Achard Légumes (Mauritian Vegetable Pickle)
Local name: Achard légumes
In short: Crunchy cabbage, carrot, green beans and cauliflower tossed in a mustard, turmeric, garlic and chili dressing. A Mauritian pickle for curry and rice. It takes about 2 h 40 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 2 h 30 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 24 h
- Total
- 2 h 40 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 70 kcal
Achard is the pickle that sits on almost every Mauritian table, spooned beside curries, dholl puri and rice, or stuffed into a baguette. Crisp vegetables are dried, then tossed in a warm dressing of oil, crushed mustard seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, chili and vinegar. It is ready after a day and mellows as it sits. Drying the vegetables well is what keeps it crunchy.
Instructions
- Toss the cabbage with the 2 tablespoons of salt and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse well and squeeze dry in a clean cloth.
- Blanch the carrots, beans and cauliflower in boiling water for 1 minute, then plunge into ice water and drain.
- Spread all the vegetables on clean towels and pat dry. Leave them for 1 to 2 hours, until they feel dry to the touch. Place them in a large bowl.
- Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, mustard seeds, turmeric and chili and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
- Add the vinegar, sugar and salt and simmer for 2 minutes. Pour the hot dressing over the vegetables and toss well.
- Pack into a clean jar, press down gently, cover and let it rest for 24 hours at room temperature away from direct sun, then refrigerate.
Tips
- Dry vegetables keep achard crunchy. Wet vegetables dilute the dressing, go soft quickly and spoil sooner.
- Green papaya, chayote or green mango can replace some of the vegetables. Keep the total weight the same.
Questions and answers
How long does achard keep?
In the fridge, in a clean jar with the vegetables below the dressing, it keeps for up to 2 weeks. Use a clean spoon each time.
How do you eat achard?
As a spicy side with rice and curry, with dholl puri or in a baguette sandwich with chutney.
Can I make it less spicy?
Yes. Use only a pinch of chili flakes, or leave the chili out. The mustard and vinegar still give it plenty of flavor.
How long does it take to make Achard Légumes (Mauritian Vegetable Pickle)?
About 2 h 40 min in total: 2 h 30 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Achard Légumes (Mauritian Vegetable Pickle)?
About 70 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 70 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 4 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 350 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
