Everyone's favorite: Timur Salsa

Tomato salsa with Sichuan pepper also known as Timur achar in Asian communities is a thick watery salsa with strong accents of Sichuan pepper, green chilies and tomatoes. Timur char is best to have, when you find boredom in food. They give off a tingly, fizzy feeling in the tongue as it’s of unique taste and have a tongue-numbing sensation. It goes so well with dal-bhat, roties and naan etc. It’s very simple and easy to make. So, I will show you how to make a Timur achar.

List of Ingredients you will need:

• 3-5 pieces of green chillies
• Salt to taste ( normally ½ tablespoon salt)
• ½ tablespoon Sichuan pepper power/ corn
• ¼ tablespoon Garlic powder or 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 5 -8 finely chopped tomatoes
• Small finely chopped onion ( optional)
• ½ tablespoon cumin powder
• ¼ tablespoon of turmeric powder
• 2 tablespoon oil
• ¼ cup of finely chopped Green coriander (optional)

Here a very simple list what to do:

First, heat the pan over medium temperature. Roast the fined chopped tomatoes for about 5-6 mins until it turns out dark reddish in color. (Taste of achar depends open how you roast tomatoes)

Once, tomatoes are done. It’s time for grinding.

If you want to follow old- classic way, take a stone pounder and add all the above ingredients except the optional once. Then start pounding until you have a thick paste. (I mostly prefer to pound chillies, Sichuan peppercorn, garlic and lastly tomatoes.)

Alternatively, an electronic blender can be used instead of a stone pounder. (But stone pounder gives an authentic taste/ flavor to timur achar)

Tomato salsa is almost ready. (Transfer achar from blender/ stone pounder to Bowl.)

Finally, garnish timur achar with finely chopped onions and green coriander. (You can mix them as well)

Here, we are ready to have timur achar with a spoon or you can use your fingers. It has such a depth appeal and are hot, spicy and kind of funny too because I always make a silly puckered face when i have them.