Assamese Khar - Preparation, Recipe, and Health Benefits

Are you fascinated with Assamese khar? Do you want to know about Kolakhar's preparation, health benefits, and recipes? Follow this article to learn more.

Banana plants have been an integral part of many North-eastern culture and tradition. Apart from providing a delightful treat, every part of a banana plant is useful. You can use its leaves as a natural platter, gain health benefits, or even craft materials and make garments from its fibers. 

A Banana plant has traditional and religious significance as well. Hindus use its leaves while performing poojas and kirtans, which is a common tradition in Assam. You can visit our Horoniya Khel Namghar in Dimapur and witness the various usage of banana plant during any of our traditional ceremonies and rituals.

Even the banana skin is productive and you can use it for different purposes. Apart from reducing acne and wrinkles, a banana skin can become a delightful add-on for your recipes and is one of the primary ingredient of many Assamese cuisines. 

Confused? Don't be! We are talking about Khar - The ingredient that can entice your taste buds while offering several health benefits.

So what is Khar? How do you prepare Khar? What are the health benefits that Khar provides?

If you are aspiring chef or want to learn more about this age-old recipe, you have landed on the right page. This article will give you a brief insight about the preparation, usage, and health benefits associated with Khar.

Excited! Let's find out more.

What is Khar?

Khar is an alkali prepared from banana skin. You have to burn the skins and then filter water through the ashes. You can prepare Khar as a stand-alone dish or mix it with other ingredients to prepare different variations.

How to prepare Khar?

Khar can be prepared using different varieties of banana. However, many prefer the Bheem Kol (Musa Bulbasiana) or Athiya Kol for this purpose. 

Here are the steps you need to follow to prepare Khar.

Step 1: Peel the banana skin and let it dry in the sun.

Step 2: Once the skin dries, collect them in a utensil and burn them.

Step 3: After the burning process is over, collect the ash.

Step 4: Use a Chalni or a piece of clean cloth to filter the ash.

Step 5: Place the Chalni or cloth on top of a bowl or bottle, and pour water.

Step 6: If you've followed all the above steps correctly, you should be left with a liquid substance or Khar.

Please note: We recommend using both cloth and Chalni to get the best results.

If you can't prepare it yourself, you can purchase Kola Khar powder here.

Khar Recipes

Apart from being a stand-alone recipe, you can use Khar to prepare other cuisines as well. These cuisines include, Khar Dal (Khar with lentils), Tiyohor Khar (Cucumber Khar), Omita Khar (Papaya Khar), etc. 

If you want to get a headstart, here are the steps to prepare Pithaguri Khar.

Pithaguri Khar

Pithaguri Khar is one of the simplest Khar recipes that you can make at home. 

Required Ingredients

Khar, Lai Pat/Xaak or Vegetable Mustard (Brassica Juncea), Tomato, and Rice. You can also use other leafy vegetables to make Pithaguri Khar.

Here are the steps you need to follow to make Pitahguri Khar:

1. Wash all the ingredients thoroughly.
2. Soak the rice in a bowl and drain the water.
3. After draining the water, grind the rice and keep it aside.
4. Take Lai Xaak or any other leafy vegetable and fry it. (Use less oil)
5. After sometime, add Khar into the rice and mix them with water.
6. After mixing, pour the solution into the frying pan and add water as per your needs.
7. 7. Let it boil for few minute and Voila! You have Pithaguri Khar ready to be served.

What are the health benefits of Khar?

Apart from elevating the taste of your recipes, Khar also provides several health benefits. In many North-eastern parts of India, farmers use Khar to prevent and cure certain cattle diseases. Additionally, farmers also use Khar to kill leeches and cure potential infections caused by leeches. 

Many villages also have a common practice of using Kolakhar as detergent and soaps for washing hair and clothes. 

Here are the health benefits of Khar:

Cure Digestive Disorders

Khar is an excellent way of keeping your stomach clean and healthy. It helps your stomach to digest your food better and cure digestive disorders. 

Works as an Appetizer

When you consume Khar, it works as an appetizer for your body. Khar helps your body to balance the meal to reduce digestive disorders. Additionally, it stimulates your appetite, helping you to enjoy the food even better.

Balances pH levels

Our body's pH levels are a vital state of our health system. For instance, if you have a higher pH level, it lowers the risk of stroke and hypertension. However, if you have a lower pH level, your body can become prone to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases. Khar balances your body's pH levels, making it a worthy consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make Assamese Khar?

You can prepare Khar by filtering water through the ashes of banana skin. After drying the skins under the sun, you have to burn the skins and filter them with water to make Khar.

Is Khar healthy?

Yes! Khar offers several health benefits, such as curing digestive disorders, maintaining body's pH levels, etc. Additionally, it is a good source of calcium and iron.

Can you use Khar in different recipes?

Yes! You can use Khar in different recipes. Some of the most popular recipes include Omita Khar (Papaya Khar) and Khar Dal.

So are you going to try Khar? Or If you have done already, share with us your experience and how you felt while devouring this age-old recipe. 

Do leave your comments! But before you leave please check our post - How early Boros selected plots for constructing houses.