This is how women in Karnataka are coping with costlier tomatoes

It's been almost a week since tomato price has shot through the roof - Rs 100 per kilo - and is still hovering around Rs 70 and Rs 80, refusing to come down. While tomato is a must-have in the kitchen, many women are struggling to find an alternative to it as some dishes taste good only with tomatoes in it.

Women in urban areas are so dependent on tomatoes that some people have switched to tomato puree as the price of the puree almost equals the present rate of tomato. However, the only advantage is that puree has more shelf life.

But our grandmothers will vouch for the fact that they never dependent on tomatoes back in their days. For, they had tamarind for everything, till tomatoes thronged the market. Even today, at many homes in Karnataka and Southern India, tamarind is a must for sambar, even if they are using tomatoes. Common South Indian dishes - 'rasam', 'Puliyogare' and 'bisibele bath' - cannot be prepared without using the tamarind pulp. Apart from its taste enhancing factor, tamarind is rich in vitamin, folic acid and Vitamin C helpful. Today there is tamarind paste and tamarind powder available in the market but nothing comes close to the soaked tamarind pulp.

In these tough times, it's better to go back to grandma's recipes using tamarind and ditch the tomatoes.

Here are some quick tamarind recipes - common in Karnataka - that will save you from hoarding tomatoes that could burn your pocket. Not just that they are simple, easy to make and high on health.

1. Tamarind rice

This is one of the most favourite recipes of Central Karnataka. Made with fresh tamarind pulp and jaggery, this is an ideal dish for lunch box. It's another version of Puliyogare but without the Puliyogare powder. What more, Tamarind rice or 'Huli anna' does not take much time to prepare. Here's a quick take on how to make.

Soak tamarind and separate the fibre. Heat oil and toss mustard, jeera, urad dal, curry leaves, groundnuts and garlic. As the raw smell of garlic reduces, add the tamarind pulp and allow it to boil for sometime. When the gravy thickens, add salt and little jaggery and simmer it. Mix cooked rice and garnish coriander leaves. Yummy Tamarind rice is ready.

2. Hunse Tambuli

Soak tamarind pulp and take out the juice. Add little jaggery, salt and keep adding water depending on the consistency you need. Later season it with mustard, green chilli and onion with curry leaves. This goes well with plain rice or even curd rice.

3. Raw tamarind 'gojju'

Although this is seasonal, raw tamarind makes up for the quick yummy treats. All you have to do is boil raw tamarind and squeeze the juice out of it. Later, season this juice with asafoetida and mustard and curry leaves. Add salt and the raw tamarind 'gojju' is ready. This is a quick dish in Malenadu areas.

• tomato price
• karnataka