Plastic chutney is made from freshly grated raw papaya, sugar, lemon juice, and salt. The process to make plastic chutney is very simple as revealed in my recipe.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Plastic chutney needs very few simple and common kitchen ingredients to make.
- Plastic chutney can be served with a variety of dishes such as grilled meats, grilled or pan-seared fish or shrimp, samosas, pakoras, or any other Indian snacks, rice dishes, roti, or paratha, idli, dosa, sandwiches, or a cheese platter.
- Store the remaining chutney is an airtight container, preferably of plastic, in your fridge to preserve the freshness.
- Plastic chutney tastes sweet and tangy.
- Papaya and mango chutney, mixed fruit chutney, and papaya orange chutney offers an alternative taste.
The Ingredients:
To make the plastic chutney:
- 150 gram papaya (raw)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup water
For garnishing the plastic chutney:
- 5 pieces cashew nuts
- 6 pieces raisin
I discovered this recipe at a wedding in a small village. It wasn’t on the main buffet—it came from the bride’s uncle who insisted me to try. I tried to recreate it—sometimes late into the night. Eventually, I got close. Now I make it every year on the same wedding date, as if I’m toasting to people I barely knew but will never forget.
How to Make Plastic Chutney? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Wash the raw papaya, peel the skin, cut it, and clean the central part that holds the skin. From the whole papaya, take 2 pieces (of about 150 gm) of raw papaya to make the chutney. Grate the papaya using a grater. Make sure it is grated very finely.
(Pro tip: You can also cut very thin slices of raw papaya for the chutney. However, I prefer grated papaya. It looks nice and is also safer than using a sharp knife or a slicer to cut thin slices).
Step 2: Now, take a wok or a frying pan and pour ½ cup of water. Sprinkle ½ tsp of regular table salt in it as well. Then, put the grated papaya in it.
Step 3: Stir it to mix the saline water with the grated papaya. Cover it and let it boil for about 5 to 6 minutes on a high flame.
Step 4: After 5 minutes, remove the cover and check whether it is cooked nicely or not. If it is done, then strain the grated papaya to separate it from the hot water and set it aside.
(Pro tip: The time taken by it to cook nicely will depend on the amount of grated papaya you have used).
Step 5: Now, put 1 cup of sugar in the pan and add ½ cup of water to it. Stir it nicely to mix the sugar nicely with the water and let it boil for about a minute or two on a high flame to make the sugar syrup. When it comes to a boil, stir it continuously. This will give the right consistency to the sugar syrup.
Step 6: Now, add the boiled papaya to the sugar syrup. Stir it nicely so that the papaya mixes well with the sweet syrup.
Step 7: Cover it and cook it for another 5 minutes or so. Check after 5 minutes. By this time the chutney should have the desired consistency. At this point, add 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice to it. Mix it nicely and turn the flame of the gas stove off after about a minute or so.
(Pro tip: Adding fresh lemon juice is crucial. Since raw papaya does not have any specific taste, this will give the chutney a bitter-sweet taste).
Step 8: Let the chutney cool for some time in the pan and then transfer it to a bowl. Garnish it with 5 pieces of cashew nuts and 6 pieces of raisins and your tasty, homemade plastic chutney is ready to consume.
Recipe Card
Plastic Chutney
Ingredients
To make the plastic chutney:
- 150 gram papaya raw
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup water
For garnishing the plastic chutney:
- 5 pieces cashew nuts
- 6 pieces raisin
Instructions
- Wash the raw papaya, peel the skin, cut it, and clean the central part that holds the skin. From the whole papaya, take 2 pieces (of about 150 gm) of raw papaya to make the chutney. Grate the papaya using a grater. Make sure it is grated very finely. (Pro tip: You can also cut very thin slices of raw papaya for the chutney. However, I prefer grated papaya. It looks nice and is also safer than using a sharp knife or a slicer to cut thin slices).
- Now, take a wok or a frying pan and pour ½ cup of water. Sprinkle ½ tsp of regular table salt in it as well. Then, put the grated papaya in it.
- Stir it to mix the saline water with the grated papaya. Cover it and let it boil for about 5 to 6 minutes on a high flame.
- After 5 minutes, remove the cover and check whether it is cooked nicely or not. If it is done, then strain the grated papaya to separate it from the hot water and set it aside. (Pro tip: The time taken by it to cook nicely will depend on the amount of grated papaya you have used).
- Now, put 1 cup of sugar in the pan and add ½ cup of water to it. Stir it nicely to mix the sugar nicely with the water and let it boil for about a minute or two on a high flame to make the sugar syrup. When it comes to a boil, stir it continuously. This will give the right consistency to the sugar syrup.
- Now, add the boiled papaya to the sugar syrup. Stir it nicely so that the papaya mixes well with the sweet syrup.
- Cover it and cook it for another 5 minutes or so. Check after 5 minutes. By this time the chutney should have the desired consistency. At this point, add 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice to it. Mix it nicely and turn the flame of the gas stove off after about a minute or so. (Pro tip: Adding fresh lemon juice is crucial. Since raw papaya does not have any specific taste, this will give the chutney a bitter-sweet taste).
- Let the chutney cool for some time in the pan and then transfer it to a bowl. Garnish it with 5 pieces of cashew nuts and 6 pieces of raisins and your tasty, homemade plastic chutney is ready to consume.
