thanks for sharing with us!! Ambot Tik | Goan Shark Ambotik Curry - Aromatic Essence In her book The Indian Kitchen, Monisha Bharadwaj mentions a spice called tirphal, grown "deep in the rain forests of western India" and often used in Goan fish curry, but none of the Indian grocers I call claim to have any knowledge of it. 450g or use cod, pollock or other firm white fish. Not all Curry Tree pastes have dairy ingredients in them. https://importfood.com/products/thai-cookware/item/mortar-and-pestle-solid-thai-granite. Rida Aftab is known for her expertise cooking skills and tremendous knowledge for different foods. Mutton Xacuti, My Favorite way of Cooking Mutton 1. Goan Fish Curry With Coconut Milk Recipe - Curious Cuisiniere Goan cuisine - Wikipedia Grind to a powder in a food processor or pestle and mortar, and then mix in the remaining ingredients. thank you for an amazing recipe. Add the marinated fish to the pan and let the fish soak in all the masala. Fish curry, to be precise. Soften the onion a little then add the masala and mix. So glad you enjoyed, it's a big favorite here too. Keep up the good work and please put even more pictures for people like me. All Masalas, Paste & Pickles are hygienic Products." "Karma's product is 1st choice for Goans & NRI who is settle outside Goa, when they prepare they feel like in Goa, because with that masalas house is full of Goan taste." "We are happy that KARMA FOODS manufacturing all Goan recipe ". Add the turmeric and chili powder. Didnt have any tamarind but substituted it with equal amount of brown sugar and lime juice. Fry until soft and lightly golden, then stir in the masala mix. Bon Apptit, until the next Goan Recipe! This is meant to be slightly tangy and spicy. ?? Will buy done unsweetened coconut milk but after a couple of mouth fulls the spices take over- thanks for fabulous recipe. So the paste can serve up to 12 persons. So glad you enjoyed! Do you use a mortar and pestle to crush the ingredients? Add the fish and salt to taste, reduce heat to medium - low Cook for another 10 min or until fish is cooked through, adding the rest of the ginger slivers once done Add choy sum and green beans, cook for 2 min We will update you the moment we are available in supermarkets and stores near you, The pack does not contain any meat. You can then add some salt and slit the green chilly, remove seeds as per spice requirement. Add dry Fenugreek and Black Pepper. I did however use salmon instead of white fish. Thought it was fantastic. Goa is a state that is known in India and many parts of the world, as a fun and relaxing tourist destination. I've adapted a few recipes to give something that was fairly authentic without being overly complex. i am a big fan of goan cuisine and have tried making few of your recipesthey taste delicious. thanks for this simplified and presentable recipe,,,,,,As per my knowledge, u need to addd 1 more ingredient to this 1,,,,,its "Telfala"(KOnkani word),,,,Viva Goa in Qatar !!! Once I'd made the spice mix it all came together really quickly and easily so suitable for a week-night dinner too, just serve over rice. My husband (fussy curry eater) loved every part of it. Turmeric Powder Goan Fish Curry Masala & Maharashtrian Goda Masala 100 MAKE THE CALDINE. 3. Goan Fish Curry (Indian) | RecipeTin Eats Goan Prawn Curry (Ambot Tik) - Traditional Grandma's recipe - My Food Story ; Buy this and get free pack of chilli powder. A feisty mix of Goan spices, it will definitely leave you craving for more. Cheers. Butterfly Prawns. Best with white rice (boiled or basmati), Goan Fish Curry is an offering that reminds you of the beauty of Goa and the simplicity of a Goan. Best with white rice (boiled or basmati), Goan Fish Curry is an offering that reminds you of the beauty of Goa and the simplicity of a Goan. Photograph: Felicity Cloake, Vivek Singh recipe Goan fish curry. I always use unsweetened coconut milk and have never found this to be sweet, although I can see that concern. Is preservative free with no added sugars or colours. I'm Caroline and this is where I share recipes inspired by travels, places I want to go, or just ideas from feeding the family. With a blend of spices, it makes a mouth watering recipe.Follow my channel for more . Whatever the reason, the Kashmiri chillies provide both gentle heat and vivid colour in one handy package. Goan fish curry. Warm and tangy fish curry that's cooled with coconut milk. Hate it. What are your favourite fish for standing up to spice and can anyone recommend a really great squid curry? Your email address will not be published. Fry them over medium high heat until golden from both sides. 