This spicy vegetable pickle is a well-known specialty in north indian homes where it is often eaten as a side vegetable. I actually tasted it the first time at a restaurant in delhi where i ended up eating larger servings of this pickle than anything else. You can eat this pickle as soon as it is made. If you wish to consume this pickle within 2 or 3 days, add only 2 tablespoons of mustard oil, but refrigerate the pickle. If it is to be stored for a longer period, you need to add the specified quantity of oil.
Lotus stem, "bhein" or " kamal kakdi" as it is known, is extensively used in Kashmiri, Sindhi and Punjabi cuisines. Some parts of China and South East Asia are also known to use it. It is mainly used in vegetables to make fritters and for pickling. For all those who must be wondering what lotus stem is, it is the matured stem of the lotus flower, which is almost a foot long when vegetable vendors sell it. You will find it coated with mud due to the surroundings in which it grows. The mud also acts as a protective covering and keeps the stem fresh for a longer period. Choose a lotus stem that is almost 25 mm. (1") thick, as the thicker ones have more flavour. Wash the lotus stems thoroughly under a tap of running water to remove the muddy coating. Peel the lotus stems and cut into thin roundels using a sharp knife. Wash the roundels again to get rid of any residual mud and pat them dry. Combine the roundels with pickling spices and mustard oil and that is all that is needed to make this pickle. Store this for upto one year and enjoy it with your favourite roti or paratha.
Pachranga achaar is a famous punjabi pickle which i came across quite accidentally enroute from delhi to ludhiana. There was a huge pickle factory on the highway by the side of which i stopped. Here i discovered they were manufacturing and exporting a whole array of north indian pickles. I stumbled upon this pickle which i thought was totally amazing. I took a small sample back home with the sole purpose of being able to make it myself. Like all punjabi pickles, this one too was made using mustard oil. Pachranga achaar as its name suggests is made using five main ingredients - raw mangoes, chick peas, lotus stem, karonda and amlas or limes, pickled with whole spices. In this recipe, i have used a combination of raw mangoes, chick peas and lotus stem omitting karonda and amlas but you can add more vegetables if you like. Serve this achaar with parathas, to tantalize your taste buds.