Roasted Tomato Salsa ( aka Bilati Baigana poda from Odisha )

Bah. That's too glam a name for something as rustic as the 'Bilati baigana poda' or 'Tamatar Poda'. Yup, that's what we call this dish which originated in the rural kitchens of Odisha, one of the most backward states of India. Then why on earth am I calling it a salsa ? First it shares a helluva lot of resemblance with this Mexican delight . Second, I believe in free speech . I think, Therefore I am. Get the drift.

Coming to the authentic recipe, the tomatoes are usually roasted in the dying embers of a wood fired stove or 'chulah' as we call it in India. But most of us have done away with the cumbersome (and also polluting contraception). Hence it makes sense to roast them on a gas burner using a grill or just pop them into the oven ( low heat for 10 mins and turn up to get them blackened on the outside).

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 large ripe tomato
• 1 medium sized red onion ( finely chopped )
• 3-4 garlic cloves (peeled and crushed)
• 1-2 green chilis (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp mustard oil 
• 1 tsp coarsely chopped cilantro
• salt to taste

Preparation - Roast the tomato till the outer skin is blackened. Allow it to rest for a few mins.

Peel it carefully and chop it up into chunks.

Throw into a mixing bowl and toss in the other ingredients. Mix and keep aside for a few mins.

Enjoy as a dip or with white rice.


Note - Generally all the ingredients are mashed together with bare hands. But I have used a knife and spoon for the sake of hygiene.

Sukhua-Bilati Baigana ( Tomato ) Tarkari

Cooking Time Required: 15-20 mins
Cost of Preparation: 10-15 Rupees


Ingredients:

• 3-4 nos Sukhua (dried/smoked fish)
• 2 nos medium sized tomato
• 2 tsp cooking oil
• salt ( to taste)
• 1/6 tsp turmeric
• 2 green chilli 
• 5 garlic pods
• 1 tsp mustard seeds 
• 1/5 tsp pancha-phutana 

Preparation: Grind the mustard seeds with half of the garlic pods into a fine paste.

Cut the potato into chunks.

Soak the fish for 1-2 hours. Drain away the water.


















Cooking: Heat 2 tsp oil in a wok. Add pancha-phutana followed by crushed garlic pods
and green chillis ( broken into 2-3 pieces ).

Add the soaked fish, crush and fry lightly for 2 mins.


















Follow with the chopped tomato. Fry for 3-4 mins.


















Add the mustard-garlic paste along with salt, turmeric and a cup of water. Cover with a lid and cook for 8-10 mins.

Serve hot with white rice.

NOTE: Instead of using the salad variety of tomatos, use the desi ( country grown )
ones. The latter have a sour taste in addition to the sweetness which enhances the
flavour of the curry.