Why an Indian Platter is Incomplete without Pickles

Pickles are a major attraction and an inseparable part of Indian cuisine. Any Indian would serve you pickles on the side of the plate before the paratha is served. Let’s take a sneak peek into the vibrant world of pickles.

Once upon a time Pickles are known to be about 4000 years old. It is said that cucumber was once preserved with a number of spices and eaten with food back in 2030 BC by inhabitants of Tigris Valley. These cucumber pickles were used for their healing effect. This truly marked the beginning of pickles in the Indian culture. Pickles are also mentioned in the Bible which remarks usage of pickles about 3000 years ago.

It is actually a method of preserving vegetables or fruits. In the olden days when the refrigerator was not discovered, raw vegetables and fruits could be preserved for future consumption via pickling method.

Well, if you love colours; if you like a playfulness of spices, sugar and salt all together in your mouth, a spoonful of pickle is a must-try.

Just like the red chilli sauce adds taste to the burger, pickles magnify the spicy and tangy effect of any Indian dish. If you are having a regular Indian dinner with Dal, Roti and Sabzi, without a scoop of lemon pickle or red-chilli pickle, neither does your platter looks a wholesome one nor does it feel like you have had a relishing meal altogether. A tiny scoop of tamarind pickle is sure to make your day with the tangy yet sweetish kind of flavour.

Dip in a Plethora of Colours:

Pickles add colour to any simple dish. Too tired to cook? Serve a spoonful of mixed vegetable pickle with chapati or with dal and rice, your loved ones will relish the meal happily, for sure!

Taste Seasonal Fruits Throughout the Year:

Want to taste your favourite mango throughout the year? Pickle is ideal for preserving the seasonal fruits like mangoes and lemon, which has its own variants like mango khatta meetha pickle, cut mangoes pickles, lemon sweet pickles etc. So no season is off season when you love fruit pickles.

Spice up Vegetarian Dishes:

Pickles are absolutely vegetarian, so it is for everyone! The best part is any fruit or vegetable can be used to prepare a pickle. Several pickle preparations exclude garlic or onion. So if you are hardcore vegetarian or performing any ritual, pickles like Monkeypod Green Chilli Pickle is an apt choice.

Boost Your Health:

Pickles are rich in anti-oxidants which improves metabolism and digestion. After a heavy Indian meal, a tiny scoop of mango with ginger, red chilli with tamarind or mixed vegetable pickle can save you from indigestion! The art of pickling does not require these vegetables or fruits to be cooked or fried so their essential nutritional elements, vitamins, calcium and protein are retained which adds to our healthy immune system. Also, the bitter gourd can be interesting when consumed in pickles!

New Treat to Taste Buds every day:

Surprise your guests this weekend with a serving of mutton pickle. Yes! Pickle preparations are no more confined to mangoes or lemons. So get ready for a new treat every day.

Pickles have an emotional touch as it reminds us of our grandmoms every time we have pickle or which is called Achar in India.