Here’s a recipe that might not give you a conventional chutney-like vibe, but it definitely is a chutney dish. This Papaya Chutney, popularly known as Papaya Sambharo in Gujarati cuisine is a crunchy and spiced chutney made with raw papaya. The food culture of Gujarat is as vibrant and versatile as the state in itself. It is mostly known for its variety of delicious vegetarian dishes. This sambharo made with unripe papaya is one such dish. More of a side dish, this chutney is quite healthy and vegan too.
About Papaya Chutney
It is true fact that we Indians are a little more sensitive and serious about various condiments that the Indian cuisine has to offer. All types of chutneys and pickles top this list. Hence, I decided to share this typical Gujarati delicacy, Papaya Sambharo, which is also a chutney in this post.
Like other chutneys, the Papaya Chutney also has its regional variations. For instance, there’s this Gujarati specialty, which gives more of a dry sabzi mouth-feel to it. Whereas on the other hand, there’s a Bengali style chutney made of raw papaya, also referred to as the Plastic Chutney. This one is more in a liquidy form.
Table of Contents
The one from Bengali cuisine also has a texture that resembles a plastic. This is because you cook the unripe papaya in this version, in a particular way. Another difference is that the Gujarati Papaya Chutney is spicy with slight hints of sweetness and tang, as compared to the Bengali one which is completely sweet on the whole.
For Gujaratis, Fafda and Papaya Sambharo is a match made in heaven. The fafda’s crispiness, the subtle spiciness of the green chilies, the moisture, crunch, and papaya flavor in the chutney create a diverse range of textures and flavors in this blend. There’s also another special besan Fafda Chutney, often served with the fafda.
More on Papaya Chutney
While I was staying in Mumbai, a Gujarati farsan (snacks) shop close to our home used to serve fafda along with this Papaya Chutney as the morning breakfast. I have this liking for it, since then.
On some weekends I would buy fafda, Papaya Chutney and fried green chilies from the snack shop along with some jalebi too. This used to be my favorite breakfast then, and also now.
The best part of this rich meal was actually the sambharo, which would taste heavenly the fafda. During Dussehra and Diwali festivals, this combination would sell like hot cakes.
In addition to the fafda, this Gujarati style Papaya Chutney is also usually served with Methi Na Gota, Khaman Dhokla and gathiya. Making this chutney is very easy and just takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
I make another carrot sambharo, which is similar to this Papaya Sambharo. This Papaya Chutney recipe comes very close to the one sold in Gujarati mithai (sweet) shops. Even though it is served with fafda and gathiya, you can also serve it with methi thepla, rava dhokla, plain paratha or aloo paratha and even as a side dish with dal-rice.
How to make Papaya Chutney
Grating raw papaya
1. Rinse and peel 1 small raw papaya.
2. Cut the papaya in 2 parts.
3. Scrape of the tiny seeds and pith with a sharp spoon or a knife. The seeds and pith have to be removed well or else it might make the chutney bitter.
4. Now, grate each papaya. You can use a hand held grater or grate in a food processor. You will need 1.25 cups tightly packed grated papaya. Keep grated papaya aside.
Making Papaya Chutney
5. Heat ½ tablespoon oil in a pan and add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds. You can use peanut oil or sunflower oil. Keep the heat to low or medium-low.
6. Fry till the mustard seeds splutter.
7. Then, add 2 to 3 green chilies, sliced in large pieces or kept whole, 7 to 8 curry leaves and 1 pinch asafoetida (hing). Curry leaves can be chopped or kept whole.
8. Mix well on low heat.
9. Sauté till the green chilies get slightly crisp.
10. Add the grated papaya.
11. Then, add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder.
12. Mix well.
13. Then, add ¼ teaspoon sugar and salt as per taste.
14. Mix very well.
15. Sauté the chutney mixture, stirring often.
16. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes on low heat.
17. Lastly, add ¼ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix very well. At this step, you can also add some roasted sesame seeds and some chopped coriander leaves.
18. Serve Papaya Chutney with fafda, methi na gota, gathiya, dhokla, methi thepla, white dhokla or dal-rice.
Expert Tips
- Make sure to scrape off the tiny seeds and the pith of the raw papaya with a sharp knife or spoon. If you don’t do so, the chutney will turn out to be bitter.
- You can grate the unripe papaya using a hand-held grate or food processor.
- Peanut oil or sunflower oil can be used for the tempering.
- Green chilies can be added less or more, as per the spiciness you want in the sambharo. Curry leaves can be chopped or kept whole.
- When you add lemon juice at the end, you can also add some chopped coriander leaves and/or roasted sesame seeds.
More Tasty Recipes To Try!
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Papaya Chutney | Papaya Sambharo
Ingredients
- 1.25 cups tightly packed grated papaya or 1 small papaya
- ½ tablespoon oil (peanut or sunflower oil)
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 to 3 green chilies – sliced in large pieces or kept whole
- 7 to 8 curry leaves
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon sugar or add as required
- ¼ teaspoon lemon juice or add as required
Instructions
grating papaya
- Rinse and peel 1 small unripe papaya.
- Cut the papaya in two parts.
- Scrape of the tiny seeds and pith with a sharp spoon or a knife. The seeds and pith have to be removed well or else it might make papaya chutney bitter.
- Now grate each papaya halve. You can use a hand held grater or grate in a food processor. You will need 1.25 cups tightly packed grated papaya. Keep grated papaya aside.
making papaya chutney
- Heat ½ tablespoon oil in a pan and add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds. Keep the flame to a low or medium-low.
- Fry till the mustard seeds crackle and splutter.
- Then add 2 to 3 green chilies (sliced in large pieces or kept whole), 7 to 8 curry leaves and 1 pinch asafoetida (hing). Curry leaves can be chopped or kept whole.
- Sauté till the green chilies get slightly crisp with a few blisters.
- Then add the grated papaya and ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder. mix well.
- Then add ¼ teaspoon sugar and salt as per taste. mix very well.
- Stirring often sauté the chutney mixture for 3 to 4 minutes on a low flame.
- Lastly add ¼ teaspoon lemon juice. Mix very well.
- Serve raw papaya chutney with fafda, khaman dhokla, methi na gota, gathiya, methi thepla, lauki thepla, mooli thepla, plain paratha or dal-rice.
Notes
- This recipe can be scaled easily.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
This Papaya Chutney Recipe from the archives was first published in March 2017. It has been updated and republished in April 2024.