250. Husband is not a great lover of fish, but I like to have it on a Friday, so now uve Found a winner. Image of metal tongs turning crispy, fried fish in a frying pan. Stir in the green chillies and cook for 1-2 minutes. Channa Doss, Everyones Favorite, Kokad another Christmas Delight INGREDIENTS for the curry. I personally like to eat the cooked pieces of mango, the sour taste of it, my mouths watering as I write this Goan Fish Masala - Masala Tokri Karma's Roast Masala Paste. The more spice the better, as far as I'm concerned. I just wanna know if the readily available garam masala Or curry powder that I have at home would be enough instead of making your own? Most tamarind in Goa is already salted. Add little water and make it into a fine puree. Step 4 - Boil the masala for about 10-12 minutes. Finally add the fish to cook in the flavorful sauce in only a few minutes. Mix well and squeeze the juice alone, set aside. Anjum's Goan fish curry | Indian Recipes | GoodTo We eat fish curry along with rice nearly every week, its also perhaps the cheapest dish to eat, at a restaurant in Goa. Typically you might see it with pomfret, a flat fish, in India but that's not something I have ever seen here. Roughly chop the garlic and ginger and crush with the salt to a relatively smooth paste. Goan Chicken Masala Curry - Allrecipes Doubled the recipe and added curry leaves as I have a tree. Never one to buck a cliche, I spent a year after school travelling around India, patting every temple elephant I could find and eating samosas by the bucketful. Thanks for your comment, Jennifer, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Felicity's perfect Goan fish curry. Bangda Curry or Goan Mackerel Curry - Goan Food Recipes I can't wait to try it. Add it in your cooking dish and add some more water, now there are two optional things depending on how rich and heavy you want your Xitt codi. Glad to hear you enjoyed! After a bit of experimentation, I plump for pollock, but anything firm, white and with solid gold Fearnley-Whittingstall credentials should do. In 20 minutes, you'll be presented with a curry that looks as colourful as his shirt and is as delightful as his sun-tanned smile. Masala Tokri - Goan Fish Curry Masala,100 g, Pack of 3 What is a Goan Food blog without the fish curry recipe? Thank you so much for sharing, my family love it and we will be having it very often. Bangda Curry or Goan Mackerel Curry The Goan fish curry is stacked with different flavors alongside coconut. I used to use them much more, but these days it's more occasional inspiration or for the details on favorites. Goan Fish Curry - Menu - Kurry Pavilion - New York - Yelp Sorry, looks like a little part of the description was deleted in updating recipe format at some point, now amended - it's diced then added along with the chili. Add the reserved masala water and enough plain water to measure 1-1/2 cups in total. How to Make Goan Fish Curry 1. We just made your curry - delicious. Goa, on India's Western coast, is known for its succulent seafood dishes. You can add the water to the grinder and swirl it to get any remnants of the curry paste 4. Learn how your comment data is processed. Too tempting ! The lemon would work in a pinch, but is certainly not quite the same. Minimum: Two bookings to conduct the class. When the gravy is bubbling, add the marinated fish pieces along with the masala and salt, cover the pan cook the fish on a medium heat for about 2-3 minutes. Well glad to hear you have been enjoying it! Step 1 Toast all the whole spices then add to grinder with 1 small onion cut into chunk, 4 cloves garlic, 2 inches peeled ginger, 3 tbsp water and blitz to a paste. Where is Goa and why is it famous? It's worth looking to see what ingredients are in the mix, as they can vary and may or may not be similar to the spices here, which is why I would always recommend working from the basic spices. Goan Fish Curry Recipe | Zarnak Sidhwa | Masala TV This website brought Goa to my Home. He also uses cloves, which add a deep sweetness to the dish. 3. Add the curry paste and paprika and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Goan Fish Curry - Traditional Indian Recipe | 196 flavors See more details in the policy page. SKU: 701098285620 Category: Masalas Tags: condiment, masala, Spice. 