Dried Fish Chutney with Green/Dried Red Chilies- Naga Dish

A tribal meal is definitely peculiar but I believe that the beauty of our food lies in its simplicity and freshness. We love our vegetables as much as we love all the hearty and heavy meat dishes. Each tribal community may differ in their way of cooking, as is expected, BUT one thing that link together is the chutney.

We MUST have chutney with every meal that we partake. Most time the chutney makes up for the absence of any side dishes. Many tribal families live a hard life being mostly farmers, and many do not have the luxury of making side dishes for lack of money and time, but much is left unsaid and excused because of the accompaniment of a nice chutney on the table.

Curry prepared in a tribal home may vary from vary bland to very spicy depending on health and preference, yet the chutney will no doubt be fiery hot, and most times made with fresh Naga chilli/ King chilli when in season or the dried ones by either soaking it in hot water or roasting it over hot ashes from the family hearth.

In my home though, my dad forbids daily savoring of the super-hot Naga chilli and so most meals the chutney will be either made with fresh green chilies or the dried red chilies.

A good chutney is defined by the quality of the fermented fish. While I'm sure my neighbors will beg to differ, when the fermented fish is of good quality, it will be almost sweet smelling. If what you have smells rotten, throw it away or use it up quickly.

A meal is just incomplete without a chutney, and while fermented soy beans needs a good pairing with certain dish to fully enjoy it, dried fish chutney is a very versatile dish that just complements anything and everything. A great chutney is one that has perfect balance of four basic ingredients, chilies, fermented dried fish, garlic and salt.

The concoction of these four ingredients is the foundation for a great chutney, and to this you can add what ever you want to make a special chutney, for example, a roasted tomato, cooked chicken liver, dried  and shredded beef, herbs of your choice, diced cabbage, cauliflower florets, monkey beans or smelly beans, mashed potato & bambooshoot etc..etc.

A chutney is very close to any tribal person's heart because the very scent of it takes us back to memories of home with loved ones around the dining table, enjoying a hearty meal and great conversations. Ah!

Ingredients:
Fermented fish - 4-5
Garlic - 5- 6 Cloves
Green/ Dried Red
Chilli - 10 - 12 whole chillies
Salt - as per taste
Coriander/Spring onions for garnish

Method:
Roast the fermented fish over the flame for 2-3 minutes on both sides using an old aluminium slotted spoon or any metal with perforated surface, keep aside.

If using green chilies, roast it in the same process as above and peel off the skin, or if using dried red chilies, heat water in the microwave and soak the required amount of chilies covered for 4-5 minutes or until soft.

Now put everything, the chilies, roasted fermented fish, garlic cloves and the salt into a motor & pestle and grind it till everything is well blended and aromatic. Garnish with chopped coriander or spring onions and a wonderful chutney is ready.