Mirchi Achar- Chili Pickle

Mirchi Achar is another name for Chilli Pickle. We have many versions of it all over the world. Definitely we have many of them in different parts of India.

Now do you know how many varieties of Chilli there are in this world? And what’s the way to measure the heat quotient? I was gifted some chillies by my husband’s ex-girlfriends who helped him to escape with zero repercussions. Should I send my thanks for that birthday gift? Sure- why not. It needs multiple irresponsible folks to sire a mammoth asshole.

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Why Mirchi Achar

It’s not suitable for kids definitely. And not suitable for those who have not grown up eating a lot of spicy foods.

Here in India, we have grown up eating many chilies over the years. Some people survived on it with just a bowl of dal, rice, chapati or khichdi alongside. Today some privileged elders prefer soup instead.

Simple- everyday food which didn’t have a lot of nutrients or nourishing qualities. But was high on taste and a basic necessity. Cottage industries grew in various parts which had the chilies needed to make these pickles.

Down South, Guntur used to be famous for a chilli wholesale market. I don’t know much about it now. I had visited many years ago.

In the west, Rajasthani chilli pickles were famous. Especially the big red chillies which were stuffed with many masalas.

Nostalgic Mirch Masala filmography

Was Mirchi Achar a key point in this film? I don’t know and remember. All I know is that in a household where kids rarely ate chilies, it inspired me to try some Mirchi pickle.

How many people have learnt to eat by looking at their screens? TV screens, mobile screens or maybe laptop screens? Asking an honest question here. Because there are mothers or fathers- who may like us to believe otherwise.

I perhaps started eating Mirchi Achar with this recipe from my grandmother first.

It is a milder introduction to chilli pickles. A bit sweet, sour, spicy and packed with some of the familiar flavours of mustard, coconut and vinegar.

Simple pickle made with simple spices, and we would huddle around the terrace seeing those jars of pickles drying in the sun.

Now natural sunlight and space for doing this is a problem.

Garden to Table: Growing Chilies on a Balcony

The chilli pickles came as a result of a few chilli plants in the backyard of our grandparent’s house we lived in and visited for many years. That house no longer exists. I had to deal with the shock of the death of many people I grew up with in that house.

I have a very small balcony garden in this apartment. The chilli plant surprisingly gave many chillies as a first crop within 3-4 months of planting them.

Sadly, they are being attacked by black aphids. I don’t know what to do about it.

There’s a gardener here who helps me to tend to the plants. But I am a slow learner. I was told to spray them from time to time with water. I am trying to do it, but I fear- I might be overdoing or underdoing it.

Anxious plant parenting may not be a good idea.

So, I turned my attention to the tomato vines next to it. These have a few green tomatoes now. Perfect for roasting actually. I will modify my grandmother’s chilli recipe to include these as well.

Mirchi Achar & Green Tomatoes Mish Mash – Memories of Resilience

These chilies along with the roasted or Fried Green Tomatoes remind me of Southern hospitality and Comfort. Now, don’t confuse it with Tennessee Williams here. Not going on a big literary road trip. Just a small anecdote.

When we were in university, we had a Super Cyclone back in 1999-2000 I think. Yep- before this century started. That’s how old I am. This was right in the middle of a College Festival with many visiting bands, corporate coaches, speakers and a few alumni from elsewhere.

There was a Cultural committee there handling much of the fest arrangements. One of the big draws was a booth for doling out drinks (perhaps you needed a coupon for it) which was sponsored by some company. Being a poor student (and definitely I wasn’t able to drink much in those days), I steered clear of those booths.

Once that cyclone started though, we had a horrible calamity all over the state. The details are blurry and perhaps others will be able to provide finer nuances.

However, I do remember a situation where we had to drink whiskey instead of water. Water wasn’t available but there was plenty of alcohol.

Distorted Mirchi Achar rendition

Funny, that was the worst idea possible in those circumstances! Have you tried brushing your teeth with alcohol instead of water?

Ok cut to the present now.

There’s no alcohol in this Mirchi Achar.

But preserving it with sugar and vinegar may lead to some fermentation. Not enough to get you out of your wits. Like we were back then- singing Hum to Saatrang hai happily with no electricity and rationed water.

All this while peeling potatoes in a dark mess which had nothing else to feed a thousand people or more marooned in an island of safety. Some others have more gruesome and darker tales to narrate for this period.

