Mango Kesar Peda

While hunting for sweet dish recipes during the festival of diwali on the internet, I found this amazingly simple recipe for Mango peda and tried it at home. The Pedas turned out really sweet and delicious. Kesar (saffron) was my addition to the recipe and can be skipped if not at hand.

Ingredients

1.5 cups - ricotta cheese

2 cups mango pulp

Saffron - a couple of strands

Evaporated milk - 4 tsp

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

Sugar – 3 tsp

Raisins – as many as number of pedas

Mix everything in a microwave safe bowl or deep dish. Cook for 5 min, and let it stand for a minute. Keep on repeating it a number of times (it took me a total of 30 minutes) stirring in between, till the liquid goes away and what remains is a soft mixture. Add cardamom and mix well. Roll out small pedas and press a raisin in each of them.

Mango pulp gave them an interesting flavor and the appealing color without the use of food color. Enjoy!

Serving suggestions

·         Needs no accompaniments

Tips

·       If you overcook in the microwave resulting in a very dry mixture, add 1 tsp of evaporated milk and re-heat for a few seconds. Damage control!

  Interesting fact

·        The Mango is regarded a symbol of summer in Australia and the first mango tray of the season is traditionally auctioned for charity.