Aavakaaya

Last updated

Aavakaaya
Aavakaya.JPG
Alternative namesAavakai
Place of origin South India
Region or state Andhra Pradesh
Main ingredients Mango, aavalu (powdered mustard), powdered red chilli, salt and oil, Garlic and Ginger

Aavakaaya (also known as Mango pickle [1] ) a variety of Indian pickle popular in South India with its origin in Andhra Pradesh. The main ingredients are mangoes, aavapindi (powdered mustard seeds) and a combination of other spices used for pickling. South Indians are known to have a deep attachment to these spicy pickles. A wide variety of pickles are available in these regions, using mango as their prime ingredient. Besides being made at home, the pickles are available commercially and are exported to the United States, Europe, Japan and many other countries. [2]

Contents

Preparation

Aavakaaya pickles are usually made in the summer, this being the time for peak availability of green mangoes. Green mangoes, hot oil, chillies and a variety of spices are the key ingredients. The process of preparation, storage and serving is considered almost a ritual.

The mangoes are cut into medium-sized pieces approximately 2 cm x 2 cm using strong and especially sharp cutters/knives in swift strokes so as not to structurally damage the pieces. These pieces are wiped clean and dry with a highly-absorbent soft cloth — usually an old sterilized cotton sari with no embroidery, stowed away for this purpose. They are then pickled with powdered mustard, red chili powder (dried and powdered or sometimes dried, roasted and powdered), salt, gingelly oil and fenugreek (both in whole and powder form). Garlic is optional. The mixture matures for four to eight weeks, care being taken to mix the contents periodically to ensure a uniform marinade. [3]

Popularity

Aavakai (Telugu version) is prepared during the pre-Summer seasons when mangoes are just about to ripen. The Tamil version, is not as spicy as the Andhra version and often contains chickpeas as one of the primary ingredients. It is prepared in many households and eaten along with curd rice.

Varieties

Preparation of Moong Aavakaaya (For Temporary Purpose) kott aavkaay (3).jpg
Preparation of Moong Aavakaaya (For Temporary Purpose)
Preparation of Moong Aavakaaya pesr aavkaay (3).jpg
Preparation of Moong Aavakaaya
Mango Pieces Pickle maamiddikaay mukkl pccddi.jpg
Mango Pieces Pickle
Mango grated Pieces Pickle maamiddikaay kooru pccddi (3).jpg
Mango grated Pieces Pickle
Aavakaaya and its container Aavakaaya...Mango pickle and its container.JPG
Aavakaaya and its container

Aavakaaya is very popular in South India, especially in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

There is a wide variety of mango pickles, [3] these include:

  1. Aavakaaya (The default one made with powdered mustard seed)
  2. Allam Aavakaaya (A spicy variety including ginger-garlic paste)
  3. Bellam Aavakaaya (A sweet variant of Avakaya made with jaggery)
  4. Dosa Aavakaya (Mango replaced with a type of dosakaya) (cucumber)
  5. Maagaya (Made with green, peeled, unstoned mango)
  6. Menthi aavakaaya or Menthikaaya (Includes fenugreek)
  7. Nuvvulu aavakaaya (Includes sesame)
  8. Paccha Aavakaya (Aavakaya with yellow chillies rather than red ones which are usually used.)
  9. Pulihora Aavakaaya (Aavakaaya with taalimpu (Telugu), called Chaunk in Hindi)
  10. Senagala Aavakaaya (Aavakaaya with the addition of chickpeas or Bengal gram or chana)
  11. Thokku Maagaya (Maagaya with the mango peel included)
  12. Thurum Maagaya (Maagaya made with grated mango)
  13. Uduku Maagaya (Maagaya with boiled rather than raw mango)
  14. Usiri Aavakaya (Mango replaced with gooseberry)
  15. Vellulli Aavakaaya (Aavakaaya with addition of garlic)
  16. Yendu aavakaaya (Aavakaaya with pickled, dried mango cubes mildly sweetened with jaggery)
  17. Kobbari aavakaya (aavakaya made with coconut flavor)

Consumption

Hot rice is mixed with one or two pieces of aavakaaya and ghee (clarified butter) or groundnut oil, then made into bite-size balls. Aavakaaya is often eaten with rice and dahi (yogurt). Raw onion can be added which enhances the taste. Most people prefer to eat it along with muddapappu (pigeon pea dal) and neyyi (ghee/clarified Butter). Some people prefer to eat it within 1–2 months from preparation, when it is called Kottaavakaya. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

Chutney Condiments associated with South Asian cuisine made from a highly variable mixture of spices, vegetables, or fruit

A chutney is a family of condiments or sauces in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys may be realized in such forms as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce.

Sri Lankan cuisine


Sri Lankan cuisine is known for its particular combinations of herbs, spices, fish, vegetables, rices, and fruits. The cuisine is highly centered around many varieties of rice, as well as coconut which is an ubiquitous plant throughout the country. Seafood also plays a significant role in the cuisine, be it fresh fish or preserved fish. As a country that was a hub in the historic oceanic silk road, contact with foreign traders brought new food items and cultural influences in addition to the local traditions of the country's ethnic groups, all of which have helped shape Sri Lankan cuisine. Influences from Indian, Indonesian and Dutch cuisines are most evident with Sri Lankan cuisine sharing close ties to other neighbouring South and Southeast Asian cuisines.

Sadhya

Sadhya is a feast of Kerala origin and of importance to all Malayalis, consisting of a variety of traditional vegetarian dishes usually served on a banana leaf in Kerala as lunch. Sadhya means banquet in Malayalam. Sadhya is typically served as a traditional dish for Onam, the state festival of Kerala.

