Doymaj - Garlicky fruit purée

Text size:  

Alcha

Doymaj (döyməc) is a tangy purée of fruit and garlic, usually eaten at the end of a meal to aid digestion.

The name doymaj is derived from the Azerbaijani verb doymak (döymək), meaning to grind, powder or crumble.

Preparation time: 30 min
Serves: 4-5

Ingredients

• 200 g/8 oz alcha, a plum similar to the greengage but less sweet
• 200 g/8 oz plums
• 100 g/4 oz sour cherries
• 100 g/4 oz apple (a cooking apple is ideal)
• 50 g/2 oz purple basil (reyhan)
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• salt & pepper

Preparation

• Stone the greengages, plums and cherries. Remove the apple core and pips and cut the apple into pieces.
• Put the fruit into a mortar and grind with a pestle or blend in a food processor.
• Add the garlic, purple basil and salt and pepper. Grind or blend again.
• Serve the doymaj with its own juice in small (not metal) bowls.
• Doymaj is eaten after a rich meal or kebabs.