Miskut and Mercy: A Meditation on Transformation
Raw mango transforms into aromatic Miskut, a Goan pickle. This journey mirrors a believer’s life. Discover the recipe in my next blog under Kitchen flavors and embrace transformation today
DAILY REFLECTIONS
Wandering Armenian
6/2/20252 min read


Miskut and Mercy: A Meditation on Transformation
("Miskut," which translates to "pickled mango" or "mango pickle" in English, is a popular Goan condiment made with raw mangoes and a blend of spices. And this pickle making is a process of transformation, as it goes through several steps before the really turns into that delicious aromatic substance on the dining table. Just as raw mangoes go through a transformation to become that Miskut or traditional pickle (check the recipe in the blog) so does the life of a believer).
In the quiet lanes of Chittorgarh, where ancient walls whisper of bygone kings, late Father Richard Coutinho—an elderly Goan priest—gathered at dawn in his humble kitchen to begin the making of Miskut, the pickled mango. He selected green mangoes from his small courtyard tree, their skins taut and unripe. With gentle hands, he would wash them in the first light, then slice each mango into thick wedges. Each piece is sprinkled with coarse salt, laid out on a terracotta plate to absorb the early sun. As the mangoes dry, Father Richard would than prepare a mixture of mustard seeds, fenugreek, fennel, and chili powder. He’d blend these spices with oil and vinegar—simple elements that will, in time, transform the sour fruit into a fragrant, tangy relish that would bring parish families together at community mealtime.
And so, it is with the life of a believer, that is how I see it. At first, the rawness of our hearts—pride, sorrow, unrest—feels immutable. Yet when we surrender to the Master Chief, He works upon us as Father Richard works upon each mango: patiently, purposefully, and with loving care.
The Psalmist sings of this refining work: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). We are laid bare under His light, our impurities drawn out like moisture from the mango. In the waiting, we cry out: “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined” (Psalm 66:10). There is no hiding in that open kitchen—no hiding in the presence of our Maker.
As Father Richard would return to gather the parched mango slices, he mixed in the bittersweet spices. The mangoes will rest once more before their flavours fully emerge. Similarly, we find our hearts seasoned by trials and prayers. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Through prayer and Scripture, He invites us to the foot of the cross, where all our brokenness is met with mercy.
The finished Miskut—brimming with complex aroma and taste—is a humble gift, just as a transformed heart becomes an offering of praise. May every soul who reads this simple meditation taste the sweetness of surrender and know that the Master Chief delights in bringing beauty from brokenness.
I guess I can sum up the above in these lines if you allow me-
In brine of grace, my soul finds rest,
Where once was raw, now is His best.
His Spirit’s fire refines each part,
A humble art within the heart...
