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Acar Timun
Serves 4-6 Prep 10 min Cook 1 hr Total 1 hr 10 min Type Side Origin Indonesian

Acar Timun

Indonesia's quick pickle: cucumber, carrot, shallot and red chilli tossed in vinegar, sugar, salt and a sliver of ginger. The grilled-meat foil.

Serves 4 Prep 10 minutes Cook 0 minutes (rests 1 hour) Units Rate

Overview

Cucumber, carrot, shallot, chilli prep into thin slices or matchsticks. Salt rests for 10 minutes to draw moisture, drains. A simple dressing of vinegar, sugar, water and ginger whisks together. Vegetables toss with the dressing; rest for 1 hour at room temperature. Eats cool, never refrigerated cold; the texture suffers.

Ingredients

  • 2 cucumbers (small, about 300 g)
  • 1 carrot (medium)
  • 4 shallots (or ½ small red onion)
  • 2 fresh red chillies (1 hot, 1 mild - adjust to taste)
  • 30 g fresh ginger (peeled, julienned)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (for the draw)

Dressing

  • 6 tablespoons white-wine vinegar (or rice vinegar)
  • 3 tablespoons caster sugar
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Method

Stage 1 - Prep

  1. Halve the cucumbers lengthways; scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon; slice into 3 mm half-moons.
  2. Peel and julienne the carrot.
  3. Slice the shallots into thin rings.
  4. Slice the chillies into thin rounds (deseed if you want less heat).

Stage 2 - Draw moisture

  1. Toss the cucumbers with 1 teaspoon salt in a colander.
  2. Rest 10 minutes; squeeze gently to release water; rinse briefly under cold water.

Stage 3 - Dressing

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, sugar, water, salt and julienned ginger until the sugar dissolves.

Stage 4 - Combine

  1. In a serving bowl, combine the drained cucumber, carrot matchsticks, shallot, chilli.
  2. Pour the dressing over.
  3. Toss; rest 1 hour at room temperature.

Stage 5 - Serve

  1. Lift the vegetables into a serving bowl with tongs (leave behind most of the liquid).
  2. Serve cool but not cold, alongside grilled meat, nasi goreng or sate.

Notes

  • Salt and drain cucumbers: otherwise the dressing dilutes within an hour and the pickle turns watery.
  • Don't refrigerate cold: chilled acar tastes muted; room temp is sharper and brighter.
  • Eat within 24 hours: acar isn't a preserve. After a day the cucumbers soften and the texture is lost.

Storage

  • Keeps 24 hours at room temperature (or 36 hours refrigerated, brought back to room temp before serving).
  • The dressing alone keeps 2 weeks refrigerated - make a batch and dress fresh vegetables on demand.

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