Papaya Halwa, Pawpaw Pudding

INGREDIENTS:
Ripe papaya(medium size) – 1
Sugar - 2 cup
Ghee - 4-5 tsp

cashew - 10 nos
cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
milk - 1 cup

Ingredients:

Cut the cashew nuts into small pieces and fry them in ghee and keep aside.

Boil the milk for 15-20 minutes in medium heat until gets thick on slow fire.

Heat one tbsp ghee in a pan, add the papaya pulp and fry till the smell vanishes.
Cook it in medium heat and stir occasionally for 5 minutes .

Add the thickened milk  to the papaya mixture and boil it until milk evaporates, then add the sugar and stir continuously in low heat.

Now add the remaining ghee and stir on low heat till the mixture collects in a soft ball or the ghee oozes out.

Now add cashews and cardamom powder.

Mix well and transfer to the greased plate. Let it rest for half an hour. Cut into desired shapes and serve.

Bibbe Upkari, Tender Cashew Side Dish

INGREDIENTS:

Tender cashew nuts- 1 cup

Tendli or Gherkin - 1/2 cup or 10 nos.
Salt - 1 tsp
sugar - 1 tsp
Coconut grated - 2 tblsp

Tempering :
Coconut oil- 6 -7 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Red chilly - 3

Instructions:

1. Soak the Bibbe (cashewnuts) in water overnight - in a little water.
2. Peel the Bibbe (if it has a skin) and gently halve it in the naturally available parting in the center
3. In  a pan , put water+ bibbo + thendli( thendli should be chopped length wise & cut it into 4 pieces) - cover with a lid and cook for about 8-10 minues or  until cooked.
4. In a seperate small pan - heat oil - put mustard into it- when mustard starts to splutter add curry leaf+ red chillies & fry for a while  - remove this from flame and add this tempering  to the cooked bibbe. Add salt and sugar and check for taste.
5. Then garnish the dish with coconut gratings.

This is a typical Konkani dish. It is also exotic as tender cashewnuts are available in season. Dried cashewnuts too can be used. This dish is used during festivals and important functions.