Teppal / Tirphal also called as Sichuan pepper is a rare spice Indian resembling a bigger version of black pepper. This is predominantly used in Maharashtra and coastal Konkan cooking. 

If you are looking at this spice for the first time, then you might ignore it as it so ordinary looking with no distinct flavor or aroma of its own. But looks can be so deceiving and this spice goes on to prove just that. The minute you crush about 6-9 of them in water you begin to see the change and start getting that distinct aroma. The final magic happens when you add this crushed spice to a coconut based curry. The taste and flavor of the curry gets completely transformed and takes it to a whole new level.

It is hard to describe in words the taste of this, though I would say it is a pungent, peppery and lemony taste. It does not make the dish spicy, but makes it very fragrant. Little goes a long way and just 5-8 is enough to change the flavor and aroma of the dish.

It is hard to describe in words the taste of this, though I would say it is a pungent, peppery and lemony taste. It does not make the dish spicy, but makes it very fragrant. Little goes a long way and just 5-8 is enough to change the flavor and aroma of the dish. 

Traditionally there are two ways in which the crushed teppal water is used. At my mom’s place, the crushed teppal is added to the curry and boiled. At my in-laws place, the crushed water called “teppla udda” is saved separately. While the curry is served on rice, a spoonful or two of the water is added to the curry before eating. Either way the taste is delicious and out of the ordinary. Both ways make sure that the teppal is not consumed as it is not pleasant.

There is no substitute for this spice and I don’t think this is available in the Indian stores here in the US. I usually get my stock when I am in India and get my quota of teppal and also kokum.

PS: It is no mistake that oil is not used for this dish at all!

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium potatoes
  • ½ cup beans/peas ( I used frozen lima beans) [optional]
  • 5-8 teppal/ Sichuan pepper
  • 1/3 cup toor daal
  • Salt

To make the coconut masala

  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • Turmeric a pinch
  • 1 Tbsp tamarind paste
  • 3-4 red chillies
  • 2 tsp Jaggery for taste (optional)

Method:

  • Peel the cleaned potato and boil it in sufficient amount of water separately either in the microwave or the stovetop. Make sure it is not overcooked and mushy; there should still be a bite to it.
  • Boil the toor daal in pressure cooker until it is mashed. Keep aside.
  • Make the coconut masala, by grinding coconut along with red chillies, salt, tamarind and water. The masala should be made into a very fine paste. Add more water if required.
  • In the meanwhile heat thick bottomed pan. Add the coconut paste, boiled potato along with water, salt, jaggery and cook until the raw smell of coconut is gone. Check for taste and adjust the seasonings if required.
  • Meanwhile crush the teppal/triphal in little water using a mottle and pestle and add to the curry along with the water. Let this boil for 5 minutes and then close the lid.
  •  Serve hot with rice or rotis. Please note that the teppal is not consumed while eating it is discarded.

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

12 Replies to “Teppal Ambat (Potato Curry in Triphal spice)”

  1. I am in Canada and have had this spice (bought here) in my pantry for a while but have only used it 2-3 times. I am not that fond of potatoes so I will try it with seet potatoes, winter squash or cauliflower – which I happen to have in the fridge.
    And now I know how to search for other recipes.

    Thank you!

  2. thanks all.

    Vardhini, thanks for the mention about sundakai, I did not know that there was such spice. After some research it appears that Teppal is not the same as sundakai 🙂

  3. I have heard about this pepper, but never used it or even saw it upfront. Thanks for the pic of the actual pepper as well. Recipe looks and sounds superb and what better than not using any oil in it 🙂

  4. Supriya, now I know what to ask you to bring for the next pot luck or when we come over for dinner. 🙂 never heard of this spice but I am sure my mil knows about it.

  5. Jaya, will definitely bring this or make it when you are here. The only question is when 🙂

Comments are closed.