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined. Keeping this. Crisp Fried Fresh Bombay Duck (Bombil) Goan Crab Masala. Make the curry: In a pan, heat the olive oil. The coconuts that grow so abundantly in Goa are put to good use in various forms in the recipes I try. Next, add some tomato and fresh chili, then the coconut milk and tamarind. Added some potatoes but probably won't do that next time. Mix well to coat the fish. That's the amount as it is when you buy the paste (though you may need a little more or less depending on how concentrated yours is as that can vary). Prawn Balchao 4. If we don't have raw mango what can be used. Glad you enjoyed! Madhur waxes lyrical about Goan prawn curry in Flavours of India, giving me an excuse to pop a few of those in too, but as long as it's seafood, feel free to choose whatever looks good on the day. I grilled & added some red bell pepper & zucchini pieces, & added fresh spinach leaves, we loved it. Camellia Panjabi adds fresh coconut (handily available ready grated and frozen: my cookery discovery of the week) to her spice paste, Maria Teresa Menezes coconut cream, and everyone else coconut milk. Thanks again. I have many Indian cookbooks but love this recipe! "Serve curry hot over rice." 02 of 07 Goan Pork Vindaloo View Recipe Goan Pork Vindaloo. Goan Xacuti Curry Powder(Bottle Masala) Recipe | SparkRecipes 1/2 Tea spoon Haldi Powder Once the entire mixture reaches a boil you can add the fish to the curry In fairness the kids can be pretty skeptical at times, but this wasn't one I'd try on them anyway due to the spice, but we love it! Roast Beef Photograph: Felicity Cloake, Madhur Jaffrey recipe Goan fish curry. Heat oil in a large pot. Oh and we added curry leaves, my favourite ingredient in southern Indian food! Karmas Add the prepared masala paste to the heated oil and cook for a few minutes. of tax)Urban Platter Goan Xacuti Masala, 250g quantityAdd to cart. I will definitely make it again and again. Stir once and cook over a medium heat until the cauliflower is 80% done (about 5 to 7 minutes). Fish Recheado Masala Recipe, Mackerel Recheado Masala - Flavors of Mumbai Goan Masalas & Curry Pastes - Ritas Gourmet Goa Add onion and until golden brown. Goan Curry Masala | Traditional Style | Goan | Desi Cooking Recipes Vivek Singh opts for turbot in the Cinnamon Club Seafood Cookbook, while the ever-wise Madhur Jaffrey exhorts readers of her Ultimate Curry Bible to "experiment with your local fish. Put the two table spoon of oil in a vessel to get warm. Goan Fish Curry - Goan Food Recipes Min order Rs. Add a little bit of water to adjust. It's a big favorite here too, and love hearing when others love it as much! re tamarind, 2 tsp as is or diluted with water/. Call or Message on (+91) 7507452225. ClosedOpens at 12PM. Although you add it towards the end so it doesn't have too long to break up, I'd still recommend arelatively firm white fish. Camellia Panjabi explains in 50 Great Curries of India that pomfret, a flat fish, is the Indian choice (a fact corroborated by Michelle Peters-Jones, the Mangalorean-born former MasterChef. Depending on your tamarind, add salt. Will check out your other creations! Bring to a simmer and allow to thicken slightly. Curries are a must in every Goan home & we definitely cannot do without it. Marinate the fish for 30 mins. Taste for seasoning. Add the spiced coconut milk, sugar and . So glad you enjoyed, and I couldn't agree more about the layers of flavor. Is it easy to double the recipe as there was only enough for my husband and me and I would like to make it for friends. Best curry ever, this receipt is brilliant and so easy to make. Vivek Singh includes star anise for example, a spice more typical of points further east but which, according to Madhur Jaffrey, is a legacy of Goa's trading past, and I love the slightly mentholated character it give his sauce. Combine red chile peppers, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon stick, ginger, garlic, peppercorns, and cloves in a mortar and pestle or a food processor; grind or process into a paste (masala paste). Stir in masala paste and cook for 2 minutes. Haven't tried it with smoked fish but glad it worked out. Absolutely one of the best curry recipes Ive used. Right now, we have curry pastes from Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. I just made this recipe this evening and my husband and I loved it!!! I just moved to Dubai from Goa, my husband and i wanted some fish curry rice, so i asked my mother how to make it, and she said "odmasan kor" a little of this and