Nonya Achar Achar (Spicy Pickle Vegetables)

I just got this whole lot of great veges from the market so much so that i really need to use it up so what came in my mind is why not make my all time favorite Achar Achar. But there are so many sort of Achar the one i am making is from Penang, Malaysia! Made from different vegetables like cucumber, long beans, carrots, cabbage, pineapple and is pickled with spicy paste and vinegar. Ground peanuts and sesame seed are also added.

It is commonly served as a condiment. All the ingredients are adjustable to your liking.

Ingredients

1 cucumber - seed removed and cut into 3-4 cm strips

2 carrots peeled and cut to 3-4 cm strips

150g long beans, cut into 3-4cm strips

Half a pineapple or to your liking, cut to 3-4 cm strips

150g cabbage leave, cut to 2.5cm squares (Optional)

or even cauliflower.

Paste

6 fresh chillies 

5 dried chillies, soak in hot water until soft

6 shallots

2 cloves garlic

1 tbsp ground turmeric

1 inch piece ginger

1 stalk lemon grass

1/2 tsp shrimp paste (belachan)- Optional


Vinegar mixture

1 cup of white vinegar

1 cup water 

6 tbsp brown sugar ( more if you like it sweeter)

1 tsp salt

180g roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

6 tbsp roasted sesame seeds

For Blanching the Vegetables

600ml water

400ml vinegar

2 tbsp salt

2 tbsp sugar

• Rub cucumber slices with salt, leave aside for one hour. Wrap in clean towel or muslin cloth and squeeze out excess liquid. Put all the Paste ingredients in a food processor and ground into paste and set it aside.
•  Bring water, vinegar, salt and sugar for blanching vegetables to a rapid boil. Blanch the vegetables (except cucumber) one type at a time. Do not over cook the vegetables as you want the crunch in them.
• Remove and transfer to a colander to remove excess liquid and if using the cabbage do squeezed the water out.
• Heat up about 3-4 tbsp of oil in frying pan and stir fry the Paste ingredients until fragrant and the oil begins to separate. Stir in water and vinegar. Add sugar and salt and bring to the boil,check seasoning as you might need more salt, sugar or vinegar to your liking.
• Stir in the prepared vegetables, peanuts and sesame seeds, Store in a clean jar or tupperware and refrigerate.
• It will be ready to eat the day after because that gives it time for all the flavour to get into the veges.
• ENJOY

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