Raw peanut and mango relish

Have you watched the documentary 'Food Inc'? Did it in any way change the way you purchase your food especially meat products? Increasingly I am hearing from a lot who made the decision to stop eating meat completely and gone vegetarian, others have become discriminating in the way they source their meat and a few others are thinking about it and searching for alternative sources to purchase their meat.

I am curious to know which category you belong to. Can you indulge me and take part in a small survey? Available on the right side bar. Thank you.

Obesity is no more just an American problem. Obesity is a growing problem in India as well. While in the US it is an acute problem among the poor and lower income people who have no easy access to fresh produce or who simply cannot afford the cost associated with purchasing fresh food. Money of course goes farther when purchasing fast food.

In India it is the opposite in the demographic that is affected by obesity. It is the affluent that seem to be the most afflicted with weight related diseases. They have the purchasing power to indulge in overly processed packaged, rich foods that feed empty calories. Moreover the once active Indian society is increasingly becoming sedentary with children rarely playing outside but spending a large amount of time watching TV. No wonder children are the group that is also affected.

Part of the problem lies in not being able to differentiate good and bad foods. In a country where being fat is considered being prosperous, obesity is the last thing people worry about I guess.

With growing affluence and demand for meat rising sharply, I bet the factory method of raising animals practiced here in the US is probably already adopted in India as well. It would be a couple of decades before someone does a documentary on issues related to factory farming in India.

It would certainly help to know more about the farms and the conditions in which animals are raised. So if you get a chance please watch this documentary.

Now on to the recipe,

I saw this delicious looking Hot and sweet mango relish on Amma's special and as luck would have it there was a raw mango sitting in the fridge. The thought of combining raw peanuts and raw mango in a relish came to mind and that is what I did.

Raw mango and Raw peanut relish
Ingredients
1. 1 raw mango washed and cut into cubes
2. 1 cup raw peanuts
3. 6 dried red chilies
4. a tiny pinch of asfoetida
5. 2 tbsp jaggery
6. 1 tbsp red chili powder
7. 2 tsp fenugreek seeds + 2 tsp mustard seeds
8. seasonings - mustard seeds , curry leaves, urad dal
9. 1 tsp turmeric powder
10. salt to taste
11. 2 tsp of oil
12. 1 tsp sesame oil

Method
1. Heat oil in a pan, add the urad dal, mustard seeds and curry leaves
2. Add the chopped mango pieces and the turmeric powder and about 1 1/2 cups of water and let it cook covered for about 10-15 minutes
3. In the meantime boil the peanuts drain and set aside
4. Roast the mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds and make a powder
5. Once the mango is soft add the powdered mustard fenugreek powder and chili powder and give a good mix and let cook for 2 minutes
6. Now add the peanuts and mix
7. Add the jaggery, sesame oil and salt and let it cook for another 5 minutes

Goes for anytime you want a sweet, hot and sour relish.


Note:
1. The peanuts add a crunch and a slightly different taste
2. Follow the original linked recipe for a pure mango relish
3. It tastes best a day later when the peanuts have absorbed the spices
4. Put in the refrigerator after 2 days