🍆
Begun Bhaja
Crispy aubergine in Bharat Mustard Oil
🌼 Made with Bharat Mustard Oil
Quick Aam Ka Achaar — No-Cook Mango Pickle with Bharat Mustard Oil
No cooking, no heating — just raw green mango, whole spices, and the sharp, preserving power of Bharat Mustard Oil. Traditional North Indian achaar relies on cold-pressed mustard oil specifically because its natural compounds act as a preservative. This version is ready to eat in 2 days and keeps for 2–3 weeks.
Prep Time15 min
Cook TimeNone
Makes~2 cups
Keeps2–3 weeks
DietaryVegan · GF
🥭
Method
-
Ensure the mango cubes are completely dry before you begin — any moisture will cause the pickle to spoil. Pat them dry with a clean cloth if needed and leave them out for 10 minutes. All bowls, spoons, and jars must also be completely dry.
-
Place the mango cubes in a large, dry bowl. Pour Bharat Mustard Oil over the mangoes. Its pungent, sharp flavour and natural antimicrobial compounds — primarily allyl isothiocyanate — are the reason mustard oil is used in traditional achaar and not any other oil. Stir well with a dry spoon.
-
Add the salt, red chilli powder, turmeric, crushed fenugreek seeds, crushed fennel seeds, and asafoetida. Mix very well until every piece of mango is evenly coated with spices.
-
Pack tightly into a clean, airtight glass jar. Pour ½ tbsp Bharat Mustard Oil over the top to form a sealing layer — this layer of oil prevents air from reaching the pickle and is a traditional preservation technique.
-
If sunlight is available, place the sealed jar in direct sunlight for 2–3 hours. Then store in a cool, dark cupboard. Shake or gently turn the jar once a day for the first 2 days. The pickle is ready to eat after 2 days, and will continue to develop in flavour over the following 2 weeks.
-
Serve alongside parathas, dal-chawal, or yogurt rice. Always use a clean, dry spoon when serving to prevent moisture getting into the jar.
Why Only Bharat Mustard Oil Works for Achaar
Traditional achaar is not just flavoured oil — it is a preservation system. Cold-pressed mustard oil contains allyl isothiocyanate, the compound responsible for its sharp pungency, which has well-documented antimicrobial properties. These are what allow the pickle to keep for weeks without any heating or chemical preservatives. Refined mustard oil or other neutral oils do not have these compounds in the same concentration — which is why pickles made with them tend to spoil faster and taste thinner. Bharat Mustard Oil, cold-pressed and unrefined, retains these natural compounds exactly as traditional pickle-making always required.
Learn about Bharat Mustard Oil →Cook's Notes
- Dryness is the single most important factor in achaar. Moisture at any stage — the mango, the spoons, the jar — is what causes spoilage. Be meticulous about this.
- Rock salt (sendha namak) draws moisture from the mango more effectively than table salt and has a cleaner, less bitter finish. Use it if you have it.
- The pickle intensifies significantly after day 3 or 4 — the mango softens slightly and the spices penetrate more deeply. Taste it on day 2, but reserve judgement until day 5.
- This recipe uses raw green mango, which is tart and firm. Do not substitute ripe mango — the texture will be too soft and the pickle won't keep.
- For longer shelf life (up to 1 month), increase the salt and oil slightly, and ensure the mango is fully submerged under the oil layer in the jar.
Get Bharat Mustard Oil
Pure, cold-pressed, unrefined — with the natural compounds that make achaar achaar.