India’s diverse rich culinary tradition features several pickles prepared from different spices, flavourings, and textures. Among them is Gunda Achar or simply Gunda pickle, which is extremely spicy and sour, taking a special position in various Indian households. Its sharp taste and unique spice blend have made Gunda Achar not just a condiment but a flavourful companion to different Indian meals, from rice to parathas.

In this blog, we will discuss the history, preparation, and benefits of Gunda pickle and its growing popularity among food enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned pickle lover or someone who is new to this delightful dish, you’ll be amazed at how this humble pickle can add so much flavour and excitement to your meal.

What is Gunda Pickle or Achar?

 Gunda, also referred to as Phalsa or Indian Jujube, is a small round, green fruit in the family Ziziphins. Native to India, the fruit can be seen during monsoons and winter season, extensively in most parts of India. The fruit has firm texture and taste that is a bit sweet with some sourness to it. Nutritive, rich and in many traditional dishes from Indian cuisine, gundas are very much preferred ingredients.

Gunda is a savoury, tangy, and spicy snack when preserved and pickled. Generally, the pickle is prepared using whole Gunda fruits pickled in a mixture of spices, mustard oil, and salt. It’s a pickle that gives a pungent punch to your meal and gives flavour.

Prepare the spices by heating a little mustard oil in a pan and roasting cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, and carom seeds for a few minutes till they give out an aromatic fragrance. Let them cool down and grind them into a coarse powder.

Stuffing the Gunda: When the Gunda fruits are dry, make small slits in each of the fruits and stuff the fruits with a pinch of salt, red chili powder, and the roasted spice mix. Stuff the fruits lightly so that the fruits don’t get bruised.

Pickling the Gunda: In a clean, dry jar, add the stuffed Gunda fruits and pour the remaining mustard oil over them. Sprinkle some more salt and red chili powder, if desired. Seal the jar and keep it in a sunny spot for a few days, shaking it gently every day. The pickle will be ready to eat after about 7-10 days when the spices have infused well into the fruits.

Health Benefits of Gunda Achaar

Gunda pickle is primarily regarded as a side condiment, but it also carries many health benefits due to the inherent properties the fruit contains. Some health benefits of consuming Gunda Achar have been found to be as follows:

Gunda is very rich in Vitamin C. This vitamin helps increase immunity and fight infections. The process of pickling retains most of the nutrients; therefore, it’s great to add to your diet, especially during the cold and flu season.

Improved Digestion: Like all other Indian pickles, Gunda Achar is prepared using mustard seeds, fenugreek, and carom seeds. The combination of these seeds helps the body digest and is a medicine to stimulate digestive functions in the body and reduce bloating thus helping the body overall.

Rich in Antioxidants: Gunda fruit is rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the body for total well-being. Most spices, like cumin and fennel, are used in Gunda Achar and have antioxidant properties that enhance its health value.

Rich in Fiber: Gunda fruit is a good dietary fiber, which helps in maintaining the regulation of bowel movements and digesting food. Thus, taking pickle made from Gunda fruits can help maintain a healthy system.

Natural Anti-inflammatory: The spices used in preparing Gunda Achar, for example, turmeric, and mustard oil have some anti-inflammatory properties that will help reduce inflammation and therefore provide relief from conditions such as arthritis and muscle pain.

Serving Gunda Achar

Gunda pickle can be served in the most versatile ways to complement different dishes. Here are a few ideas for serving this tangy, spicy pickle:

With Paratha: Gunda Achar is the perfect accompaniment to Aloo Paratha, Methi Paratha, or Gobi Paratha. The spicy, tangy flavour of the pickle perfectly combines with the richness of the paratha.

With Rice: Gunda pickle can be served with simple steamed rice or jeera rice for a quick and flavourful meal.

With Chapati: If you like a lighter meal, a warm chapati with a dollop of Gunda pickle is comforting and satisfying.

As a Side Dish: Gunda Achar can also be enjoyed as a side dish with dal, sabzi, or even biryani, adding an extra dimension of flavour to the meal.

Gunda Achar or pickle is deliciously sour and spicy in nature and gives a bursting taste to your meal. From history, health benefits to culinary use, it finds itself to be an indispensable constituent of the Indian cuisine. Want to give a spicy twist to your paratha or a tangy accent to your rice, the pickle would surely knock off all doors.