Achara

By Maria

Whenever I eat barbeque, I always order achara. Atchara (also be spelled achara or atsara) is a Philipine food made of primarily pickled papaya.

This dish is often used as an accompaniment to fried or grilled foods such as pork barbecue but it may also be used as a side dish on its own. The primary ingredient is shredded green unripe papaya. Carrot slices, julienned ginger, bell pepper, onion and garlic make up the other vegetable ingredients. They are then mixed in a solution of vinegar, sugar and salt preserves. The mixture is placed in airtight jars where it will keep even without refrigeration. However, once opened, atchara is preferably stored in refrigeration to maintain its flavor.