I am steering clear of that right now in the interest of brevity. I have been told that I do ramble on too much even without the help of roses in my little balcony.

Now given this checkered past who will believe us when we suddenly turn to stories about honest living. Sadly, life has thrown a curve ball at us and many lemons.

We made lemonade and many melting lemon drop drinks over the years to forget our colourful histories. So, we add some salt, some other seasonings and a whole lot of mustard oil.

Archival Mirchi Achar Recipe Search

As far as work is concerned, we turned out to be very boring and strait-laced. I say that seriously- compared to many of my other illustrious batchmates.

No, I couldn’t find it in any of those torn and moth-eaten notebooks.

So, I am recreating it from memory with the addition of what’s urgent right now. My gardener is going on leave this month. I do hope he gets married soon. I see him very sad and lonely while his other friends here have got married.

My blessings to him and his family for getting this done soon enough.

This Mirchi Achar was a favourite pickle for many of our family members. My grandmother would make them and distribute to unsuspecting relatives around.

Some of the kids picked them up and loved them. So, I do think it’s a decent introduction to a little bit of spice and a whole lot of home cooked goodness.

Unique Bottle of Mirchi Achar

Which brings me to another good auspicious note- our little shop is live. Finally!!!

After much struggling over salt keys and what nots. (Phew!)

What we have are a few selected items for Food & Art lovers curated by our creative collaborator here. I know- not much but it’s a start. Do be patient with us elderly doddering folks.

We are testing this out and hope to bring more in future.

This little Unique Bottle of Mirchi Achar is sadly not available in this shop. But you can find many more elsewhere. At a much lower cost or price.

Are we bringing that into the conversation now? Does it seem a bit unsavoury for some?

Ok- let’s do this for the sake of a small quiz- Pop Quiz, Mom Quiz and what have you.

Mirchi Achar – what’s your price?

Price tag is not provided deliberately.

Just sharing a few details for those who like mental maths. The flowerpots costed me say Rs 500. The plants costed me Rs 1000.

There was some labour involved in planting and upkeep which is another Rs 500. Now we have some time lapse between the purchase of the raw materials and the final reaping of the harvest. Then we have a few instruments used to make the plants survive through the months.

I am allocating only 1 instrument for now, say a water sprayer.

After this, we have several rounds of watering the plants. Do we include some utilities cost to it?

Sure- do a guesstimate there.

Now, we have some more additional ingredients of spices, vinegar, oil and seasonings. Some more allocation of utilities used in cooking this little jar of pickle.

Mirchi Achar- what’s the point?

Finally, we have that bottle which was recycled and shown triumphantly as a support to a good cause.

This is specially meant as a backstory for backstabbing Mirchi achar lovers. Do try your own Mathematics and English tutors to help you get the answer to this question. Commerce was not my strong suit.

Doing this simply as an exercise to help others– especially parents who maybe stressed with several problems of their own.

Question-does this meet the Under 50 Dollars Challenge for recycling and gifting to the gods for a good cause?

No – it doesn’t?

That’s the funny part. Nobody counts the underpaid, unpaid and unnoticed hours going into a human life. Life that was dismissed very easily by those who were already dead.

(Psst-So we are not counting the cost of the human lives lost in the process! We like to whisper about this in closed circles).

Let’s observe these Black Aphids doing the job that they are supposed to do. Truth be told- that’s of more concern to people I deal with perhaps, than my singular life. And while you are at it- read more about Nightshades Vegetables.

We have read and reread Handmaid’s Tale for many years now.

Footnote

Not your typical Sunday Sermon

I was sent on long walks to enable my husband’s freedom

Did you ever check what happened behind your back?

No- I walked in peace. I walked in faith. I walked for a long time

Till I could walk no more.

I sat down for a while. I helped others to walk.

Till they took turns to put me down as their Trojan Horse

That was to be used and then burnt.

I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it.

That wasn’t the space you created- it wasn’t safe

It wasn’t brave. It was just a petty little circle

Of hummingbirds and bees- that used me up

To fill their bowls with more snacks and gupshup.

I was accused of being a man, of being a woman

Accused of being a non-entity, accused and abused

So here’s me telling you- try your best next to save your

Little Orwellian Animal Farm which you have developed

With such pride over the years

That you never bothered to look at other humans that you

Used up to feed them with cattle fodder and cane.

Melting Lemon Drop 9th Nov 2025

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