I am sure you were intrigued by the name as you opened up the post today, Plastic chutney!!! Candies Raw papaya!!!. This was the reaction at my place too.
Serving a little sample each to the kids- they said wow, tastes so good mom. Then, I go –what you ate is called plastic chutney!!! I did not have to finish the sentence, there was din. They really thought I served them plastic, melted cooked and more. They were concerned about the turtles who ate plastic and the cows which ate paper. This commotion subsided after about 15 minutes.
Now,
with a good laugh, there is no plastic in the recipe. This is an old recipe I adapted from my co sister’s mom, who makes it her best effort to stuff me full whenever I visit her. She taught me that a little sweet at the end makes every meal is a delight. This is a very Bengali recipe and as sweet as her. She had zealfully shared her scraped pineapple chutney and paneer payesh too. Promise to share that with you another day.
What contributes the name?
The plastic chutney, it is, of course, the beautiful pawpaw(papaya) featuring as a beautiful textural additive. The firmness of the papaya to hold its cut and yet imbibe the sweetness contributes to the glistening glass-like look. The thin cuts and the glassy look makes it look like a thin sheet of transparent plastic. Hence contributing the name.
To this recipe, you could add saffron to turn it slightly orangish yellow and raisins. I have omitted both. If you are concerned about the sugar in the recipe, try a stevia version, that was cool but not so candied feel as the normal sugar one.
It would be best not to advocate the benefits of papaya here, coz I believe with the added sweetness, it really may not contribute to its best potential as a health factor. Never the less a great sweet recipe to end a homecooked meal or a relish for the sweet-toothed.
Honestly, I have forgotten (yes I should have written down) what she added in the tempering, so I went with my favourites, kalonji, jeera, methi and red chillies. I have a funny feeling that’s not the right mix. If you do know about what I should really add to the tempering, do teach me.
Try these too for a sweet end to the meal
We have one more recipe with raw papaya in case you have a huge one – Erisherry curry
See you soon with more interesting recipes and updates. Keep up with us on Instagram for immediate updates.
This recipe is a part of the “Cooking from a Cookbook Challenge” I have not used a cookbook this time but a sweet recipe I acquired from a family member. Watch out for more through this amazing group of bloggers as they take you on a delicious testing journey of heirloom recipes and new ones from the books.
Plastic chutney
Sweet raw papaya from the Bengali Cuisine
Ingredients
- 1 cup drinking water
- 1 cup raw papaya peeled and the white flesh sliced thin.
- 6 tbsp unrefined sugar or jaggery
- 2 tsp Lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Wash and peel the papaya well.
- Slice into thin chip like pieces to get one cup of losely packed pieces
- In a sauce pan add water and sugar and prepare a simple syrup on low heat
- Now add the papaya pieces and salt and bring to a boil
- Cover and simmer till the papaya pieces cook and attain glass like appearence
- Remove the cover and simmer till most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and ad the lemon juice
- Mix well and set aside for 10 minutes.
- It is now ready to serve.
Notes
The tadka on top is totally optional. I have used one tsp ghee to temper nigella seeds, fenugreek seeds and a small red chilli.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
OH wow, that’s something so new and interesting. I am not too much into sweet dishes with tempering, however, this recipe sure makes me want to try. Must have been interesting to note your family’s reaction right..:)
So true, it was a wonderful experiment. As such I a not entirely sure of the tempering. Now I ade it with some raisins.
I was really intrigued by the name! Looks so good! Tempering for sweet dishes do taste good,right! Now I am going to pick up a small papaya on my next visit to the farmers market and try this one. Would love to see the reaction from my family when I serve them this plastic chutney!
Haha don’t tell te its plastic free!!
The raw papaya chutney is new to me. The recipe sounds interesting ..would love to try it sometime
Wow!! This looks really good….would surely try out !!
Glad Anshu. let me know when you try.
Wow looks fantastic and ever so unique. I have never really thought of this concept.
Haha, I was attracted by the name too.
Unique name and recipe, looks good. I would love to try..
Glad dear… try and tag me along
Plastic chutney looks amazing .. Thanks for lovely recipe . Mouth watering
I was curious when I read plastic chutney…hehe kids are so innocent, they believe everything we say. Love the way the chutney has turned out. Awesome
So true, now whenever we talk about the plastics they think of these.
You made me nostalgic. My mom often made this plastic chutney. Still remember the heavenly taste. You made it so perfectly. You don’t need any tadka in it. Some people use mustard tadka but I love it without any oil or tadka. Lovely share.
Sorry read it mustard seed tempering. But you rightly said its optional.
awww… hope all the lovely memories brought a happy smile.
So glad to have the input on the tadka. I tried again, this time with raisins. the kids loved it on toast too.
You have made me nostalgic and crave for these now , my dida (grandma) used to make this for me in my child hood have so lovely memories of this your recipe is just too good thanks a lot for sharing.
I agree it is an old time recipe, I learnt it fro my co sis’s mom. Thanks for checking it out.
Very interestng name and those transparent papaya chunks looks absolutely stunning. Truly a new chutney for me..
Indeed., it is also fabulous on toast. kind of feels like a glass like halwa
I too was definitely intrigued by the name of the chutney..plastic chutney, thank God you had written papaya too in the same line. An interesting and totally new recipe for me.
Haha!! i was debating if I should add that as a keyword or not. then just added it as I really didn’t want to scare the readers.
This looks amazing and the chutney is totally new to me. The recipe sounds so inviting & delicious.
Thanks dear.
I’ve heard of this chutney before but didn’t know how it was made. The name is totally intriguing and very interesting! ? The chutney itself sounds simple and utterly delicious! ?
Yes it was totally for the name that I loved it the first time.
this raw papaya chutney looking tempting seema, name I really never heard but it is tempting me to make.
I would definitely gobble up this edible plastic chutney with my thepla. Such an interesting and tempting recipe. Bookmarking it.
Wow, that is a really interesting way to cook raw papaya. I once made candy gooseberry but this plastic chutney of raw papaya sounds more interesting.
Something new! The name and the dish are so unique…must try this one soon!
So unique and pretty!
Oh yes, I was intrigued by the name. Was thinking what exactly is plastic chutney. Interesting recipe with raw papaya