Gobhi Shalgam Gajar Achaar (Winter Mixed Pickle)

Name: Gobhi Shalgam Gajar Achaar (Winter Mixed Pickle)
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 20 servings
Cuisine: Punjabi
Ingredients: 300 g Cauliflower; 200 g turnip (shalgam); 200 g carrot (gajar); 250 ml mustard oil; 2 tbsp Mustard seeds; 2 tbsp fennel seeds; 3 tbsp Red chilli powder; 1 tbsp Turmeric; 80 g Salt

Cauliflower, turnip and carrot pieces cured in mustard oil with warming winter spices, a tangy, crunchy pickle unique to Punjab's cold season produce.

🇮🇳India· Punjab

Prep: 30 min
Cook: 0 min
Total: 30 min
Servings: 20
Difficulty: Medium
Calories: 55 kcal

Ingredients

0 of 9 gathered

Servings

300 g Cauliflower — cut into small florets, sun-dried a day
200 g turnip (shalgam) — cut into batons
200 g carrot (gajar) — cut into batons
250 ml mustard oil
2 tbsp Mustard seeds — crushed
2 tbsp fennel seeds — crushed
3 tbsp Red chilli powder
1 tbsp Turmeric
80 g Salt

Equipment

•Large glass jar
•Sun-drying tray

Nutrition

Per serving, approximate

Calories: 55 kcal
fat: 3.5 g
carbs: 5 g
fibre: 2 g
protein: 1 g
calories: 55 kcal

Instructions

1
Spread the cut cauliflower, turnip and carrot onto a clean cloth. Leave them in the sun for a day to dry out surface moisture.
2
Heat the mustard oil until it starts smoking. Let it cool down completely.
3
Stir the crushed mustard seeds, fennel, chilli powder, turmeric and salt into the cooled oil.
4
Add the sun-dried vegetables to the spiced oil. Toss everything well until fully coated.
5
Pack the mixture into a clean, dry glass jar. Press down firmly so the vegetables stay covered in oil.
6
Keep the jar in the sun for 5-7 days. Stir it daily using a clean, dry spoon.
7
When the vegetables soften slightly and the flavours blend, store the jar in a cool place.

Chef's tips

Drying the cut vegetables in the sun removes water that could spoil the achaar (pickle). Giving the jar daily sun for the first week helps the spices soak in and preserves the pickle longer.

Ingredient substitutions

turnip → radish for a milder winter version

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed glass jar for up to 6 months; always use a dry spoon.

Reheating

Not applicable; serve at room temperature.

Common mistakes to avoid

•Skipping the sun-drying step, which leaves moisture behind and makes the pickle spoil quickly.
•Adding too little salt, which shortens how long the pickle stays fresh.