Thecha is a spicy condiment prepared in the state of Maharashtra in India. It has many variants but the primary ingredients are chili peppers (green or red), peanuts and garlic, often tempered in oil (generally peanut) and a multitude of spices such as

cumin Cumin (, ; ; ''Cuminum cyminum'') is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the Irano-Turanian Region. Its seeds – each one contained within a fruit, which is dried – are used in the cuisines of many cultures in both whole ...

sesame Sesame (; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a plant in the genus '' Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for ...

seeds, coriander seeds, hing, cloves, coriander leaves and grated coconut seasoning. Traditional recipes call for the ingredients to be crushed or pounded in metal or

mortar and pestle A mortar and pestle is a set of two simple tools used to prepare ingredients or substances by compression (physics), crushing and shear force, grinding them into a fine Paste (rheology), paste or powder in the kitchen, laboratory, and pharmacy. ...

, but modern kitchens often rely on grinding in food processors. It is served with dishes like pithla bhakri or is eaten with

bhakri Bhakri () is a round flatbread often eaten in the cuisines of the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka in India. Bhakri is prepared using jowar or bajra, which is coarser than a regular wheat chapati. Bhakri can be either sof ...

. A regional variation is the ''varhadi thecha''. It has been described by celebrity chef

Sanjeev Kapoor {{Infobox chef , name = Sanjeev Kapoor , image = Sanjeev kapoor at the Launch of new restaurant 'Arola' at J W Marriott.jpg , image_size = , caption = Kapoor in 2016 , birth_date = {{Birth date and age, df= ...

as a popular

relish A relish (a pickle-based condiment) is a cooking, cooked and pickling, pickled culinary dish made of chopped vegetables, fruits or herbs, typically used as a condiment to enhance a staple. Examples are chutneys and the North American relish, a p ...

. It spoils after 10 to 15 days.

References

{{reflist Maharashtrian cuisine Vegetarian dishes of India Hindu cuisine Indian cuisine South Asian cuisine Vegetarian cuisine