Help
Posted by luxsalsivi@reddit | shittyfoodporn | View on Reddit | 47 comments
So I'm a pickle fiend. I love pickles. I love to snack on them. I'll always try different pickles, from different cultures with odd flavors and new spices. So I was very excited to try "Indian spicy mixed pickles" from our local Indian restaurant.
I have very clearly made a grave error. I took a single bite and got punched with the flavor of an entire region all packed into a single nibble followed by a tolerable but intense heat. It was like a cinnamon spice challenge but with more flavors than I can even fathom. These are very clearly not meant to be eaten plain, and I'm a bit scared to even try another bit to try to describe the flavor.
Can someone help me identify this $5 mix of flavor intensity and provide recommendations for use? I'm sure there is something I can put it on or mix it with... But I'm at a complete culinary loss.
Keikakus@reddit
I remember eating it with rice, plain yogurt, some salt to balance out the yogurts plain-ness.
ImpressiveQuality363@reddit
You need to order naan with it, garlic or cheese naan if available and then dip it bit by bit you will be greatly satisfied I guarantee you this.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
I do have naan leftover, thankfully! I was just too scared to take another bite at the time haha, so I set it aside to try later. It's some basil/garlic naan, but I can get some plain naan from the store today and add some butter if that doesn't work.
Thank you!
drknifnifnif@reddit
Keep us updated! The Indian grocer near us does fresh pickle as well (and mango pickle) and I’ve been considering it.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
As an update, I mixed the tiniest pinch in with some leftover rice and 1) I'm glad I only did a tiny pinch because it was still SUPER strong but 2) it was DELICIOUS lol
I'm going to try to freeze the rest tbh so I can keep eating it! It's a LOT for that little amount so I want to stretch it out!
drknifnifnif@reddit
Thanks for the update! I have tried the jarred stuff plenty, but maybe I’ll give the fresh stuff a try!
katieskittenz@reddit
Bhaingan bharta 🤩 this looks delicious to me
On a different note, I wish this sub would stop posting pictures of delicious and classic ethnic dishes as if they are disgusting. Just because it’s unfamiliar to you doesn’t mean it’s gross.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
I was always under the assumption that this subreddit was for food that was delicious but looked terrible, like poorly mixed chocolate mousse or budget meal hacks, but it seems that's more the vibe of the vegan/vegetarian ones I'm in. The front page for this one is kinda all over the place
katieskittenz@reddit
I get it, I don’t fault you! It’s just that the perception of this food as looking “terrible” is just rooted in unfamiliarity with the food. If you come from a culture where most meals are curry based, this doesn’t look terrible to you, it just looks normal.
tothesource@reddit
I have done the exact same thing with achaar. A little certainly goes a long way 😂
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
I finally had time for lunch and mixed it in with rice, and boy am I glad I started with only a tiny pinch! It's definitely delicious now but WHOO boy that's still strong 😂
tothesource@reddit
I'm not sure if it's all achaar but I know some of it uses pickled lemon or lime rind. Makes sense why it's so strong!
SandSerpentHiss@reddit
r/poopfromabutt
Baker_O_DOOM@reddit
….I had to look at the sub name here I genuinely thought this was r/frogs for a moment. Time to get off the internet for the day.
I don’t know how to eat that but if you ever see a frog that looks like this please bring it to a vet.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
😂😂😂 I'll definitely remember that for future use!
Infinite_Picture3858@reddit
Is that before or after eating it?
lucky-283@reddit
Indian here. Our pickles are not meant to be taken lightly, cuz they pack a massive punch! I love pickle with rice and yoghurt, or rice and dal, or even parathas, naan or rotis. The combinations are virtually endless, but go easy on them since they tend to be high in salt and oil, both of which act as a preservative.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much for the input! Packing a punch is definitely accurate haha. I feel like one of those kids who eats a glob of wasabi thinking it's a snack 🤦♀️ I definitely know better now, and am really excited to try it properly. The flavor was great about 5mins after I'd eaten it LOL I'm sure it'll be even better in proper amounts!
dont-read-it@reddit
r/shitfromabutt
Ninkasa_Ama@reddit
Is this more of a relish or are there pickles in there?
medicated_in_PHL@reddit
It’s a specific pickling process in India where they are pickled in oil, usually mustard seed oil. They are intended to be mixed into a curry to add flavor, salt and heat (if you buy a spicy one).
