others!!!!! Thanks for the tip. :)

  28. Sig on March 29th, 2007

    Oh BTW, forgot to mention that your links on the blogspot page are broken.

    Thanks for letting me know dear. :) I have fixed it. :) Blogger!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

  29. Dee on March 30th, 2007

    Hello, Looks very tasty! I’m new to Indian cooking. What are the amounts for the powdered spices. I believe I have all of them in my pantry–a good start! Thank you.

    Hi Dee, glad you liked it. The amounts are same as they are seen in the pic. About 1/2 to 3/4 tsp pf chilli powder, garam masala and turmeric, 2 tsp of dhania jeera powder, 4-5 cloves of garlic and about 1 tsp of besane. :)

  30. Musical on March 31st, 2007

    Coffee, i tried this y’day with rava idlis…..and yes, no sev! it ROCKS!

  31. outofthegarden on March 31st, 2007

    Coffee, all this time I’ve been gazing but wasn’t able to stop and comment. In my rush I was reading the title and seeing the photo and for some reason the only thing that registered in my mind was pineapple. I was looking at that curry thinking, wow… that’s pineapple?? Now I finally read it all and I understand. AND I WANT SOME SHAAK !!! :)
    I guess it’s time for me to stop and smell the roses… or some of those yummy spices… mmm. Pineapple looks pretty with mint sugar, too!

  32. soumya on April 1st, 2007

    This curry looks great ….And those juicy pineapples garnished and plated so well just tempting…Hmm love those pineapple in any form…hmmmm…my mouth is watering can i have a bite please…

  33. Reena on April 4th, 2007

    Coffe, I think this is my firstt visit here. Both recipes looks yummy and I love your presentation. Mint and salt on Pineapple!!! that reminds me of salt on sweet mango. yum!

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