Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday had his lunch at the residence of a farmer, Ramlal Negi, in Bastar’s Barsoor village. The attraction was Bastar’s Chapda Chutney.
Chapda Chutney, a unique red ant sauce, is a trademark of Bastar’s meal and is known for being essential part of their food habit.
To make the chutney, villagers first crush and dry all the ants and eggs, then grind them with a mortar and pestle. Then theyl add tomatoes, coriander, garlic, ginger, chili, salt and a bit of sugar to create a smooth, orange paste.
Sometimes, they cook the paste further with oil and chopped onions.
Tribal vendors also sell the chutney at weekly markets ‘Madais’ in small packets of sal leaves. The ants’ high levels of formic acid, coupled with the added seasonings, make this chutney extremely hot.
The chutney not only satisfies the taste buds but also keeps many diseases at bay.
It is also found to be effective in preventing the tribals from cold, cough, flu and other seasonal diseases and has proved to be a preventive medicine for malaria.
Jondhra Pej (corn soup), Chindadi, a sweet dish prepared from Tikhur, and Saigoda were also in the lunch menu served to Baghel.
