Achaar, South Asian pickles or pickles of the Indian subcontinent are made from certain varieties of vegetables and fruits - finely chopped and marinated in brine or edible oils along with various Indian spices. Some varieties of fruits and vegetables are small enough to be used whole. Some geographic regions specialize in pickling meats and fish.




The most common South Asian-style pickles are made from mango and lime. Others include cauliflower, carrot, radish, tomato, onion, pumpkin, palm heart, lotus stem, rose petals, ginger, amla,[1] garlic, green or red chili peppers, kohlrabi, cordia, kerda, purple yam, karonda, bitter gourd, jackfruit, mushroom, eggplant, cucumber, turnip and lapsi. In some regions cabbage is pickled with chilies and other spices, similar in style and taste to kimchi.

A wide variety of spices may be used during the pickling process, such as asafoetida, red chili powder, turmeric, and fenugreek.

Homemade pickles are prepared in the summer and are matured by exposing to sunlight for up to two weeks. [2] The pickle is kept covered with muslin while it is maturing.[3] The high concentrations of salt, oil, and spices act as preservatives. Many commercially produced pickles use preservatives like citric acid and sodium benzoate.

Regional variationsEdit


Indian Hot Mango pickle

Even while using the same main ingredients, Indian pickles can vary widely in flavor due to differences in the preparation techniques and spices used. A mango pickle from South India may taste very different from one made in North India, and is generally more spicy than a pickle from North India. In the southern states, sesame oil is generally preferred, while mustard oil is generally preferred in northern states for making pickles.

In Southern India, most vegetables are sun-dried with spices, taking advantage of immensely hot and sunny days throughout the year, thus making pickles an everyday staple. The sun-drying naturally preserves the vegetable, along with spices such as mustard, fenugreek seeds, chilli powder, salt, asafoetida, and turmeric. To speed up the preparation process, vegetables may be cooked first.

The states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are famous for their spicy pickles. Unripe mango with garlic and ginger(Aavakaaya in Telugu), unripe tamarind coupled sometimes with green chillies (Chintakaaya in Telugu) and red chillies (Korivikaram in Telugu) are a staple in everyday meal. Gooseberry(Usirikaaya in Telugu) and Lemon (Nimmakaaya in Telugu) are also widely eaten pickles as well.

The state of Tamil Nadu makes a mango pickle called maavadu, which is usually made early in the summer season when mangoes are barely an inch long. The preservation process uses castor oil, giving the pickle its unique taste. Another pickle from Tamil Nadu is narthangai consisting of unripe citrons cut into spirals and stuffed with salt. Tamilians also use sun-dry chillies stuffed with salted yogurt,thus making a dry condiment called mor molagai that is typically eaten with rice.

In the state of Karnataka, the tender whole mango pickle is a traditional pickle recipe. This is preserved entirely by dehydrating tender whole mango with salt and is very salty and sour. A special type of this is jeerige midi (ಜೀರಿಗೆ ಮಿಡಿ) prepared using special tender mango with a refreshing aroma.

Southern Indians living in the coastal areas also pickle fish and meats. In Tamil Nadu, karuvadu is made by salting and sun-drying various species of fish. Nethili karuvadu, made from anchovies, is among the more popular varieties of karuvadu. In Kerala, tuna and sardines are finely chopped and marinated in spices and later cooked on stovetop, resulting in meen achar. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also make fish and shrimp pickles but are more famous for their lamb and chicken pickles known for their spiciness and all around flavour.



Pakistani-style achar gosht, a meat curry cooked with tastes borrowed and amalgamated from pickle

Pakistani pickles are prepared using a variety of vegetables, unripe mangoes, and spices in oil. Shikarpuri Achar and Hyderabadi Achar is very famous in Sindh other parts of Pakistan and abroad.

Other regionsEdit

In South Africa, Indian pickles are sometimes eaten with bread.


In Mozambique, lemon and mango achar is widely eaten and is used on the side for many dishes. Brought over from the Indo-Portuguese cuisine, it infused with the local dishes.