Kamranga Makha (Star Fruit Relish) .... A Simple Recipe to Uplift Your Mood!

It's a very very simple recipe ...maybe too simple for a blog post. But the taste is not simple at all... just a bite .... your mouth will blast with a complex tantalizing flavour! ... just thinking of it makes my mouth watering. I promise it will uplift all your senses and mood instantly!

And these star-fruits or carambolas are highly rich in vitamin C and antioxidants ..... reason enough to devour ... not only to lift your mood but also to boost your immunity which is very much important during this time of Covid crisis! The fruits are available in the market now .... do yourself a favour ... collect some and prepare this relish! Who knew it just takes hardly ten minutes of effort to reach Nirvana.

Kamranga-Makha (Star Fruit Relish) Recipe

Ingredients: 
Star fruits - 2 big (I prefer a little ripe)
Sugar - 1 tablespoon
Black salt - 1/2 teaspoon or to taste
Green chilli - 1 finely chopped
Dry red chilli - 1
Mustard oil - 1 teaspoon

Method:

• In a small pan heat 1 tsp of mustard oil. When smoking hot, add red chilli and let it get burnt and black in colour .... this is important to get that ultimate smokey flavour!

• Let it cool down. In a big bowl add all the ingredients (except starfruits) along with that smokey oil. Use your hand to mash and mix everything nicely.
• Now take the star fruits. With a peeler, cut a bit from top and bottom. Also, remove narrow strips from the ridges.

• Thinly slice the fruits and keep in that bowl with the spice mix.
• Again use your hand and give everything a nice mix ....the aroma is irresistible now! No need for self-control... taste one! Adjust seasoning if needed. Cover the bowl with a plate and shake very well.
• Now keep it covered for at least five minutes for all the flavours to mingle nicely. The sugar and salt will melt and the fruits will also release some juice.
• Indulge.
• Don't forget to sip the juice at the end! 
• All your senses are refreshed now... I bet!

Notes:

• When shopping for the fruits look for the ripe ones. Green ones are edible but too sour ... the fruits should be firm with a touch of yellow. Those will have the right balance of sweet and sour taste!
• May I advise not to miss the addition of burnt dry chilli, please! If you can't tolerate too much heat then skip the green chilli and go for a less hot variety of dry red chilli but use it! 
• Mustard oil will add the right zing but if you don't have, use whatever you have! I think sesame oil will be a good substitute too!
• Well! You can make relish of many other fruits using the same spice mix like raw mango, black plum etc. The proportion of spices will change depending on the fruit's tartness or sweetness!

• For a black plum or Kalojam makha use more salt and less sugar as the ripe Jamuns are already sweet with a hint of tartness!