11 hours Ago By Priya Kothari
1 2 3 Pune: Home chefs are paying ode to the king of fruits this mango season by rustling up an array of sweet and tangy regional dishes. From the rich aamras of Maharashtra and Gujarat to the spicy Punjabi mango pickle, and from Bengal's famed aam pora sharbat to the tangy-spicy aam dal, kitchens are alive with innovation and nostalgia. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "There are just so many unique dishes that can be prepared from mango.
Every year, we order food from different home chefs to taste their mango preparations. Last year, we ordered an Andhra mango curry from a local home chef which was divine," said Gita Abrol, a resident of Wanowrie. Shikha Banerjee, a resident of Kharadi, said that she regularly orders from home chefs during the mango season.
"I remember consuming some special mango dishes when I was young and lived in Kolkata. I recently found out someone in a nearby society preparing mango chutney, so I ordered it, and it was just what I was craving for," said Shikha. Tanushree Dey, who runs her cloud kitchen Ridhaan's – Taste Happiness in Hadapsar, said that a favourite in summer is her preparation of aam pora sharbat.
"This is a Bengali preparation and tastes different from aam panna. In aam pora, we burn the mangoes and then prepare the tangy-sweet drink. That lends it a smoky flavour.
I also prepare regional mango specialities like aam dal and aam chutney, which are also high in demand," she said. Home chef Kiran Anand moved to Pune from Ambala in Punjab many years ago. She said that her homemade mango pickles are a big hit with customers.
"I prepare two varieties of Punjabi mango pickles – spicy and sweet. Regular mango pickle is sour, but mine is infused with mustard, methi, and other spices, which makes it unique. I get a lot of repeat orders," said Anand, who prepares these pickles from her home kitchen in Kharadi.
Aarti Pujari, a self-taught baker, started taking orders for her mango cakes and desserts during the pandemic. "I prepare healthy desserts, and a lot of my cakes are gluten-free. The mango mava cake is a unique preparation which I developed.
I use real Alphonso mangoes in my cake, and I supply these all over the city," she said. The simple, indulgent aam ras is popularly made by Maharashtrian, Rajasthani, and Gujarati households during the mango season. This is also much sought after.
Another home chef, Minoo Agarwal, has been making small batches of fresh mango pulp to supply to mango lovers. "I sell the mango pulp throughout the year. I don't add any preservatives, and a lot of people buy ready homemade pulp from me," she said.
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