Avnas- Ambe Sasam (Pineapple- Mango Spicy Pudding)

Avnas- Ambe Sasam is a coconut based mixed fruit dish. In Konkani, Avnas means pineapple and ambo means mango. This dish is very popular konkani dish and it is commonly prepared in summer, when the mangoes are available in plenty. This is also one of those dishes which is included in the menu of family function like marriage, thread ceremony etc (as it is a non garlic and non onion dish). I got this recipe from my mother.

Try making this unique dish as it has a very different taste. It is little sweet, spicy and sour. The sweetness comes from the jaggery, spiciness from red chilli and sourness from pineapple.

Ingredients:

• Pineapple, chopped- 1 cup
• Ripe Mango, medium sized- 1
• Grapes- Few (optional)
• Grated Coconut, fresh/frozen- 1/2 cup
• Roasted Red chilli- 1
• Jaggery- To taste
• Mustard seeds- 1/2+1/2 tsp
• Oil- 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves- Few
• Salt- 1/4 tsp

Procedure:

Remove the peel of the mango and pineapple. Chop them into bite size pieces.

Next step is to prepare the masala. Grind grated coconut, roasted red chill, jaggery, 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds and salt to get a semi- coarse paste. Add water as required (masala should not be watery).

Add all the chopped fruits in a bowl and then add ground masala. Mix well. Then add seasoning.

For seasoning- Heat oil and then add remaining mustard seeds. Once it starts spluttering, add curry leaves and turn off the heat. Add this to the fruit mixture.
Avnas- Ambe Sasam is ready!!

Serve it as a side dish to rice. Above measurement serves two people.

Note: Consume this dish on the same day. It doesn't taste that good next day. But still you can store the left over in the refrigerator and finish it off the next day.