that. Prawn Pan Rolls, Mix Fruit Custard Thank you so much. Brown the onions. With a tang from the tamarind and plenty spice, this Goan fish curry is easy to make & so packed with flavor. Thanks for your comment, and I can appreciate fresh coconut is good but it's actually not something we can find here all that easily (at least not consistently). Best goan fish curry in Mississauga restaurants, summer 2022 It's one of our favorites as well. Once prepared this dish will satisfy six of your friends with gleaming smiles. Your recipes and pictures have made it very simple for me to understand and prepare it with confidence. For booking mail ritasgourmetgoa@gmail.com OR. tsp = 2.5 millilitres (ml) OR 2 grams (gms), 1 tsp = 1/3 tbsp OR 5 millilitres OR 4 grams, 1 gallon = 4 quart OR 8 pints OR 16 cups OR 3792 ml, 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 2 tbsp OR 1/8 cup. Soak tamarind in water for 10 mins. I surprised my family with this. Cut the fish into large bite-sized chunks. Used a garam masala, which Id made previously. Use Ginger and garlic fresh (ratio 1:2) or use in paste form Nutrition Nutrition Facts Basic Goan Coconut Curry Paste Recipe I initially assume this is because of the difficulties of obtaining these when her book was first published, but then notice she also calls for kokum, the dried skin of a fruit belonging to the mangosteen family, which is fairly hard to come by even today. KulKuls ~ Crunchy and Golden Brown, Mutton Xacuti, My Favorite way of Cooking Mutton, Pancakes Stuffed with Coconut & Goa Jaggery. This post may contain affiliate links, where we earn from qualifying purchases. Just made this tonight and it was extremely delicious. Thank you x. Gordon Ramsay specifies a "firm-fleshed" species, such as "kingfish, monkfish, halibut or tuna" for the Goan fish curry in his Great Escape book, and Rick Stein suggests conger eel or huss in Fruits of the Sea. Thank you for this recipe. Indian, Vegetarian options. Didnt have tamarind, so used two teaspoons of sugar and some lemon juice. Add the coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Tomatoes and onions are a popular addition, and work well with the sour heat of the other flavours. We used basa fillets and red chilli as didnt have green. Once done, transfer it to a serving platter and garnish with coriander leaves. 1. This Curry was Super easy to make.. it was absolutely delicious and went down a storm with friends.. cant actually wait to make it again.. do you have any recommendations for a meat curry recipe? Gordon's right; although the fish is generally added right at the end of the cooking process, it's best to use something quite robust so it doesn't fall apart in the pan. Amazon.com : Goan Fish Curry Masala Malvani Meat curry Masala & Awadhi Biryani Masala 40 g Each : Grocery & Gourmet Food Coat the fish with rava and fry it till done on both sides. Goan Fish Curry Recipe with Coconut - TheoCooks Now in the same kadai. It's a basic, top essential goan curry paste, Cook the onion until golden, around 8 minutes. Editor's pick on the best recipes , articles and videos. Garam Masala Tuesdays: Goan Style Fish - The Novice Housewife 1 2 1/2-inches cinnamon stick 1/4 whole nutmeg ~ Or 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 whole mace ~ Optional, or 1/2 teaspoon ground mace 1 teaspoon white poppyseeds ~ Optional US Customary - Metric Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark Instructions In a heavy skillet over medium heat, toast all the spices except the nutmeg and mace. Do yourself and your family a favour and TRY it, its awesome. Online Ordering Unavailable. Does Goan fish curry float your boat, or do your allegiances lie in Kerala, Thailand or the West Indies? This was delicious. Goan Fish Masala Rs. And yes, if you use coconut itself I'd imagine a blender is helpful to combine. hey.. m having a few guests over this weekend and ur dish is gonna be one of my main course..i havent tried making it before though..just a small questionwhile adding the ground masala to the cooking dish, should add a lil oil to it before or directly cook it before oil.. Extract the spiced coconut milk from the ground masala paste using a fine mesh sieve. The curry contains several spices that enrich the flavor, and the dish takes as little as 20 minutes to prepare once you assemble all of your ingredients. Saute the onion tomato and juliennes of ginger Stir it occasionally and while this is happening, grind the masala ingredients with a bit of water. Although both