Plastic Chutney

Green Papaya is a vegetable usually that does not usually feature in anyone’s favourites list. Mostly it is used as a tenderizer. Here I have attempted to break this myth by presenting the green papaya in  a sweet delicious form that is very popular in West Bengal.

This was probably named as plastic chutney because the texture of this dish looks similar to shining plastic pieces.

Ingredients:

1. Green Papaya – thinly sliced- 120 gm
2. Sugar –80 gm
3. Lemon juice – 1 tblspn (preferably gandharaj* lemon)
4. Salt – 1 big pinch
5. Water: for cooking papaya – 120 gm
6. Water: for making sugar syrup – 80 gm

Method:

In a pan boil water, add salt and cook the papaya slices till soft but crunchy. Be careful not to overcook the papaya. After a while, the papaya slices willbecome transparent.

In separate pan boil water, add sugar and make a free-flowing syrup. Cool it andstrain it in a muslin for removing impurities. Now add this syrup over the boiled papaya slices, add raisins and cook for another 10mins till the liquid thickens and the syrup brings a shine to the chutney. Add lemon juice, give a nice stir and switch off the stove. The papaya slices should shine like plastic pieces. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with thinly sliced lime leaves.

*Gandharaj lime is a lime variety primarily available in eastern sector of India, in Bengal. Its strong flavor is similar to lemon grass & kaffir lime.