Think of an Indian meal and you just cannot picture it without some pickle on the plate. Weather it's a simple paratha or some dal chawal, achaar is a staple with most of north Indian meals. And we aren't complaining. The tantalising flavours of its spices can make anyone slurp at the very mention. Be it the zesty lemon pickle or juicy mixed veg one, we simply can't have enough of our classic achaars.
Aam ka achaar (or mango pickle) is one of the most popular ones. An Indian kitchen, besides the range of spices, can be identified with a huge jar of mango pickle on the shelves. Apart from the mouth-watering flavour, pickles are also known to have good digestive properties. According to celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, pickles are reliable source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants too. And when we speak of aam ka achaar, nothing beats the classic homemade one. The traditional achaar recipes that have been handed over from our grandmothers to our mothers prove to be the best even today; and, of course, better than the ones we get in the market.
(Also Read: Move Over, Traditional Pickles: Try These 4 Interesting Achaar Recipes At Home)
And if you thought making aam ka achar can be tedious, we've got a fuss-free recipe for you to try it at home! In this quick and easy recipe, spices and herbs (fenugreek seeds, red pepper, onion seeds, peppercorns, turmeric and salt) are mixed together with mustard oil in a jar. The mix is rubbed over chopped mangoes and layered one after another in the jar. It is covered and kept in the sun for over a week up to a month, till it is tender.
Serve this with piping hot aloo ke parathas or spruce up your regular dal with this tantalising achaar at home!
Find the full recipe of aam ka achaar here.
Try it at home and let us know your experience in the comments section below.