Transform Ordinary Tomatoes Into Something Hot and Spicy With This Easy Relish

Here's everything you need for this spicy and savory tomato relish. This recipe makes 1 1/2 cups.

Ingredients to Gather

3 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes
4 jalapeño peppers
4 dried arbol chiles
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon black mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
2 sprigs curry leaves (20 to 24 leaves)
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Kosher salt, to taste (about a tablespoon)

Directions to Follow

Set a large pot of water to boil. When it comes to a rolling boil, add the tomatoes, allowing the skin to split. Remove the fruits carefully using tongs, and let them cool enough to peel the skins off. Remove and discard the top scar from the tomatoes. Set aside. In a skillet, toast the arbol chiles until they just begin to brown, then set aside. Add the fenugreek to the same skillet and allow to toast to a reddish color. Lower the heat and add the curry leaves. These should curl up and dehydrate without browning. Set aside to cool. When cool, combine the fenugreek, curry leaves and the arbol chilies, and grind to a fine powder. Set aside. Roast the jalapeño over the stovetop until the skin blisters.

Next, drop the jalapeno into a paper bag to cool it and to rub off the blistered skin. After this, deseed and chop the jalapeno and add it to the blanched tomatoes, blending the two together in a food processor until pureed. Heat the oil in a skillet, and once it's hot and smoking, add the mustard seeds to sputter. Take the jalapeño-tomato purée and carefully pour it, and then add the asafoetida, salt, and turmeric and stir it in. Boil off the liquid from the paste, boiling until oil begins to ooze from the mixture and the mixture develops a consistency like a thick paste. Add the sugar and the arbol chili spice blend and stir to combine, and then pour the paste into clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.

Wow! This is one hot and spicy tomato relish, and we can't wait to use it, well…pretty much everything! Have you tried it? What did you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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