Recipe: Experience Assam’s Ancient Raw Papaya Stew
45 mins
Cooking Time
Intermediate
Difficulty
9
Ingredients
Vegan
Diet
One of the most recognisable dishes from Assam, khar embodies the unique cuisine of the state. The traditional method of making khar involves filtering alkaline water through the ashes of a banana stem. This process imparts the dish's signature taste and purifying qualities. Raw papaya is the traditional ingredient because of how well it absorbs the alkaline broth, which gives the meal a mild bitterness and earthy overtones.
Assamese people think that khar can help with digestion, cleanse the body, and get the stomach ready for bigger meals; therefore, it is more than simply food to them. Serving khar as a palate cleanser at the start of a meal is a common practice in traditional Assamese cuisine. Forget about overpowering spices; its singularity rests on its bare essentials: alkaline water, mustard oil, and the inherent papaya taste. Learn to cook khar for a filling and homely North Eastern meal.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
2 cups Raw papaya
1 cup Alkaline water (khar)
1 tbspMustard oil
1 smallOnion (sliced)
2 clovesGarlic
2 (slit)Green chillies
to tasteSalt
2 cupsWater
for garnishCoriander leaves
Follow
Directions
Description - Step 1
Step 1: Prepare the alkaline water
The traditional method for making khar involves burning sun-dried banana stems or peels to ash. After it has cooled, prepare the alkaline water by filtering one cup of water through the ash. This liquid is what makes khar special; it imparts the dish's distinctively rustic taste. To make it more suitable for modern kitchens, substitute the alkaline effect with ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Prep the papaya
Cut the raw papaya into medium-sized pieces after peeling it. Wash it well to get rid of any sticky residue.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Sauté aromatics
In a skillet, heat the mustard oil until it begins to slightly smoke. Add Slit green chillies, crushed garlic, and sliced onion. Fry until onions become transparent and aromatic.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Cook the papaya
Toss in the papaya cubes. Coat with aromatics and oil by stirring well. Sauté the papaya for 5 minutes with the salt, or until it starts to soften.
Description - Step 5
Step 5: Add alkaline water
Add the alkaline water and 2 cups of plain water. Bring to a low boil, stirring. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the papaya is soft and the broth takes on a clean, earthy taste.
Description - Step 6
Step 6: Finish & Serve
Lastly, top with a few sprigs of fresh coriander. The classic Assamese thali dish calls for steamed rice with khar served hot over it.