Spiced Papaya Relish

There are a few flicks that I don't mind watching over and over again ; Good Will Hunting is one of them ! Matt eye-candy Damon  ;;) apart, Robin William as Sean is just WOW; the movie is entertaining & riveting and packs such praise-worthy performances. On a lazy sunday afternoon this movie on its umpteenth view :D kept us enthralled and our comfy lunch of Khichdi & relish just vanished ! 
Now Hubby dearest isn't really in to khichdi (he asserts it is food to be eaten when sick) and I wondered which one of them was outstanding - the movie or the dish that resulted in him devouring the lunch. While hubby chose to ignore my question , me thinks it's the magic from my hearth ;)) that did the trick ! What Say ?


Let's talk about the relish - let's talk papaya ! I  Papaya ; devouring it just like that or cooking with it is always satisfying. When the lunch for the day was decided as Khichdi, I decided to pep up the papaya that had just started ripening, in to a relish with jalapenos, onion & garlic giving it fine company. I remember seeing some program on TLC using papayas in such a manner and my hearth itched to give it a  slightly Indian twist with shallots, garam masala. 

The relish is slightly chunky because the papayas were cubed ,you can give the fruit a quick pulse in the mixer or grate it ! 

Enjoy it as a side-dish to rice/rotis or as a sandwich spread or on toast. 

Verdict :-


The woody fragrance of cinnamon, the pungent mustard, hot n sweet chillis & jalapenos along with the just ripening papayas added a tremendous spice punch to the relish.It tasted phenomenal with Khichdi !


What's in it :-

• Papaya - 750 grams (peeled,seeded & chopped in to small cubes)
• Shallots - a fistful - chopped
• Garlic - 2 large pods- chopped
• Jalapenos - 5 to 6- chopped
• Green Chilli - 1 to 2 - optional - for the extra heat
• Ginger - a small piece - grated
• Cinnamon Powder - 1 to 1 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala - 1 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• English Mustard - 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp
• Brown Sugar - little 
• Lemon Juice - a generous squeeze or two
• Apple Cider Vinegar - 1 tbsp - optional
• Olive Oil - 1 tbsp

Here's how :-

In a thick bottomed pan, dribble the oil and as it warms up add the shallots & garlic and let it saute merrily enveloping the kitchen with an aroma divine.
 Now add the chopped jalapenos & the green chilli along with ginger , cinnamon powder & garam masala. Give it a good stir. Add the chopped papaya along with salt & the english mustard. Let it cook for a few minutes till the whole mix comes together gelling well.Sprinkle some brown sugar, add lemon juice and vinegar and let it swirl for a minute or two before taking it off flame. 

Enjoy !


This is off to kalyani's Magic Mingle # 1