Aam Ka Achar

Summer season is in so are the mangoes and for me it’s also the achar making season. This is the 2^nd consecutive year I have made mango pickle at home, and believe me I don’t find taste in those store bought pickles anymore, if you also like Punjabi aam ka achar as much as I do then you must give this recipe a try. You just have to keep in mind the basics of pickle making - use a clean sterilized jar, see that there is no moisture and ensure that mustard oil forms a covering layer over the ingredients in the jar.

Ingredients: 

2 Kg  raw green mangoes

1 liter mustard Oil

200 gm salt

200 gm fenugreek/Methi Seeds

200 gm aniseed /Saunf

2 tbsp nigella seeds/Kalonji seeds

 50 gm mustard seeds/rai dana

50 gm chilli Powder

50 gm turmeric Powder

1 & ½ tsp asafoetida /heeng

1 & ½ tsp carom seeds/ajwain

Method:

1) Heat 1 liter of Mustard Oil to smoking point and let it cool, it’s better to do I a day earlier

Prepare the Glass /Ceramic Jar or plastic container by heating a large piece of Coal till it glows. Sprinkle 1-2 tsps. Asafoetida/Heeng Powder on it and keep the Jar upside down over it. This sterilizes the Jar and helps preserve the Pickle.

2) Wash and wipe the Green Mangoes dry with a clean cloth .Cut into medium size pieces.

3) Coarsely ground the fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and aniseeds separately, mix these two with carom seeds,  nigella seeds, asafoetida  , salt, red chili powder and turmeric powder and keep aside.

4) Place the Mango Pieces in a large Steel Vessel and add all the Spices little by little till all the Mango pieces are evenly coated.

5) Mix in about 250 ml. of the cooled Mustard Oil.  Put it in the Glass or Ceramic Jar (plastic container) which has been smoked earlier, cover with muslin cloth and Keep in the Sun for 2-3 days. Remember to shake it or mix it one or twice every day. 

6) Add in the remaining oil, the oil should be at least 1 inch above the mango pieces. Cover the jar with the lid and let it mature for 2-3 weeks before start using.

Remember:

*Wipe and dry the mangoes very thoroughly, even the slightest bit of water or moisture in mangoes or in the storage jar is enough to form fungus and mold and ruin your pickle.

*The amount of salt should be measured accurately as it acts as a preservative for the pickle.

*The pickle should be covered with a layer of oil all the time.