are delicious, I think that without frying the masala you lose some of its aromatic qualities after all, to take just one of the ingredients, garlic is far more flavourful fried than poached. Neureos for a Special Goan Christmas By subscribing to newsletter, you acknowledge our, Watch: How to make Fish Curry by Celebrity Chef Sarah Todd, Copyright 2022 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service. We'll notify you by email once your comment goes live, Wondering what to cook today? If so, do you have a link to the one you use? 1 large white onion, sliced thin. Warm the oil in a medium-large skillet or other shallow pan over a medium heat. What can I replace the red chillis with? 2. Thanks Caroline for sharing!! #349 of 4418 places to eat in Mississauga. Cook the onion in the oil for a few minutes until it has softened. 20 Goan Dishes - Crazy Masala Food MASALA. Cook until reduced, then fry over a low heat for 2 minutes or until the oil is released. Just cooked this fantastic, as good as the one we Had in our Indian restaurant! Make The Ground Goan Masala Paste Basa Fish Curry {Healthy & Easy Dinner} - Hint of Healthy Not tried it with haddock, so I will take your word for it. Proud to be a Goan. Grind the masala ingredients mentioned above, in a mixer with a little water. It was colonized by the Portuguese. Drumstick Fish Curry Recipe - Yummy Tummy Keep stirring the mixture. Will try to make for sure. Most recipes are easy to make and healthier, but there are treats too! Warm a small skillet/frying pan over a medium heat and toast the whole spices (coriander, cumin and mustard seeds) for a couple minutes until fragrant. Slit the fresh chillies down their length, so they remain whole but open, add these. Thank you. However, if youre allergic to dairy, read the list of ingredients before you make a purchase. Unli . then blitz away. But you will almost certainly need to add at least fresh garlic and ginger as well as tamarind and the fresh chili, tomato and coconut to get as close as you can to the curry's flavors. I've already made this several times, and plan on adding it to my recipe collection. I went straight for my Indian cookbook and after a little debate, I decided to try a Goan fish curry. Helloooo, curry. Rather than Pomfret, Kingfish may likewise be utilized. Hi Thanks alot.Awaiting some reciepes on Squids too. I have a number of other Indian recipes on the site such as mains like: as well as snacks/apps like cauliflower pakora and masala dosa(a potato filled thin crunchy crepe) and brinjal pickle(eggplant chutney) to have on the side. Ingredients of Goan Fish Curry 1 kilograms king fish (surmai) 1 tablespoon tamarind paste 2 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 7 cloves garlic 2 pinches salt 1 1/2 tablespoon refined oil 4 cup water 1 large chopped onion 5 dry red chili 2 tablespoon grated coconut 1 sliced & slit green chilli 1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric Most critical to the character of the final dish is the masala, the spice paste which forms the base of the sauce. 1 2-inch piece fresh peeled ginger, chopped. It is better to get very fresh fish, whatever it be, than to hunt all day for a specific fish preferred in a recipe". So glad to hear! Xitt Codi is the staple diet of a goan anywhere across the world. Great recipe! It has a variety of spices and rich red color. Yes, you certainly could make this with chicken, just be aware it will take longer to cook than fish. In the meanwhile, grind all the masalas together. Goan Cuisine: Savour The Flavour Of This Goan Fish Curry On Weekend The long list is mainly for the spicemix, or masala, which gives it so much depth of flavor. Hope you enjoy! But one thing I would say is I'd suggest going for one that is a little coarse on the bottom rather than smooth, as I think it helps with crushing the seeds etc. Most people think that our curries are not only red hot but we prefer red curries but this is not true. Coconut Ice Thank you. Yes, tilapia stays fairly firm and can take on flavor so should work. Perhaps they're simply from the wrong place: it's so regionally specific that Monisha admits that, despite "searching carefully, I have been unable to find an English name for it". Goan Roast Chicken Will be definately on our family favourite list. Marinate the fish in salt and lime (half a lime) juice for 10 minutes. Glad to hear you enjoyed, it really is such a favorite of ours too. Debone and cut into bite sized pieces. The best fish curry recipe which can