MOMO Achar (Nepali Food Recipe)

(Sesame-Tomato Achar for MOMO)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large ripe tomatoes
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• 5 fresh hot red chilies, minced
• 1 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon timur (Szechwan pepper)
• 1/4 teaspoon asafetida
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon lime jest
• Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

• Roast tomatoes in oven for about 30 minutes, or until charred.
• Remove charred skin and reserve flesh in a bowl.
• In a pan, add sesame seeds, cumin and mustard seeds; stir continuously until seeds pop and are toasted.
• Make sure that seeds are not burnt.
• Grind the toasted seeds into a powder.
• In a blender, combine roasted tomatoes, ground mixture of sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, chilies, garlic, ginger, timur, asafetida, lime jest and juice, and salt; process to form smooth mixture.
• Add some water if the achar mixture is too thick.
• Transfer into a bowl.
• Serve with steaming MOMOs.

Source: http://nepalicooking.tripod.com./achar.htm
Author: Tulsi Regmi