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Mango is the religion during Indian summer, everywhere there are mangoes, from sweets to savoury. Many places in India also celebrate Mango festivals. India is blessed with varieties of mango, it is a high a calorie seasonal fruit. Sarika shares a Mango dessert, in the weekly column, exclusively in Different Truths.
Payesh aka kheer (pudding) is an indispensable part of Bengali household. From birthdays to any festivals payesh is always granted as auspicious. Last month my parents were here, so I had some good time with them. Sometimes, I sit and think, however, old you are, your parents will always treat you like a baby. And who doesn’t want to be spoilt? But my fragile Baba (father) is in a wheelchair for the last decade. One cerebral attack and everything changed forever. Now, I feel like I am their mother, I know its life cycle, and everyone has their own stories.
I believe we should also pamper them as and when, and believe me, they will be happy with a call or sometimes a small meal prepared by us. Their expectation is so meager, which anyone can afford.
So, as I said, last month, when Maa-Baba (parents) visited me, apart from some hospital visits I also took them to different places in and around the city, we (maa and me) also prepared some of our favourite dishes. Mango is the religion during Indian summer, everywhere there are mangoes, from sweets to savoury. Many places in India also celebrate Mango festivals. India is blessed with varieties of mango, it is a high a calorie fruit and seasonal too! So people can have it without any guilt (once a year). I am on mango diet since 2002, but can’t deny the fact that it is the king of fruits.
As I tweeted, we prepared few dishes together but my mango payesh was super hit and Baba gave me 10/10. Who doesn’t like credit, when it came from parents; there is no limit of joy! I was on Cloud Nine and that feeling still lingers on…
Here is the recipe.
Mango Payesh
One-litre cow milk or full cream milk
1/3 cup Basmati Rice or Gobindobhog special aromatic rice (soaked in cold water for about 45mins)
½ cup sugar or as per your taste.
1or 2 mangoes (depending on size of the mangoes) chopped and blends to make mango pulp or ½ cup ready-made cane mango pulp
Chopped cashew and raisins
Procedure
Take a deep bottom pan and boil the milk very well until milk becomes half in quantity.
Keep aside.
Now, take another large pan and add half water and half milk. Boil it properly.
Now add the soaked rice into the pan and boiled the rice with the milk. When rice will be cooked, add enough sugar and boil for another three minutes until pudding becomes thick or your desired consistency.
Let the payesh cool completely or wait for half an hour then add mango pulp and mix it well.
Now, at this point, you can cook it again for few minutes or let it be like this (I skipped again cooking part)
Now, pour it into a small bowl and garnish it with chopped cashew nuts, raisins, and chopped mangoes.
Enjoy the summer dessert with family and friends.
©Sarika Sarkar Das
Photos by the author.
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