Acar Nonya

OPEN for ingredients! This appetising, addictively rich, spicy, sour pickled vegetables is Acar Nonya (achar nyonya/acar nonya awak). This Peranakan/Malay dish is a must-have for special occasions - just in time for Eid al-Adha 2022!

Main veggie ingredient here is cucumber, which is why this is sometimes better known as Acar Timun, or Pickled Cucumbers.

Ingredients:

Pickled Vegetables:

- 300g or 1 Cucumber
- 150g or 1 Carrot
- 300g or a small head of Cabbage
- 1-2 tbsps Salt, for pickling
Blended Rempah Spice Base:
- 10 Dried Chillies or 2 tbsps dried chilli paste
- 40g or 3-5 Shallots
- 20g 2-3 cloves of Garlic
- 20g or 1-inch Ginger
- 2 Candlenuts
- 2-3 tbsps Water for easier blending
Everything Else:
- 1 tbsp Mustard Seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 cup Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt, to taste
- 1-2 Red Chillies
- 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
- 1/2 cup oil