Record Tomato Prices Prompt Smart Homemakers to Adapt Recipes
Record-high tomato prices have prompted resourceful housewives in Mumbai to think outside the box when it comes to their cooking. As tomatoes continue to sell between Rs 120-160 per kg, women are finding creative ways to replace this expensive ingredient with alternatives that are more budget-friendly.
Mira Patel, a retired banker from Kandivli, points out that tomatoes serve three main purposes in cooking: they lend body to gravy, add tang and sourness to dishes, and provide a pleasant red color. While no single ingredient can replicate all three functions perfectly, homemakers are experimenting with substitutes such as kokum, lemon, tamarind, and amchur for sourness. Curd, besan (gram flour), and potato mash are being used as thickeners for gravies. Additionally, beetroot, red bell pepper, and food coloring are being used to mimic the redness usually provided by tomatoes.
One homemaker from Thane, Richa Dsouza, had to remove her favorite tomato rasam recipe from her menu due to the skyrocketing tomato prices. She used to prepare the rasam by making tomato puree and adding rasam powder, salt, and pepper. However, with tomatoes becoming a luxury, alternative dishes like kadhi (made with besan or curd) and dal have gained popularity. Shweta Jain, a resident of Powai, mentioned that they have been relying heavily on tamarind. Red gravies have been replaced by white gravies made with cashew, melon seeds, cream, and milk. And when supplies run low, the go-to meal option becomes khichdi-kadhi.
Aditi Krishna, a culinary expert from Vile Parle, highlighted that the Portuguese were the ones who introduced tomatoes to India. Traditional, authentic recipes, especially in South India, often don’t even mention tomatoes. Instead, tamarind and local fruits like kokum, kodumpulli (Garcinia Cambogia) in Kerala, and bilimbi in coastal Kerala and Goa were used as souring agents. However, modern dishes like sambar, rasam, and Goan fish curry have incorporated tomatoes into their recipes.
These cost-saving adaptations not only enable homemakers to prepare delicious meals despite soaring tomato prices but also provide an opportunity to explore new flavors and variations. While tomatoes remain an irreplaceable ingredient in many dishes, the ingenuity of smart homemakers in finding substitutes showcases their resilience and determination to navigate challenging times in the kitchen.