be make at any time. Those sound like tasty additions, too. Cook for a minute. I eventually discover, too late, that it's a variety of Sichuan pepper: I'd be interested to know if anyone includes it in their recipe, and what they think it brings to the dish. Mix well, cover the pan and let it cook for about 20 minutes. That's great to hear - thanks so much for coming back to let me know! Goan Meat Curry with Vegetables To make the masala, toast the spices in a dry pan until aromatic. Add in Prawns and cook for 3 - 4 minutes. This looks amazing! The lime juice seems to smother the flavour of the fish and Vivek's onion seeds, while they look pretty in his recipe, will get lost in a curry. Patoleo Mom's cooking is the best, but until i master the art of it, sme measure is needed. Masala Fish Curry Recipe | Fish Masala Recipe - Yummy Tummy I will be trying many more of your recipes in the very near future!Allison Rodrigues from Halifax, Canada. Clams in Green Coconut Masala. Authentic & Aromatic Goan Fish Curry Recipe - Seema Once you've measured out the ingredients, it takes less than 20 minutes: Curry paste first - put it all in a jug that the blender stick fits into (I hope you've still got the milkshake container yours came with!) I need to work on getting my guys out of their comfort zone more. Apply to the seafood and marinate for 15 minutes. I substituted the tomato with a tablespoon of tomato paste and added fresh fish stock. 1 Tea spoon Corriander seeds Homemade coconut milk , green mango fish curry from Goa food recipes. 1 Raw Mango. I am going to try this soon with different Fish ! Coconut forms an integral part of most Goan curries, but this dish doesn't use coconut. Cook for 30 seconds, until they begin to pop, then stir into the curry. Slice, clean and salt the fish and keep the fish aside. Hope you find some other ideas to tempt you too. Feel free to add curry leaves or chopped coriander leaves to the fish curry. thanks for the post. Add ginger garlic and fry for 30 to 60 seconds. Pour in the Coconut Milk, Salt and Tamarind. The pictures helped in making and helps as bench mark at every step. Hi this is great thanks,. Love this recipe! I'm from Goa, now in Pune and this should help me to make things on my own since the lovely Goan eateries are 12 hours away by road Viva Goa! If you prefer a hotter version, leave a few chillies with seeds. I have a few meat curries I really like - on the site there is a beef massaman curry and lamb rogan josh, both of which I love. Absolutely amazing curry! Made with chilies, spices, and vinegar Goa is a small coastal state on the southwest coast of India in the south of Bombay. Required fields are marked *. I have a bag of masala spice mix, can I use this instead? Set aside. 4 cloves garlic, chopped. Add the tomatoes and salt and cook them till tomatoes become soft and pulpy 3. Step 5 - Once the boiling time is up, add the marinated fish to the masala. Use water to help it blitz - otherwise it's too dry; Add the MASLA PASTE and cook for 2 mins. Add finely minced garlic and chili, and saut for another minute. I'd really recommend against using the pre-mixed spices for this as the flavors just aren't quite right - they are intended to help speed up to get a particular flavor but it's not the same as those in this Goan curry. Thank you mum, i prepared the fish curry for dinner , the family loved it , it was awesome, I couldn't add methi and raw mango but will get these items the next time, I used 1/2 an onion in the ground masala and a little tamarind pulp and fried 1/2 and onion a little just before adding the masala just like mum said, thank you mum for sharing all your beautiful secrets with us, may you be blessed with a long and healthy life. Goan Fish Curry Masala Ingredients: 6 Kashmiri Chillies 1/2 Scraped Coconut A Small Piece of Ginger 3 Flakes Garlic 5 - 6 Pepper Corns 1 Tea spoon Corriander seeds A Pinch of Methi Seeds Small ball of Tamarind if a raw Mango is used 1/2 Tea spoon Haldi Powder 1/2 Tea spoon Jeera 1 Green Chilly Salt Goan Fish Curry Main Ingredients: Add the fish, and cook until opaque and firm, 5-7 min. The fundamental elements in the dish are a fair estimated Pomfret and crude mango. Finely dice the chilis and onion. 5 6 Pepper Corns There is so much flavor in this Goan fish currythat comes together so quickly and easily. Chop the skinned tomato and onions into small pieces. To balance the astringency of the vinegar, Vivek adds a little sugar I use palm sugar, which has a wonderful honeyed flavour.