Topic: What is the "Tarka" (or "Tadka") Technique used in Indian Cooking?

[Cory Ander]

Can those, that allude to knowing, please elaborate on what they understand to be the "tarka" (or "tadka") technique that is used in BIR (and traditional) Indian cooking?

To my mind, it's a term generally applied to the technique whereby some whole spices are fried in oil (or ghee) with garlic, onions, etc, which is then added to a main dish, towards the end of cooking, as a garnish/flavouring (e.g. "tarka dhal").

What other views are there please? 

I think it would be very useful, to many members, to be aware of this as a "cooking technique" used in BIR (and traditional) Indian cooking.

I reckon is would be very helpful to many members if we could specify:

• what it is?
• why it is used?
• when it is used?
• how it is used?

[ELW]

To my mind, it's a term generally applied to the technique whereby some whole spices are fried in oil (or ghee) with garlic, onions, etc, which is then added to a main dish, towards the end of cooking, as a garnish/flavouring (e.g. "tarka dhal").

Good questions CA, I don't understand this properly either.I thought the above description sounds more like the traditional cooking technique of tempering, which is also called baghar??

ELW

[spiceyokooko]

Cory, I agree with your definition.

The term Tadka or Tarka comes from the Hindi and Punjabi words for 'frying whole in hot oil' and is interchangeable with the Bengali term Bargar. In common useage, the difference is essentially how the results are used.

In Bargar, further ingredients are added to the 'bargar' and cooking is continued. In Tarka, the pan contents are added to something else.

Personally I prefer and am more familiar with the term 'tempering' to tarka.

Tarka

What it is?
The process of frying whole spices with the possible addition of other ingredients such as garlic, ginger, fresh green chilli's or any other common ingredient found and used in Indian cuisine.

Why is it used?
To extract the flavours and essential oils from the whole spices and to cook out the rawness from them and to extract flavours out of the other ingredients.

When is it used?
When these types of ingredients are required as an additional flavouring to something else eg. as an addition to Tarka Dhal.

How is it used?
By adding whole spices to hot oil and frying till they are fragrant along with extracting the flavours from the other ingredients and adding to another dish as a 'tempering' or additional 'flavouring'.

This is my understanding and definition of the term 'Tarka'.

[Razor]

I agree with everything Spicey and Cory have defined.  As for 'bagar' got to admit, I've only heard of this term over the last couple of months but it seems that it is almost the same thing?

Just been doing a bit of reading up (spurious internet sources, you understand!) and it seems, that as well as a 'tarka' being added in a similar way to that of a seasoning, it is extremely useful as an aid to digestion, especially if the tarka is made up of panch poran?

Ray

[ELW]

I agree with everything Spicey and Cory have defined.  As for 'bagar' got to admit, I've only heard of this term over the last couple of months but it seems that it is almost the same thing?

I only heard of it when Haldi asked Ifindforu about his base recently. Some of the better bir's here use tempering in their speciality dishes, eg coriander seeds & dried chillies in oil.

ELW

[Cory Ander]

I think that's an excellent definition Spicey.

I only wish that those that allude to "knowing better" would also respond...you know, in the spirit of the forum and for the benefit of all..... :

[Razor]

I think that's an excellent definition Spicey.

I only wish that those that allude to "knowing better" would also respond...you know, in the spirit of the forum and for the benefit of all..... :

Unfortunately, I fear that many members would prefer to keep their 'understanding' of the definition of 'Tarka' to themselves, in fear of ridicule should their 'understanding' differ somewhat to both yours and Spicey's excellent definitions.

Such a shame...!

[Cory Ander]

Unfortunately, I fear that many members would prefer to keep their 'understanding' of the definition of 'Tarka' to themselves, in fear of ridicule should their 'understanding' differ somewhat to both yours and Spicey's excellent definitions.

Such a shame...!

The "shame" is that they appear to ridicule others for not understanding (or doing) it, but aren't prepared to elaborate for the benefit of all members!

I'm sure that if you, or others, have other definitions, or explanations, then we'd all be pleased to hear it?

[Razor]

Unfortunately, I fear that many members would prefer to keep their 'understanding' of the definition of 'Tarka' to themselves, in fear of ridicule should their 'understanding' differ somewhat to both yours and Spicey's excellent definitions.

Such a shame...!

The "shame" is that they appear to ridicule others for not understanding (or doing) it, but aren't prepared to elaborate for the benefit of all members!

There is also the possibility that some members are actually doing it and doing it well, without understanding why or what they are doing it?  That being that they are following a recipe instruction to the letter, and acheive what  the recipe provider intendeds us to?

Isn't that what a forum like this is all about, members providing recipes for other members to follow?

Ray

[Cory Ander]

There is also the possibility that some members are actually doing it and doing it well, without understanding why or what they are doing it?  That being that they are following a recipe instruction to the letter, and acheive what  the recipe provider intendeds us to?

Isn't that what a forum like this is all about, members providing recipes for other members to follow?

Ray

Come on Ray, are you REALLY for real! 

Surely it's more about HOW to do it and WHY it's done that way? (unless you're a total moron!)  :

Anybody who can't answer simple questions about how and why they do it, the way that they do, are either ignorant, or dont understand it themselves.

For me, I consider this forum to be about sharing, debating and understanding.

And that's the purpose of this thread!  To solicit opinions about what the technique is, why it is used, when is it used and how is it used?

Who can REALLY argue with that as an objective!  :