Sorshe Diye Kancha Aam Makha / Green Mangoes with Bengali Mustard Paste

You can easily categorise this spicy green mango and mustard paste mix as a quintessential afternoon snack for the Bengalis. There is hardly any Bengali around us who in their childhood have not enjoyed a bowl of tremendously sour or at times sweet and sour green mangoes (who are popularly known as "kanch mithe aam” due to their distinctive taste which is neither too sour nor too sweet) with a good spoonful of kasundi or Bengali mustard paste, hiding from the parents and family.

Also at wee afternoon hours, when the streets of Kolkata become almost deserted because of the high temperature and the heat waves, you can always spot at least one man with his wooden cart,  standing in a corner or going along the residential blocks selling green mangoes with kasundi and their secret spice mix.

Sorshe Diye Kancha Aam Makha / Green Mangoes with Bengali Mustard Paste

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 large raw mango

2 tbsp kasundi (You can replace kasundi with homemade mustard paste as well. In that case make the paste with mustard oil and do not use any water or if required use as little as possible)

½ tsp black salt

Salt to taste

½ tsp green chilli paste (optional)

¼ tsp red chilli powder

2 tbsp pure virgin mustard oil

Method:

Peel the raw mangoes and slice them into thin strips.

Place these sliced mangoes in a bowl.

Add in the mustard oil, kasundi or mustard paste, salt, black salt, green chilli paste and red chilli powder.

Adjust the seasonings as per taste.

Serve immediately.