Mango Moramba/Murabba (Sweet Mango Pickle)

A simple recipe, a little time-consuming...but oh, so yummy! This is a typical Maharashtrian delicacy of sorts.

Ingredients:
* One mango (either green and raw or golden and ripe) = cut in small pieces.
* A cup of sugar
* Cardamom (Elaichi) = 3-4 nos, finely crushed.
* Saffron (Kesar) = few strands.

(Note: One cup of sugar for a cup of mango pieces. If the mango is ripe, then deskin it first. If the mango is raw, then the sugar quantity can be increased a bit.)

Method:
* Take a medium-sized vessel and put the sugar in it. To this, add water till the sugar is just about soaked.
* On low fire, heat the sugared water and continuously stir.
* Keep on stirring till the sugar has completely dissolved and the water has slightly thickened into a syrup.
* Add the mango pieces and keep stirring till the mangoes are well mixed.
* Add the cardamom and saffron and continue stirring till a homogeneous syrup is attained.The scent of saffron rises during this process and the mixture slowly gets a yellowish to orange tinge.This takes about 1/2 hour to 40 minutes.
* Remove from gas, let it cool.
* Bottle the mixture and refrigerate it.

This pickle can be a good accompaniment with almost anything. And since it is refrigerated, it can last for a longer time too. Enjoy! :)