Tamil cuisine

Tamil cuisine is a culinary style originating in the southern Indian state Tamil Nadu and other parts of South Asia such as Sri Lanka. Vegetarian cuisine is popular among the Tamil people and has been so since ancient times. However, meats along with rice, legumes and lentils are also popular. Dairy products and tamarind are used to provide sour flavors. On special occasions, traditional Tamil dishes are served in a traditional manner, using banana leaves in place of utensils. After eating, the banana leaves are then used as a secondary food for cattle. A typical breakfast meal consists of idli or dosa with chutney. Lunch includes rice, sambar, curd, kuzhambu, and rasam.

Maharashtrian cuisine

Maharashtrian or Marathicuisine is the cuisine of the Marathi people from the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has distinctive attributes, while sharing much with other Indian cuisines. Traditionally, Maharashtrians have considered their food to be more austere than others.

Gujarati cuisine Cuisine of Gujarat, India

Gujarati cuisine is that of the state of Gujarat, in western India.

Philippine condiments

The generic term for condiments in the Filipino cuisine is sawsawan. Unlike sauces in other Southeast Asian regions, most sawsawan are not prepared beforehand, but are assembled on the table according to the preferences of the diner.

South Asian pickle Foods originating from the Asian subcontinent, pickled from certain varieties of vegetables and fruits

A South Asian pickle, known as achar, aachar, athanu, achaar or loncha, is a pickled food, native to the Indian subcontinent, made from a variety of vegetables and fruits, preserved in brine, vinegar, or edible oils along with various Indian spices.

Indian bread A wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine

Indian breads are a wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine. Their variation reflects the diversity of Indian culture and food habits.

South Indian cuisine Food cuisines in south Indian

South Indian cuisine includes the cuisines of the five southern states of India—Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana—and the union territories of Lakshadweep, Pondicherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.There are typically vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes for all five states. Additionally, all regions have typical main dishes, snacks, light meals, desserts, and drinks that are well known in their respective region.

Pachadi

Pachadi refers to a traditional South Indian fresh pickle served as a side dish. Broadly translated, it refers to food which has been pounded. In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, pachadi is a side dish curry similar to the North Indian raita, and is made with vegetable, yoghurt, coconut, ginger and curry leaves and seasoned with mustard. Pachadi generally is a hot or mildly spiced coconut, green chillies, red chillies and yogurt-based dish made with seasonal vegetables or fruits.

Bhojpuri cuisine

Bhojpuri cuisine is a part of North Indian cuisine and a style of food preparation common amongst the Bhojpuri people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bhojpuri foods are mostly mild and are less hot in term of spices used, but could be hotter and spicier according to individual preference. The food is tailor-made for Bhojpuri lifestyle in which the rural folk expend many calories in the fields. Bhojpuri people take pride in celebrating various festivals and religious rites with food; as a result, their food resembles the delicacies offered to deities.

Flattened rice

Flattened rice is rice which is flattened into flat, light, dry flakes originating from the Indian subcontinent. Rice is parboiled before flattening so that it can be consumed with very little to no cooking. These flakes of rice swell when added to liquid, whether hot or cold, as they absorb water, milk or any other liquids. The thickness of the flakes varies between almost translucently thin to nearly four times thinner than a normal rice grain. It is also called "beaten rice", not to be confused with poha, a Central-West Indian dish prepared using this flattened rice as the key ingredient.

Goan cuisine

Goan cuisine consists of regional foods popular in Goa, an Indian state located along India's west coast on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Rice, seafood, coconut, vegetables, meat, pork and local spices are some of the main ingredients in Goan cuisine. The area is located in a tropical climate, which means that spices and flavors are intense. Use of kokum is another distinct feature. Goan food is considered incomplete without fish.

Telugu cuisine

Telugu cuisine is a cuisine of South India native to the Telugu people from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Generally known for its tangy, hot and spicy taste, the cooking is very diverse due to the vast spread of the people and varied topological regions.

Malaysian Indian cuisine Cuisine of ethnic Indian communities of Malaysia

Malaysian Indian cuisine, or the cooking of the ethnic Indian communities in Malaysia consists of adaptations of authentic dishes from India, as well as original creations inspired by the diverse food culture of Malaysia. Because the vast majority of Malaysia's Indian community are of South Indian descent, and are mostly ethnic Tamils who are descendants of immigrants from a historical region which consists of the modern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka's Northern Province, much of Malaysian Indian cuisine is predominantly South Indian inspired in character and taste. A typical Malaysian Indian dish is likely to be redolent with curry leaves, whole and powdered spice, and contains fresh coconut in various forms. Ghee is still widely used for cooking, although vegetable oils and refined palm oils are now commonplace in home kitchens. Before a meal it is customary to wash hands as cutlery is often not used while eating, with the exception of a serving spoon for each respective dish.

Kasundi

Kasundi is the Asian or Bengali variety of mustard sauce or relish. It has the pungent paste of fermented mustard seeds, spices and sometimes dried mangoes, dried Indian plum and olives. Kasundi is popular as a dipping sauce in Bengali cuisine.

References

  1. Ranjan, Hriday (18 March 2019). "Ode to the humble garlic pickle". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  2. Usha's Pickle Digest: The Perfect Pickle Recipe Book. Mrs Usha R Prabakaran (1998) 347 pag. ISBN   1797842382, ISBN   978-1797842387
  3. 1 2 3 Pushpesh Pant. India: The Cookbook (2010) 960 pag, ISBN   0714859028, ISBN   9780714859026