Penang Achar (Nonya Pickles)

Lots of work but it always tastes better than what you get ready made. Warning! if you do make this be prepared for a relatively large quantity. I only made half of what this recipe called for. Do like I do share it around, as all good food should be. What is in this photo is just a fraction of what I have which is about half a curry pot. It went very well with the ayam sioh.

Ingredients:

500g cucumber -- quartered lengthwise, remove soft center and cut into 4cm strips
150g cabbage leaves -- cut into 2 1/2cm squares
150g carrots -- cut into 4cm strips
150g long beans -- cut into 4cm strips
150g french beans -- cut into 4cm strips

200g cauliflower -- cut into small pieces

Halved and cut into 4cm strips:
3 red chillies
3 green chillies

Ground ingredients:10 fresh chillies
5 dried chillies
10 shallots
5 cloves garlic
2cm fresh turmeric root
1 tbsp sliced galingale ( lengkuas )
3 candlenuts ( buah keras )
2cm cube toasted belacan or 1 tsp belacan powder

Vinegar mixture:100ml vinegar
200ml water
5 to 6 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
100g roasted peanuts

4 tbsp roasted sesame seeds

For scalding vegetables:400ml vinegar
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar

Method:Rub cucumber slices with 1 tbsp salt. Leave aside for 1 hour. Wrap in a clean muslin cloth and squeeze out excess liquid. (This makes the cucumber crunchy.)
Bring vinegar, salt and sugar for scalding vegetables to a rapid boil. Blanch the vegetables, one
type at a time: Dip cucumber and cabbage in boiling mixture for 2 to 3 seconds; scald the rest of the vegetables -- except chillies -- for 8 to 10 seconds.

Drain vegetables at once in a colander.
Heat oil in wok and fry the ground ingredients until fragrant and the oil begins to separate. Stir in vinegar and water. Add sugar and salt and bring to a boil then leave to cool completely.
Stir in all the prepared vegetables. Remove and store in a clean, dry glass jars. When about to serve, mix in peanuts and sesame seeds.

Note : The achar will keep for two weeks in the fridge if peanuts and sesame seeds are not mixed in.