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Mismas tarkari
मिसमास तरकारी (mismas tarkari): everyday Nepali mixed vegetable curry with a fenugreek-seed tempering
Mismas means 'mixed up', and this is the vegetable dish that fills the second bowl of almost every Nepali dal-bhat, from Terai farmhouses to Kathmandu flats. Potato, cauliflower, green beans and peas are cooked together in one pan with turmeric, cumin and a dark fenugreek-seed tempering, then softened with tomato until everything is tender but still holds its shape. The usual mistake is putting all the vegetables in at once: cauliflower and peas turn to mush before the potatoes are done, so start the potatoes first. Chef's tip: a pinch of jimbu or a few crushed timur grains in the tempering gives the authentic Himalayan aroma.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
- ¼ tsp jimbu or crushed timur (optional)
- 1 onionsliced
- 3 cloves garlicchopped
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 10 ½ oz potatoes2 cm cubes
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 10 ½ oz cauliflowersmall florets
- 5 ½ oz green beans3 cm pieces
- 2 tomatoeschopped
- 3 ½ oz green peas
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil in a wide pan over a medium-high heat. Add ½ tsp fenugreek seeds and ¼ tsp jimbu or crushed timur and fry until the fenugreek turns dark brown, about 40 seconds.
1 minStep 2: Add 1 onion and fry for 4 minutes until soft, then 3 cloves garlic and 1 tsp fresh ginger for 30 seconds.
5 minStep 3: Add 10 ½ oz potatoes, ½ tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp red chilli powder and 1 tsp salt. Stir-fry for 4 minutes so the potatoes start to colour at the edges.
4 minStep 4: Add 10 ½ oz cauliflower and 5 ½ oz green beans, toss, cover and cook over a medium-low heat for 8 minutes, stirring twice.
8 minStep 5: Add 2 tomatoes, 3 ½ oz green peas and ½ cup water, cover and cook for 6–8 minutes more, until a knife slips easily through the potato and cauliflower but the florets still hold their shape and the sauce coats the vegetables.
7 minStep 6: Taste for salt, scatter over 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve with dal and rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mismas tarkari take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of fenugreek seeds?
- Leave them out, or add a little extra mustard seed (you lose the slightly bitter, maple-like note).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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