It’s called “achar” and you can make a really tasty sauce with it as well.
Ninkasa_Ama@reddit
That does sound nice. I really need to study more into Indian cooking.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
It's not really either? It was more like a shredded woody+meaty texture and I'm quite confused 🫠
dairbhre_dreamin@reddit
It is kind of more like a relish or a chunky preserved condiment (Branston pickle from the UK would be closer). South Asians mostly eat with their hands, so you take a dab or small piece of pickle and roll that with your rice/rice and curry/bread and filling. A small amount goes a long way.
The pungent flavors will come from mustard oil, hing (super funky), black salt (pungent, sulpherous flavor), chili, and raw garlic.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
This clears it up, thank you! It's extremely strong but not offensive, just.. a LOT all at once, so a condiment makes way more sense. I definitely look forward to trying this again in an appropriate way, as I'm sure it's actually delicious
dairbhre_dreamin@reddit
Yeah a full spoonful would be shocking lmao, especially if you’re not used to mustard oil. Try a little bit with a bite of rice and dal, or a smear on a flatbread with kebabs (kathi roll style).
ImpressiveQuality363@reddit
Because Indian pickle is actually fermented bamboo shoots
Ninkasa_Ama@reddit
Maybe use it as a marinade? Could work and you don't have to worry about the look that way
Prince_Breakfast@reddit
I had a similar experience. I ordered what was labeled as “Pickled Chutney” thinking it would sweet and tangy and refreshing. What I got was chunks of stuff, a ton of salt, and a punch of funky/ spicy/ oily flavor. I asked the staff what I should use it for and they told me that a little goes a long way and that it’s best with stewed meat and roti. By the end of the meal I was in love.
I_might_be_weasel@reddit
It looks like you're doing a mail in stool sample to see if you have cancer and you are definitely going to find out you have cancer.
Forsaken_Ingenuity28@reddit
Lab tech here. Ironically, a high percentage of our stool samples come from people of Indian heritage.
I_might_be_weasel@reddit
Tell me the truth, do you play with them?
PMMEBITCOINPLZ@reddit
I had to do this at the doctor’s office once. Pretty embarrassing.
wcdonald@reddit
Indian pickles/aachar are a condiment, you don't eat it by itself. Mix a little bit with rice & ghee, rice & yoghurt, or rice & dal. Roti/naan/any flatbread instead of rice is common too.
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
Thank you, I have leftover naan, rice, and ghee I can mix it with! I could tell it does taste good, it was just far too much, like tasting Vanilla Extract directly.
I'll try mellowing it out with those and try again!
GourangaPlusPlus@reddit
Chilli pickle is top shelf stuff, poppadoms are also great with it
wcdonald@reddit
You're welcome. I can't help you too much with the ingredients, because there are thousands of variants depending on the region & even the family, but "mixed" usually means vegetables: cauliflower, carrot, raw mango (not a vegetable, but you know), etc. I'd recommend treating it like wasabi if you're not used to the spice. Me personally, I'll eat spoonfuls 😅
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
Haha that's a good comparison! I couldn't even begin to guess what all is in it to be honest, haha. The spice definitely snuck up on me but was a good amount of heat. I'm looking forward to giving it another shot!
yashedpotatoes@reddit
I’ve seen people put a little on their plate to user along with milder food like yogurt/curds, rice, dal, paratha, or any combo of those. It’s typically meant to be similar to wasabi, eaten alongside other items on the plate but not by itself
ncraiderfan17@reddit
That's a stool sample
HomerStillSippen@reddit
That looks like it’s about to be examined by a team of doctors
TheDudeWhoCanDoIt@reddit
Eggplant something ?
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
It might have eggplant in it, but it definitely tastes and feels more like just straight spices. I'm not sure what all is in it but it is INTENSE.
Acceptable6@reddit
I thought this was a medical subreddit at first
luxsalsivi@reddit (OP)
I got jumpscared when I opened it tbh, it was really hard to take a bite because of the visuals lol... I can tell it has potential flavor wise, just not meant to be eaten plain!
smiff8866@reddit
r/shitfromabutt
Thick-Broccoli6986@reddit
It looks like you had a really icky poo in a to go container.