Pickles or Achars have been in usage as a condiment in Indian cuisine for centuries. The sweet, tangy, and sour flavours in pickles is a delight to devour, especially during winters. Along with the taste of pickles, there are a lot of health benefits attached to them. Pickles are prepared by using fruits, vegetables, and healthy spices, as no heat is involved in the preparation of pickles and all ingredients are fermented, it helps preserve nutrients and fibers.
Let us now grab an idea about different types of pickles used in Indian cuisine alongside their benefits:
Raw Mango Pickle
Mangoes come first to mind when you think of pickles. Mango is the most favourite fruit used for making pickles, as blended with any ingredient; it can enhance the dish's taste. Raw mango pickles are high in citric acid, which helps in digestion, improves immunity, helps lose weight, and is beneficial for heart and liver ailments.
Raw mango pickle includes usage of ingredients like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, nigella seeds (kalonji), coriander powder, fenugreek seeds, oil, etc. in their making. The taste of mango pickles can be in both forms - tangy or sweet and spicy.
To get a detailed recipe for raw mango pickle, click here.
Carrot Pickle
One of the favorite vegetables, carrot, when consumed in pickle form cheers you up to eat boring food also. But along with this, there are health benefits associated with carrots as they are rich in minerals, vitamins, and fibers. Carrots possess anti-cancerous properties, are good for the eyes and heart, keep blood pressure control, and help stay fit.
Some of the common ingredients used to make carrot pickle are ginger, methi seeds, mustard seeds, spices like chili, turmeric, and lemon juice. The pickle's taste can be kept spicy as well as tangy, whichever suits. Carrot pickle consumption is a win-win scenario on both ends as it satisfies your taste buds along with providing many health benefits.
Amla (Gooseberry) Pickle
Using amla in the form of pickles is very common in India. Amla is mostly available in winters and is a high nutrient fruit rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C. Amla pickle helps in proper digestion, boosts immunity, cures ulcers, maintains cholesterol, and heals liver problems.
The taste of the pickle is sweet, salty, and savoury. Some of the ingredients used for making amla pickle are amla, garlic, mustard seeds, methi seeds, turmeric powder, chillies, etc.
No doubt, amla pickle is an all-time favorite!
Green Chilli Pickle
Green Chilli is a popular seasoning for every Indian household. If spicy Indian food is your favourite, then so are chilli pickles. Green chillies have properties like zero calories, are fat-free, and rich in Vitamin A and C, which help enhance your health.
Green chillies are pickled with lemon juice, mustard seeds, and other flavourful seasonings, and their taste is spicy and tangy. The aroma of green chillies marinated in mustard seeds and lemon juice is something one cannot resist.
Kerda Pickle
A specialty pickle majorly available in Gujarat has a sour and tangy taste. Kerda pickle is considered beneficial in improving kidney issues, stomach ailments, treat cough, asthma, and rheumatism.
Some of the ingredients used for making kerda pickle are kerda, mustard oil, fenugreek seeds, chilli powder, turmeric powder, dried mango powder, salt. The aroma of ker pickled in mustard oil is enough to make you feel hungry.
Now that we know about varieties of pickles, we can make homemade pickles and carry on our family tradition. You can prepare homemade Indian pickles with our Vasant Achar Masala and Vasant Sweet Achar Masala. Our masalas are made through cool grinding technology using fully automated machinery.
To know more visit www.vasantmasala.com.
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