Thursday, June 25, 2009

aam ka achar (raw mango pickle)


Any Indian home cannot do without pickles called as achar and aam ka achar is the king of all achars. Call it mango pickle or kairi achar, this is the one pickle which makes you salivate at the thought.

aam ka achar recipe

All our memories of train journeys and school lunch boxes are redolent with aam ka achar, duly stained with the turmeric and spice infused oil.

This particular aam ka achar is a UP specialty which is served with parathas, puris or just anything depending on your imagination. My version is a little different as it has large quantity of masala, almost like a gravy. The masala itself is so tasty that you don't need the mango pieces sometimes, the reason why I make more masala for the quantity of raw mangoes.

Also the masala comes handy sometimes as a salad dressing, or for making some achari veggies or stuffed okra or stuffed karela too. So the extra dose of masala is very useful here and I shall post some of the achari masala recipes in future.

My version of aam ka achar is different in one more respect, that it does not require exposure to sunlight, as is done traditionally. The color and texture of the achar remains as such for 2 years though it does not last that long in my household. There are many takers for this achar and it reaches the dining table of many of my friends.

Clearly my masala to mango ratio is more than normal and you can make double the quantity of achar in the same quantity of masala if you like your achar pieces more than the masala.

aam ka achar recipe

masala required...
( for 4 kg of mangoes)

yellow mustard seeds ground coarsely 200 gm
whole red chilies dried and ground coarsely 200 gm
fenugreek seeds or methi ground coarsely 150 gm
fennel seeds or moti saunf ground coarsely 200 gm
bishops weed or ajwain seeds pounded coarsely 100 gm 
mangrail, kalonji or onion seeds pounded coarely 100 gm
pure crystalline (resin) asafoetida 1/4 tsp
turmeric powder 200 gm
salt 750 gm
mustard oil 1.5 L

the preparation of the achar can be divided in 5 steps.
1. rinsing and chopping the raw mangoes (this is the most laborious work as the mango seeds should be hard and that makes it really tough to cut them. Use a really good knife or old fashioned cleavers)
2. masala preparation and sterilization of jars
3. marination of mango pieces
4. mixing the first masala, ie, chilly and mustard
5. tadka and filling the jars

step 1. Masalas should be prepared before hand or they can be prepared after the marination step. Also the glass jars used to store the achar should be washed well with detergent, dried in the microwave and rinsed with white vinegar before the tadka stage.

aam ka achar recipe

step 2 and 3. First of all cut the raw firm mangoes in serving size pieces and mix with turmeric powder and salt. This will lead to marination and the mango pieces will release water.

aam ka achar recipe

Let it rest for 24 hrs or till it becomes watery as the mangoes release all their water.

aam ka achar recipe

At this point it looks like the mango pieces are drowned in the thick yellow slurry.

In fact 24 -36 hrs is enough time for this but sometimes I leave it as such for 3-4 days when I don't get time to proceed. There is no harm in it, just keep stirring the mixture once a day.

Step 4. You can mix the mustard powder and chilli powder in the marinated raw mango pieces and proceeds for step 5 or the mustard and chilli powders can be added just after the tadka. The idea is not to cook the mustard powder and chilli powder so the colour remains good, flavours intact.

aam ka achar recipe

step 5. Finally heat the oil in a large pan/kadhai heat thoroughly and throw in the asafoetida and let it get dispersed (it tends to fluff up first and then disperses into the oil).

Then add the methi powder, fennel powder and ajwain and kalonji powders in this order and as the masalas disperse quickly in the oil, take the kadhai off the gas.

aam ka achar recipe

Now immediately pour in the achar mixture in to the kadhai and mix well till it looks like this.

aam ka achar recipe

After mixing the achar, it becomes cold enough to handle.

Now fill the achar in sterilized jars, take care not to leave any air spaces in the jar. For this you need to slightly tap the jar against kitchen platform so that the achar settles down nicely leaving no air spaces.

You will see the oil coming on top of the jar in a thin layer. Top up with a little more mustard oil if the surface doesn't gets coated with oil naturally.

aam ka achar recipe

Keep the jar open till it reaches room temperature and then close the lid and keep it safe in your cupboard. No need to keep in the sun. Not at all.

The achar will be ready to eat within a week and you can enjoy the same texture throughout the year. Trust me.

This aam ka achar stays as is for 2 years and doesn't get mushy at all. The colour also remains the same.


20 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm spicy and yummy.......love that easy to understand pictorial...

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  2. looks great my hubby likes pickles nice blog you need a followers icon LOL Rebecca

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  3. wow ! its a real next gen recipe ...i like it ....

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  4. ouch..yumm spicy one dear..wish you were here n I could hav asked for a bottle couriered..:D

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  5. Superb and very easy preparation. Wow

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  6. Superb and very easy preparation. Wow

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  7. A rescue for me as I have been searching for an authentic UP styled Mango pickle sans sun drying. Thank you for the share Di!
    I have some pre-marinated mango cubes (about 1 kg) ready for pickling.

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  8. Thanks. I'd like to try for 1 or 2 kg first. What's the quantity to be used for ingredients?

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    Replies
    1. For 2 kg raw mangoes for aam ka achar, just halve the quantity of all spices. All quantities divided by 2. Hope it helps.

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  9. Awesome recipe.Made a north Indian mango pickle last year following this recipe and it 's been a hit ! The best part is that it requires no sunning,yet is tasty and stays without spoiling for a long time.My pickle just got finished so going to make another lot now.Thank you ! :)

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  10. Do we need to drain out the water that comes from the mangoes after 24 hrs marination.

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    Replies
    1. No the water will help preserve the mangoes just like brine.

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  11. Do we cover the mangoes when we keep them for 24 to 36 hours for merination ? Or keep it open in the sun lit place ?

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    Replies
    1. No need to keep in sun, I keep it in the kitchen, covered with a lid.

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  12. My husband is not any achar or chutney eater but this time aam ka achar by your way is finding place in his plate.He asks for it.Thank you.

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