Fiery Maharashtrian Thecha Recipe For A Spicy Chilli Winter Kick

By Rajlakshmi

December 29, 2025

A spicy condiment of the Maharashtrian cuisine, thecha is a household name in the region. This local concoction is a dry mixture of a gamut of spices, which generally adds a tinge of spice to your dish. Here’s a quick thecha recipe that you can try at home.

Ingredients

11 - 20 chillies 7 lic cloves 2 tablespoons of oil 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder Salt, as required

Step 1

Heat oil in a pan. Add green chillies and garlic cloves. Sauté until brown.

Step 2

Remove from heat and let it cool. Grind the chillies and garlic into a coarse paste.

Step 3

Heat more oil, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Let them splutter. Add chilli-garlic paste, turmeric powder, and salt. Cook for a few minutes.

Step 4

Remove from heat and let it cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Step 5

For a smoky flavour, you can roast the green chillies before grinding them.

Step 6

Thecha tastes best when it is allowed to sit for a few hours to let the flavours develop.