Wednesday, November 29, 2017

ASSAMESE BOROR TENGA / TANGY LENTIL FRITTER CURRY


This month our group, "Shhhhh Cooking Secretly" decided to go for the Assamese Cuisine.
The Assamese, have a palate for anything that is tangy. Especially during scorching summer afternoons. They love  their meals with something tangy, sour and refreshing.
 “Boror Tenga”, is one such traditional dish.  It is made with fritters of a seasoned paste of red lentils, chilies, asafoetida and salt. They are then simmered in a curry made from tomatoes, onion, spices, chillis and fresh coriander leaves. Mashed potato is added to give thickness to the gravy. You can make this curry just with lentil fritters or even add some seasonal vegetables if you like.The curry is eaten with steamed rice. I am sure the dish must be tasting more spicier in Assam with Bhut Jolokia chillies, which are supposed to be the he hottest in the world.
My partner of the month is Avin S Kohli. Do visit her blog, "The Yellow Daal" for delicious recipes.
The 2 secret ingredients given by her are Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) and Lauki.


Here goes the recipe...
Ingredients:
(For the fritters)
Masoor Dal ........ 1/2 cup
Green chillies .... 1-2
Asafoetida ......... 1 pinch
Salt ................... to taste
Oil ................... to fry

(For the gravy)
Onion ........ 1 medium (Finely chopped)
Tomatoes .... 2 (cut into cubes)
Tomato puree ... 2 - 3 tbsps
Potato .............. 1 medium (boiled and mashed)
Lauki / bottle gourd .... 1 cup (peeled and cut into cubes)
Turmeric powder ..... 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder ...... 1 tsp (adjust as per your liking)
Coriander powder ..... 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder ........... 1/2 tsp
Salt ............................. to taste
Mustard oil ............... 4-5 tbsps

(For tempering)
Mustard oil ..... 1 tbsp
Panch phoran ... 1 tsp
Bay leaves ....... 1-2
Dry red chillies ... 1-2

(For garnishing)
Coriander leaves


Method:

 Wash the masoor and soak it for 30 minutes.









Add green chilli, salt and grind to a coarse paste. If you are not frying immediately do not add salt as it leaves water. Mix it just before frying.







Add asafoetida and mix well.








 Heat oil in a kadai for frying. Spoon small portions of the batter into oil and fry them till they are golden.







Drain them in a kitchen towel.








Heat a pan with oil and bring it to a smoking point and reduce the heat.







Add the ingredients given under ' tempering'.








Now add the onions and fry till they turn light brown.









Tip in the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder and mix well.








Cook the tomatoes over low heat till they are soft.








 Now add the tomato puree, bottle gourd, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and salt.







 Add 2 cups of water and cook covered for 6-7 minutes or till the time the bottle gourd is cooked.







 At this stage, add the mashed potato to the tenga and mix well.








 Adjust the consistency of the gravy to your liking and add more water if required and cook for few more minutes. Finally dd the lentil fritters , mix well and garnish.







Pin for later




Adapted from - Masterchef Mom 
Linking to :
Shhhhh Cooking Secretly

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49 comments:

  1. We also prepare lentil fritter curry but in a different way....looks good

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Amrita.. even in Sindhi cuisine we have a similar lentil fritter curry.

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  2. Great recipe, beautifully illustrated!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sumith .. glad to see your comment in my blog.

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  3. Those lentil fritters are so fun and delicious!

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  4. wow... this looks delicious... will try it out soon...

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  5. Such a unique and flavorful dish!

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  6. The red lentil fritter in curry is very inviting..I am sure it must be delicious

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  7. 3 boror tenga recipes and all look so different. Delicious looking curry and love the way you've fried the fritters pretty small.

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    1. Thank you for liking it Mayuri.. it was super delicious. We make similar fritter curry in Sindhi Cuisine too with a slight difference.

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  8. Delicious curry,loved the addition of those mini fritters!

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    1. Thanks Ruxana.. yes the fritters made the curry so flavourful.

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  9. Boror tenga looks so inviting. I just need steamed rice with it. Flavorful and delicious curry.

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  10. Such a soulful and hearty dish I am sure it must have tasted yum with steamed rice.

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  11. Serve me this tangy lentil fritters curry with some rice, i can sit and enjoy shamelessly.. Inviting Boror tenga, fingerlicking goodness definitely.

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    Replies
    1. Do try it out and enjoy the yummy curry priya.

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  12. The fritters itself sounds yum, I may have kept eating that whole batch as I fry them! The gravy looks lipsmacking, some rice and cucumbers is all that is needed...

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    1. Yes dear .. a hearty meal it is for sure.
      Thanks

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  13. Never tried any Assamese cuisine. This looks so colourful and healthy. Each region has its own way to use fritters. Must try once.

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    Replies
    1. True Nivedita... even in Sindhi Cuisine we have curry varieties with fritters.

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  14. This looks so hearty and comforting just need some chapati with curry. Masoor dal fritters we actually called masoor dal wadi.

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  15. This curry looks inviting and yummy. Perfect to serve with steamed rice or parathas

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  16. Looks so good and that thali platter is so tempting :)

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  17. The lentil fritter curry looks so inviting..loved the addition of bottle gourd in it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks .. you can add any other vegetable too.

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  18. This curry looks so scrumptious and tempting as well. Must be great accompaniment along with some steamed rice or hot phulka :)

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  19. Such themes are a blessing otherwise we would end up making the regular food and not look into other interesting regional cuisines. Fritters with masoor dal looks and sounds pretty interesting and I should give it a try soon. Loved the meal.

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  20. Such a delicious curry, must try soon.

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    1. Do make it.. you will surely love the tangy curry.

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  21. Similar curry is prepared in Tamil Nadu called vadacurry..am surprised to see how similar dishes are prepared in various parts of the country...the curry looks awesome

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    1. That;s true Lathi.. I make vadacurry too.

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  22. I love Assamese cuisine. It's such a delicious meal. Lovely share👍

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  23. Looks so flavorful and delicious. I can imagine the taste of this curry. My husband favorite curry!

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  24. Sounds delicious and heartwarming! A totally new recipe for me to try out.

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