Inji Manjal Tokku - Ginger And Raw Turmeric Relish

INJI MANJAL TOKKU

Ginger has been adding zing to our every day dishes since time immemorial. Ginger with its unmistakable aroma is the sole main ingredient in this tokku. On opening the bottle of tokku the sharp spicy flavour hits your senses and immediately kindles the digestive fire. Hence Inji tokku with a morsel of rice is an ideal starter for people with loss of appetite, nausea or biliousness. You can enjoy the tokku even without any of the above symptoms to just  relish the delicious relish! The addition of raw turmeric has given a beautiful brown ochre hue to the Inji Manjal Tokku.

INGREDIENTS

Fresh ginger (Peeled and chopped) 1 cup

Fresh raw turmeric (Peeled and chopped) - 1/4 cup

Tamarind - a small lemon sized ball (Soaked)

Jaggery - a small lemon sized ball (powdered)

Red chillies - 4

Salt - 1 tsp

Sesame oil - 4 tbsps

Mustard seeds - 1 pinch

Asafoetida powder - 1 pinch

METHOD

1. Grid together chopped ginger, chopped turmeric, soaked tamarind, powdered jaggery, red chillies and salt into a smooth paste.

2. Heat sesame oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds.

3. When the mustard splutters add asafoetida followed by the smoothly ground ginger paste.

4. Cook on medium flame stirring all the time. The paste will absorb all the oil.

5. Keep cooking stirring all the time till the tokku leaves the sides of the kadaia. 

6. Stop cooking when the oil separates and the yellow ochre colour changes to a glistening brown      ochre colour.

Cool the Inji Manjal Tokku before storing it in a clean dry jar.

I started feeling hungry when the tokku emanated a very pleasant aroma while cooking.One small lick to check salt made me ravenous well before meal time!

It tastes fabulous with steaming hot rice topped with a spoon of fresh ghee.