Heikru Achar

Heikru Achaar, a tangy Manipuri gooseberry pickle with mustard oil, rich in Vitamin C. A healthy, flavorful side dish for everyday meals.

Dessert

Vegetarian

Meetei

Pickle

Manipuri

Spicy

Heikru Achar

Sunday, February 13, 2022 4:04:55 PM GMT By : Mathou Khangembam

5.0 1 Reviews Add Review

Heikru Achaar, a tangy Manipuri gooseberry pickle with mustard oil, rich in Vitamin C. A healthy, flavorful side dish for everyday meals.

11 Ingredients
15 Mins
4 People

Heikru Achaar – Gooseberry PickleHeikru Achaar is a traditional Manipuri pickle made with gooseberries, seasoned generously with mustard oil. It is a simple yet powerful preparation that transforms the humble gooseberry into a tangy, spicy, and aromatic side dish.
Gooseberry (Heikru in Manipuri) is widely celebrated for being one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C. Regular consumption helps boost immunity, improve digestion, and add a refreshing sharpness to meals. Including gooseberry in our diet is highly recommended, and this pickle serves as a delicious way to do so.
The preparation of Heikru Achaar is straightforward. Fresh gooseberries are cleaned, lightly processed, and then mixed with mustard oil, salt, and sometimes a touch of chili for heat. The mustard oil not only acts as a preservative but also enhances the flavor, giving the pickle its characteristic pungency.
This pickle is more than just a condiment—it is a nutritious companion to everyday meals. Whether paired with rice, dal, or a hearty Manipuri curry, Heikru Achaar adds brightness and balance to the plate. Its tangy bite cuts through richer dishes, making it a favorite side across households.
By turning gooseberries into pickle form, Manipuri cuisine ensures that this seasonal fruit can be enjoyed regularly, if not daily. It is a perfect example of how traditional food practices combine health benefits with taste, creating dishes that are both functional and flavorful.
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Heikru Achar

Preparation Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
10 minutes

Total Time
15 minutes

Servings
4 servings

Ingredients
11 ingredients

Directions
7 steps

Ingredients

Primary

	2 Cups - Gooseberries Preferably freshly plucked
	250 ml - Mustard oil
	1 Tablespoon - Mustard Seeds
	1 Tablespoon - Cumin Seeds
	1 Tablespoon - Dried Red Chillies Powder
	2-3 Tablespoon - Kahmiri Mirch Powder To give reddish color to your pickle
	1 Teaspoon - Turmeric Powder
	2 Tablespoons - White Vinegar
	As per your taste - Salt
	8-10 roughly chopped - Green Chillies
	1 Teaspoon - Rai Powder

Directions

1
Take 2 cups of fresh Gooseberries. Steam it for 10 mins.
2
Take the steamed gooseberries and mash it slightly and remove the seeds. Season it with salt(as per your taste) and add 2 tablespoon of white vinegar. Cover it with a muslin cloth and keep it aside for 5-6 hours.
3
For preparing the pickle paste, add mustard oil on a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, green chillies on low flame and saute for about 2 mins.
4
Turn off the flame, cool the paste . Now, add Turmeric powder, Kashmiri Mirch powder , Rai powder and dried red chilly powder and mix well. Add little salt for taste.
5
Take the seasoned gooseberries and add in into the pickle paste. Mix it well . The pickle is done.
6
Now pour the pickle into a storing glass jar. Add mustard oil to fill the jar till the brim and your pickle is ready to be served.
7
N.B. Place the jar in the sunlight for every 2-3 days for longer preservation.