Make Hemant Mathur's Three Roots Chaat, from Tulsi

Three Roots Chaat at Tulsi

"Chaat" refers to a plate of savory snacks that typically includes a mixture of potato pieces (aloo chaat) and various chutneys. At Tulsi, the Nouveau Indian Hemant Mathur opened earlier this year, the chef's version is kicked up with a spicy tomatillo sauce. He shares the recipe for it here.

"We use potatoes, yams, and cassava -- also known as yucca -- as the three starchy root vegetables in this chaat," explains Mathur. "Each ingredient brings texture, color and of course a unique flavor to the whole. The cassava gives a somewhat delicate flavor and is 'meaty,' the yam brings sweetness and color to the dish, and the russet potato introduces more color and a heartier texture. ... Our chaat is not traditional in that ginger is used more in traditional chutneys, not garlic. But we like the way the garlic opens up the tamarind taste in this street-food variation."

Three Roots Chaat
by Hemant Mathur of Tulsi

Yield: 8-10

For the tomatillo sauce:
6 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1/4 cup olive oil
6 garlic cloves
3 green chiles, washed and stemmed
1 tablespoon sugar
salt, to taste

In a pot of water over high heat, bring water to boil, and add the tomatillos. Keep water boiling until tomatillos turn a shade lighter and the inside is cooked (test with a knife), 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer the tomatoes with a slotted spoon into an ice bath. Once cool, drain the water, add tomatillos to a blender, and set aside.

In a sauté pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and add the garlic and green chiles. Turn the heat to low and cook until the garlic and chiles are golden brown. Transfer to a blender; add the sugar and salt. Puree, and adjust salt, if needed. Let cool, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

For the tamarind chutney:
4-ounce piece of tamarind from a pliable block
4 dates, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
a pinch asafetida
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds

In a bowl, cover the tamarind with 4 cups of hot water and let soak overnight. Wearing a pair of food-safe gloves, mash the tamarind well by hand to separate the seeds and pulp. Place the mashed mixture, along with any remaining liquid, in a pot. Add another 4 cups of water, the dates, ginger powder, and red chili powder. Boil until half the mixture remains, about 30 minutes.

Strain the mixture and transfer to a clean pot. Mash the pulp using the back of a spoon, add the sugar, and continue to cook the tamarind over medium heat.

Meanwhile, in a small sauté pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the asafetida, give it a quick stir, and immediately add cumin seeds and fennel seeds. Cook until the seeds start crackling and turn a light golden color. Immediately pour the spices into the boiling tamarind mixture.

Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring the chutney constantly. Add salt to taste, and cool. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using.