Assamese pitika

Pitika is an Assamese family of mashes made with vegetables, leafy greens and other ingredients. Sunita Bhuyan’s selected bilahi pura pitika is a fire-grilled tomato version, with an optional grilled garlic clove.

The tomatoes and selected garlic are rubbed with a little mustard oil before grilling. They are turned on a rack until charred and softened, then transferred to a bowl.

Chopped onion, green chilli and coriander are added with the remaining mustard oil and salt. The mixture is combined into the tomato side dish.

Bhuyan describes the fire grilling as giving the tomatoes a smoky flavour and the mustard oil as adding pungency. Her recipe keeps the onion, chilli and coriander as fresh additions.

She offers this tomato pitika with rice and dal. The recipe represents one member of the broader mash family, whose ingredients can vary across Assamese meals.