PICKLE NATION INDIA
Indians love their food and some wonderful accompaniments in form of salads, pickles, papadum, raita etc. But I can't explain how much my appetite increase with the smell of pickle. Since childhood I have seen people in my family who could not take a meal sans pickle. A street hawker would sell raw green mangoes to my Mom and even cut them to desired size Mom who would then convert it into something so delicious and fragrant.
Pickling is a family affair. Everybody does one thing or the other - cutting, preparing masala, adding oil or vinegar and then putting it in sunlight for some days to mature. Then the day would when new aachaar (pickle) will be opened and served with every meal. Sometimes it even gives a sour throat but it is difficult to resist the temptation of a pickle.
Two of our Indian festivals - Ahoi and Karva Chauth, Maththi (Crispy fried flour chappati) is traditionally used in the ritual. We as kids used to wait till night to get the Maththi and eat it with mango pickle.
On one hand Mango pickle is tangy in taste and on the other hand there is sweet lemon pickle with carom seeds. Khichri (Rice and split lentils are cooked together with turmeric, salt and tomato paste) tastes really delicious with Sweet lemon pickle.
Then comes the Chili pickle with loads of capsiacin to make me sweat while eating. Today it is said that green chilies are quite healthy, increase metabolism and helps shed fat. But really I eat it just for taste.
Another pickle is Pachranga Aachaar (Mix Pickle) with mango, carrots, lime, chilies and some other unknown ingredients. Its spicy, tangy, sweet, sour and salty.
On one hand Mango pickle is tangy in taste and on the other hand there is sweet lemon pickle with carom seeds. Khichri (Rice and split lentils are cooked together with turmeric, salt and tomato paste) tastes really delicious with Sweet lemon pickle.
Then comes the Chili pickle with loads of capsiacin to make me sweat while eating. Today it is said that green chilies are quite healthy, increase metabolism and helps shed fat. But really I eat it just for taste.
Another pickle is Pachranga Aachaar (Mix Pickle) with mango, carrots, lime, chilies and some other unknown ingredients. Its spicy, tangy, sweet, sour and salty.
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