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A unique Assamese stir-fry featuring medicinal bitter flowers balanced with potatoes and simple spices. This traditional dish is known for its distinct flavor and health benefits, offering a unique taste of Northeast India.
For 4 servings
Prepare the Ingredients (10 mins)
Sauté Aromatics (3 mins)
Cook the Potatoes (8 mins)
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A unique Assamese stir-fry featuring medicinal bitter flowers balanced with potatoes and simple spices. This traditional dish is known for its distinct flavor and health benefits, offering a unique taste of Northeast India.
This indian recipe takes 25 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 188.86 calories per serving with 2.96g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for lunch or dinner or side.
Add Tita Phool and Finish (4 mins)
Serve
Add 1/2 cup of diced eggplant (brinjal) along with the potatoes for a softer texture and added flavor dimension.
For a slight tang, add one finely chopped tomato after sautéing the onions and cook until it turns soft.
Garnish with a few fried 'bori' (sun-dried lentil dumplings) just before serving for a delightful crunch.
Bitter foods like Tita Phool are traditionally known to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and bile, which can improve digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and support overall gut health.
This dish combines turmeric, which contains the powerful anti-inflammatory compound curcumin, with mustard oil. This combination helps combat chronic inflammation in the body.
The flowers, garlic, and spices are packed with antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, protecting cells from oxidative stress and damage.
Tita Phool, scientifically known as Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis, is an edible, bitter flower found in Northeast India, particularly Assam. It is valued in traditional cuisine not only for its unique taste but also for its medicinal properties.
Yes, it is considered very healthy. The bitter compounds in the flowers are believed to aid digestion and purify the blood. The dish also contains turmeric, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and mustard oil, which is rich in healthy fats.
One serving of Tita Phool Bhaji (approximately 1 cup or 135g) contains an estimated 175-190 calories, primarily from the potatoes and mustard oil.
To reduce bitterness, you can try a few things. Before cooking, blanch the flowers in hot water for 30 seconds. While cooking, you can add a pinch of sugar or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end to balance the flavors. Ensuring you have enough potato also helps.
Tita Phool is a regional ingredient and is most commonly available in local markets across Assam and other parts of Northeast India, especially during its flowering season in late winter and spring. It is difficult to find outside this region.