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Thursday 23 July 2020

Khatto Mittho Tikho Sali Kheemo – A (Tiny) Twist In The Tale – The Kheema Chronicles – 2



Yes, yes… we Parsi’s don’t say Qeema or Keema, we call it Kheema or Kheemo. Let’s not argue over this. *evil grin*

I cooked Kheema three ways. The previous recipe was Kheema Fry. I now take the Kheema Fry recipe a tad further to make Khatto Mittho Tikho Sali Kheemo; a typical Parsi recipe. Looks exactly the same as Kheema Fry, right? But flavour-wise, there is a marked difference. This recipe has an addition of two ingredients. Two ingredients that, when added, change the aroma and the flavour profile of the dish. We Parsi's love the combination of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours in certain dishes. This happens to be one of them. 😊

I will post individual recipes for each variation of kheema. That will lessen the confusion when it comes to searching for the recipes. The process photographs, at my blog, for all three recipes (base recipe), will be similar. I will not lie, I can be a tad lazy at times; I've used the same props (bowl, egg, bread) for both recipes. There will be extra process photographs and videos, though, for the third recipe that’s yet to be published. 

Ingredients:

1 kilo lamb kheema (goat or beef mince will also work)
6 onions, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped fine (optional)
1-inch ginger, chopped fine (optional)
3 green chilies, finely chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 inches cinnamon
10 black peppercorns
3 cloves
3 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
4-5 heaped teaspoons red chili powder (I use MDH Deghi Mirch powder)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon coriander-cumin powder
1 teaspoon garam masala powder
1 teaspoon black pepper powder
2 teaspoons Parsi sambhar masala (optional)
Salt to taste
3-4 teaspoons sugar, or to taste
2 tablespoons cane vinegar, or to taste
7 - 8 large tomatoes, halve, grate the pulpy side, discard skin
1 + 1 handful coriander leaves, chopped
10 - 15 mint leaves, chopped
8 – 10 tablespoons oil, or as desired
200-250 grams potato matchsticks/sali (I use store bought)

Method:

1.    Wash the kheema in a colander or a sieve. Leave aside.



2.    Heat oil in a large wok/kadhai. Add cumin seeds, cinnamon, black peppercorns, cloves and allow to splutter.



3.    Add green chilies, chopped ginger, chopped garlic and sauté for a few seconds.



4.    Add onions and continue frying until the onions turn golden brown.



5.    Add ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander-cumin powder, garam masala powder, pepper powder, Parsi sambhar masala, a teaspoon salt and sauté for a few seconds to roast the masala well (do not allow the spices to burn).



6.    Add the grated tomatoes and mix them well with the spice mixture.



7.    Allow the tomatoes to cook until it is rid of the raw tomato smell and oil separates.



8.    Add the first handful of chopped coriander leaves and the mint leaves. Sauté for few seconds.



9.    Add the washed kheema and mix well into the spicy tomato mix.



10. Keep sautéing the kheema until all of it is nicely blended with the masala and the raw kheema loses it lumpy texture.



11. Add 1 – 1½ cups water, lower the flame, cover the wok-kadhai and continue cooking.
12. Check to see if the kheema is cooked, and if done, continue cooking (uncovered) to dry up the left-over water content in the kheema.



13. Check seasoning (salt).
14. Add sugar and cane vinegar. Give it a good stir and allow to cook for a minute. Check the balance of flavours and adjust sugar and vinegar, as suits your palate.
15. Continue cooking the kheema for a minute more.
16. Add in the second handful of chopped coriander leaves as garnish or give the kheema a mix.
17. To Serve: Remove kheema in a serving bowl, sprinkled with sali, and serve with a side of fried egg, thinly sliced onions, lime wedges and crisp butter-fried pau (small soft bread). Brun bread will work beautifully too.


To make Sali (potato matchsticks) from scratch (Sigh!)

Grate potatoes. Sprinkle salt over the grated potatoes, to season. Heat oil in a wok (or in a deep fryer that has a sieve/mesh). Fry the potato match-sticks and use a slotted straining spoon to remove match-sticks from the wok. Drain on paper towels.

Please note, no self-respecting, lazy-assed Parsi will ever make Sali from scratch. It’s way easier to walk down to a wafer shop and buy these crisp babies off the shelf. Sali, for all Bawas, is always store bought. I have penned the basic recipe of Sali, though, for the enthu-cutlets out there. *cheeky grin*



Chef Notes:

1.    If 1 kilo Kheema seems a bit much for your family, please feel free to halve the quantity of each ingredient and continue with the method as mentioned.
2.    If you are cooking this from scratch, instead of turning Kheema Fry to Khatto Mittho Tikho Kheemo, then the consistency of this kheema can be a semi-gravy base. You need not dry up the kheema completely. The semi-gravy base would allow the Sali to soak up the flavours and that tastes yum, too
3.    The finely chopped ginger and garlic is optional because I had this quantity peeled and ready from another dish that I’d been cooking, and I did not want it going waste. Feel free to omit it if you so wish.
4.    In case you omit the chopped ginger and garlic and if you doubt whether the ginger-garlic paste will suffice, feel free to add a teaspoon more. The flavour will not differ much. I promise!
5.    In case you don’t have Parsi Sambhar masala in your pantry, you may increase the chili powder a wee bit. Parsi Sambhar masala is available online (Mangal Masalas) and this masala and many others are also couriered, pan India, by Katy Messman. The homemade ones by Katy are, of course, way better. I have them couriered to Pune all the way from Surat. Been doing so for years. NO, you cannot use South Indian Sambar. Both are very different masalas. 
6.    Please adjust the quantity of oil according to your dietary preference. Mine’s high calorific and I’m so not ashamed of it. 😝
7.    If you do not wish to grate the tomatoes, chopping them will work too. The same technique applies, though, cook until the tomatoes are mushy and don’t give off the raw smell and until oil separates. If you don’t mind a slightly moist kheema, you may puree them in a mixer, if you so wish.
8.    The final consistency/texture of the kheema is entirely up to you. Sauté it to a dry texture (I did) or if you prefer it a tad moist, sauté it for a shorter duration. If you prefer it with a thick-ish gravy, to sop up with bread, that will surely work too. There is no right or wrong here. The final texture that feels right to you, is the right texture. 😊
9.    Cane vinegar can be substituted with white or brown vinegar. The aroma of cane vinegar, though, is amazing.
10. When you add the sugar and vinegar, I suggest you add a little at a time. Add, cook for a few seconds to allow the flavours to meld, then taste and adjust. I have mentioned the quantity as used by me but please allow your taste buds and palate to guide you. It should be to your taste.
11. You can also use the same recipe to make Kheema Par Edu. Yeah, we parsi’s love our ‘par edu’ dishes. 😊 Lay out piping hot Khatto Mittho Tikho Kheemo in a pan and break whole eggs over it. You may also pour whipped (seasoned, of course) eggs over the kheema. Yum stuff, this. 😊
12. You may share the direct blog-link of the recipe/s but do NOT publish my recipes, and/or my photographs, on any blogsite or website without my explicit consent or attempt to pass off my recipe/s as your own. You will be held accountable for plagiarism.

Some more photographs:










This photograph is courtesy the World Wide Web and Kolah's FB page

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