Alambe Ambat

How long it takes: 45 mins

Number of servings: 4-5

In Manipal, fresh mushrooms are available only during the monsoons, and I associate them with heavy rains, thunder and lightning ! One could complain that the frozen mushrooms in supermarkets do not have the same taste as the fresh ones – but then I also graciously accept that supermarkets have made mushrooms available all year round. Not everyone likes mushrooms, but those that do use them in a variety of dishes derived from different cuisines. I have already put up button mushroom masala, mushroom masala, mushroom-almond rice and I would like to share this recipe for a Konkani classic – alambe ambat.

What you need to have:

1. Chopped Mushrooms – 1 cup

2. Mangalore Cucumber chopped   – 3 cups

3. Chopped Onions – 1 Cup

4. Tomato – 1 Medium

5. Turmeric powder – 1/4 Teaspoon

                                                                                                                                               Fresh Mangalore cucumber

Chopped onions & Mangalore cucumber

Chopped Mushroom

What you do with what you have:

1. Wash and finely chop chop Mangalore Cucumber and tomatoes, fine. Also wash, peel and chop onions and keep aside.  Cook all of them including chopped mushroom in the cooker adding a little water, turmeric powder and also salt so that it is not over cooked.

Veggies being cooked in the cooker

Ingredients of Wet Masala:

1. Fresh grated coconut – 1 /2 Cup

2. Red chilli -4-5 (Byadgi)

3. Bilimbi or Tamarind – 3-4

Ingredients of wet masala

2. Place a spatula with a teaspoon of cooking oil in it on low flame and fry red chillies in it till done. Grind the ingredients of wet masala in the mixer adding water in steps to a fine consistency.

Ground Wet Masala

3. Transfer the cooked veggies from the cooker to a wide bowl and add the ground masala to it and bring it to boil adding required quantity of salt. (Remember – we have already added salt; hence check before you add.

Cooked veggies

The dish being cooked on adding the wet masala

4. Finally chop a small onion finely and fry in a spatula with a little oil till light brown and season/garnish the dish. Enjoy with either rice or even roti or chapati. Everyone in my family will say – yummmmmmmmmmmm !

Ready to serve Alambe Ambat

How long it takes: 45 minutes

Number of servings: 4-5

Good to remember:

1. Mangalore cucumbers partner with mushrooms perfectly and gives a unique taste.

2. This ambat does not use any dal.