Mukkani Payasam / முக்கனி பாயாசம்

Mukkani Payasam ( ma, Pala & Vazhai)

முக்கனி பாயாசம் ( மா, பலா & வாழை)

                                    
Ingredients:
Ripe Mango ( ஒரு சிறிய மாம்பழம்) - 1 medium size
Banana ( இரு நடுத்தர அளவு வாழைப்பழம்)  - 2 medium size
Jack fruit lobes/bulbs ( பலாப்பழ சுளைகள்) -  6
Coconut MIlk or Fresh Milk ( தேங்காய் பால் அல்லது பசும்பால்) - 1 cup
Sugar ( சக்கரை) - 4 tsp
Ghee (  நெய்) - 1 tbsp
Cashewnuts ( முந்திரிப் பருப்பு) - 7 pieces (split into halves)

Steps: 
Peel and slice the ripe banana and fine chop the Mango. Remove the seed and slit the jackfruit lobes lengthwise. 

In a saucepan add ghee, fry the cashew nuts, remove and keep aside.
 In the same pan add the jackfruit pieces and saute for 2 minutes.

Toss in the banana slices and continue to cook. 

Both the fruits become a bit caramelised with the sugar content in them. 

Let the fruits cool, blend in a blender to a coarse mix. Bring back to boil, add sugar and finely chopped mango bits. Switch off the flame. Pour in the coconut milk and add the fried cashew nuts. Mix well and serve hot or chilled. 

My Notes:

The three fruits or the mukkani, as it is called in our Tamil language has a special place in Tamil culture. Banana and Mango are often offered at temples while jackfruit gets its attention during festivals and ceremonies. Serving all the three fruits is considered as an honour to the guest.

All three fruits are available during the summer season. 

On the Chitrai varuda pirappu, the Tamil New year, these 3 fruits find their place by default for prayers. After the prayers, mostly it is cut and served during the feast. Sometimes the dessert, mukkani payasam is prepared which I have posted here.

I have not included cardamom flavour as I wanted to keep the dessert to its original fruit flavours. I have just added fried cashew nuts for that crunchy bits here and there. Do not blend the fruits to a fine paste. You can substitute the coconut milk with fresh milk. Sugar can be adjusted based on the sweetness of the fruits. 

On the Tamil New Year day, Vishu kani is viewed ( fruits, vegetables, rice, dhal, currency and jewellery ) followed by eating a mixture of raw mango pieces mixed with neem flowers and jaggery powder first thing in the morning. Eating this symbolises that life is a mixture of sweet, sour and bitter experiences and one should have a receptivity for all. 

Food with a taste of each of the six tastes is cooked and served on this day. I had prepared Mong dhal jaggery payasam and Channa dhal fritters for the offering. I had also cooked banana flower stir fry, which is one of the six tastes, to go with sambar, rasam, kootu and pachadi.

Raw Mango, neem flowers and Jaggery signifying sweet, bitter and sour experiences in life.