Raw Papaya Gojju (Curry)

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  20 mins

Papaya is popularly eaten when ripe, as a fruit.  Raw papaya is richer in essential enzymes and nutrients that support the digestive system than the ripe fruit.  This delicacy uses raw papaya to make a savory curry that pairs very well with chapati, dosa, rotti or rice.  

Ingredients:

• Chopped raw papaya - 3 cups
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Roasted gram - 1 tbsp
• Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1.5 tsp
• Black pepper - 0.5 tsp
• Red chilies - 10-12
• Salt
• Tamarind - 1 lemon sized
• Jaggery (or) brown sugar - 1 small lemon sized
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 1 stalk

Method:

• Peel, deseed and chop the raw papaya into small cubes
• If preferred, the papaya pieces can be pressure cooked ('Pressure' mode for 4 mins in IP) (or) it can be cooked along with the seasoning directly
• In a vessel dry roast the red chilies, coriander seeds, cumin, black peppercorns ('Saute' mode in IP)
• Place them all in a grinder along with coconut, roasted gram, garlic jaggery and salt
• Make a fine paste with warm water
• In a tbsp of oil, splutter mustard seeds and add curry leaves ('Saute' mode in IP)
• Add the chopped papaya and saute with a little salt (if not doing pressure cooking) 
• Cover it and cook tender or slightly firm, as per preference
• If not, add the pressure cooked papaya to the seasoning and saute
• Pour the ground coconut and spices paste into the cooked vegetable
• Cover and cook, stirring every now and then
• Turn off heat when it comes to boil
• Top it with a small square of butter (optional) and serve with hot rotis, chapatis, dosas, rottis or even some rice

Tips and Tricks:

• Roasting the red chilies and spices before grinding takes away the raw smells 
• Using hot/warm water while grinding coconut, etc will help in cleaning. The blender jar won't get greasy 
• Adding a little salt to the vegetable first aids in faster cooking (it releases water) and in even taste
• Stirring for the first couple mins. after adding the paste is essential.  Roasted gram tends to become lumpy otherwise
• The same can be made with a variety of other vegetables like bell peppers (or) potatoes (or) green beans (or) carrots (or) eggplant (or) pumpkin (or) white pumpkin, etc

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: