Achaar is a catch-all term for pickle, a popular condiment in South Asian cuisine.
Every culture has a catch-all condiment—that one sauce you can put on literally anything, and it will taste great (think: hoisin, harissa, pebre). For Asians, it’s achaar, a combo of sliced fruits and vegetables pickled in oil (typically made with mustard oil) and spices that has the power to vivify even the most tired bowl of rice. For most Asian families, achaar is a dinnertime condiment staple.
Achaar is generally a side dish. It is generally eaten with rice, curry, roti or chapati. Apart from the main ingredient and masala, achaar adds its flavor with ginger, tomatoes, lime, onions, garlic etc.
