Mango usually gets one of three jobs in an Indian kitchen. Pickle it, turn it into something sweet, or eat it straight over the sink and deal with the consequences later.
In coastal Karnataka, however, mangoes have another job.
Like, going into a curry.
Kukku Da Kajipu is a traditional Mangalorean mango curry that brings ripe mangoes together with coconut, tamarind, jaggery and spices. The combination sounds unusual until you taste it. Then the whole thing makes sense. The sweetness of the mango and jaggery meets the sharpness of tamarind, while the coconut and spices round it out into a rich, comforting gravy.
It is the kind of Indian mango recipe that makes you wonder why mango curry isn't talked about more often.
And it is surprisingly easy to make.
How to make Kukku Da Kajipu
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Start by placing 2-3 peeled ripe mangoes in a pot with 2 cups of water and a little salt. Cook until the mangoes soften but still hold their shape.
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Add CURRYiT Tamarind Paste and jaggery to the pot. Let everything simmer together until the gravy starts to thicken and the sweet-tangy flavour comes through.
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For the coconut base, blend grated coconut or coconut powder with turmeric and a little water until smooth. Stir this into the mango curry and let it cook gently for a few minutes.
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Now for the part that makes the kitchen smell like something very good is happening.
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Heat oil and add mustard seeds, dried red chillies and fenugreek seeds. Once they begin to sizzle, add the curry leaves. Pour the tempering over the curry and give it a gentle stir.
That’s it.
Serve the Mangalorean mango curry hot with rice and let the sweet, sour and spicy flavours do their thing.
The beauty of this easy mango curry recipe is that nothing is trying to overpower anything else. The mango is still recognisable, the tamarind gives it a little edge, jaggery keeps things balanced and the coconut brings everything together.
If you are looking for a weekend special recipe that feels different from the usual curries, this one is worth trying while mangoes are around.
Mango season just took a very delicious detour.
Want to see the recipe?
Watch the video recipe to see exactly how we make Kukku Da Kajipu, from cooking the mangoes to finishing it with that fragrant tempering.
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