Timur : Here’s how to use it
Timur is one of the most famous Nepalese spices and now it is gaining popularity all over the world. While we Nepalese cannot have single meal without timur, there is still a lot of confusion about how to use it? So this blog, is just to help you.
Sattva Nepal| Timmur| An Introduction — YouTube
Before I begin the delicious ways you can use this spice, I need to make it clear, that it is NOT a pepper rather its a berry. So, its not peppery, rather its a bit lemony and mouth numbing in nature and adds a different freshness to any dish.
So, to make it easy, I am going to share 4 recipes. This will help you get a fair idea of how to use it as a spice blend, cooking spice, beverage, pickles and chutney. Let’s Begin!
- Spice Blend : Traditional Nepalese Timmur Chhop
Take 4 red chillies of your choice depending on your spice tolerance, take rock salt or himalayan pink salt as per your taste and 2–3 timur berries. Put them in a pestle and mortar and grind all the ingredients until it becomes a fine powder. Use this spice blend as a seasoning for your salads, pair it up with cheese, with your soup, stir fried vegetables anything. It will surely add a punch.
2. Cooking Spice: Timur Potato curry
Take a pan, heat some mustard oil, add a pinch of cumin. Once the cumin turns golden, add some ginger garlic and green chilli paste and cook. After the raw smell of the ginger garlic paste is out, you can add some tomato. When the tomato turns a bit mushy, add a bit of Garam Masala, turmeric and a pinch of timur powder. Mix it all together. Now add boiled and chopped potatoes and around one and half cups of water to give it the curry consistency. Boil it until the curry thickens. Now turn off the gas and add some chopped coriander. And your timur potato curry is ready. This is a very basic recipe, you can add any vegetables of your choice.
3. Pickle: Potato Timur Achar (Aaloo ko achar)
Take some boiled and chopped potatoes in a bowl. Add chopped cucumber, carrot, cabbage, onions and green chillies. Add some salt, roasted sesame seed powder, red chilli powder, timur powder and turmeric powder. Mix it well and keep aside. Now heat oil in a pan, add some garlic, fenugreek, asafoetida and red chilli. Heat until it cracks up. Once its hot and smoky, turn off the gas and add this oil mix to the mixed ingredients kept aside. Now add some lemon juice, and chopped coriander and your Aloo ko achar is ready to serve!
4. Chutney: Timur Tomato Chutney
You can watch the recipe of this dish here. This is the most common timur ko achar found all over Nepal, especially with momos!
Authentic Nepalese Timur Tomato Chutney | Nepali Achar Recipe — YouTube
5. Beverage: Timur Tea
If you ever visit the beautiful hills of Nepal, its highly likely that you will be offered timur tea. It keeps your body warm and tastes especially better with the lovely company of the local communities. Here’s how you can make it too. Heat some water in a pan and add tea leaves, some sugar (optional) and 2–3 timur berries. Let it boil and then strain the tea, add some lemon juice (optional) and enjoy!
You can also make a herbal tisane out of this. Just boil 2–3 berries in a cup of water and enjoy. It will help keep the body warm and also eases digestion.
You can also use timur to spice up your gin and tonic, just add 2–3 berries and enjoy. If you accompany it with some lemon and pepper leaves, it will be heavely!
Extra Tip :
Infused oils and butters: This is not a traditional approach but this is how I love to use timur. Make timur butter just heat some butter and add some berries, let it infuse well and then use it to make cookies, cakes, or just with plain bread. It goes really well with dark chocolate and my favorite in timur banana bread. Do try!
It is also delicious if added to chilli oil. It goes really well with ramen and thukpa.
There are thousands of ways you can use timur in your recipes. I hope these give you a fair idea of how to use it.
Got any new recipes ? Do share in the comments
