Bharwa Tamatar: Tasty Twist on Tomatoes
Image Credit: https://www.viniscookbook.com/

Stuffed tomatoes is a dish in which tomatoes are filled with ingredients – usually rice or potatoes. In various languages, the word ‘Bharwa’ means “stuffed”. In India stuffed tomatoes are a spicy, sweet, and tangy dish, prepared using onions, coconut and warming pieces such as turmeric and garam masala. 

Ingredients - Tomato Stuffing

  • 2 tbsp - Oil
  • 1 tsp - Cumin Seeds
  • ½ tsp - Fennel Seeds
  • ¼ tsp - crushed Coriander Seeds
  • 1 inch - Ginger (chopped) 
  • 2 fresh - Green Chillies (chopped) 
  • 2 medium - Potatoes (chopped) 
  • Salt to taste 
  • ½ tsp - Turmeric Powder 
  • ½ tsp - Degi Red Chilli Powder 
  • ½ tsp - Coriander Powder 
  • 100 gm - Paneer (chopped)
  • ¼ cup - fresh Green Peas (boiled)
  • 2 tbsp - Coriander & Mint Leaves (chopped)

Ingredients -Tomato Marination

  • 1 tbsp - Oil
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp - Degi Red Chilli Powder 
  • ¼ tsp - Dried Fenugreek Leaves (kasuri methi) 
  • 4-5 - Tomatoes (hollowed out)

Ingredients Gravy

  • 2 tbsp - Oil 
  • 1 tsp - Cumin Seeds 
  • 1 inch - Ginger (chopped)
  • 1 fresh - Green Chilli (chopped) 
  • ½ tsp - Turmeric Powder 
  • 1 tsp - Coriander Powder
  • ¼ tsp - Asafoetida 
  • ½ tsp - Degi Red Chilli Powder 
  • 1 cup - Tomato Puree 
  • Salt to taste 
  • ½ tsp - Sugar 
  • 1 tbsp - Butter 
  • 1 tbsp - Fresh Cream

Method Stuffing

  • In a pan heat oil, add cumin seeds, fennel seeds, crushed coriander seeds, ginger and green chillies 
  • Saute for half a minute, add chopped potatoes, salt, turmeric powder, degi chilli powder and coriander powder, stir the mix well, and add water
  • Cover and cook until the potatoes are 70-80 per cent cooked, remove the lid and stir once
  • Add paneer and saute for a minute, and mash this mixture 
  • Add the green peas, coriander and mint leaves 
  • Mix everything well, set aside 

Method Marinated Tomatoes

  • In a bowl add oil, salt, degi chilli powder, Kasuri methi and mix 
  • Add the hollowed-out tomatoes and apply this marination on the inside and outside of the tomatoes properly, set aside

Method for Gravy

  • In a pan heat oil, add cumin, ginger, green chilli, turmeric, coriander powder, asafoetida, degi chilli powder and saute for half a minute
  • Add tomato puree, salt and butter, stir once and let boil for a minute on medium flame

Method Bharwa Tamatar

  • Take the marinated tomatoes and stuff them tightly with the prepared filling 
  • Place them in the gravy and put a lid on 
  • Simmer it on low heat for 10-12 minutes
  • Remove the cooked tomatoes out of the gravy and set them aside
  • Strain the gravy properly, Add it back to the pan and finish with fresh cream
  • Mix well, turn off the heat
  • Pour the gravy on the serving plate and place the tomatoes in the gravy

Tomatoes are loaded with a substance called lycopene. It gives them their bright red colour and helps protect them from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. In much the same way, it can help protect your cells from damage. Tomatoes also have potassium, vitamins B and E, and other nutrients.