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Fruit from Andhra Pradesh

Avakaya (Andhra raw-mango mustard pickle)ఆవకాయ

Avakaya is a Telugu pickle of sour raw mango, cut into pieces and dried, then coated thickly in mustard powder, red chilli powder and salt. It is packed tight in a jar, sealed under heated and cooled sesame oil and left in direct sun for several days, then matures over several weeks.

A short entry: the sources we found record only what is said here about Avakaya itself.

Short entryFruit

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedThe sources we found give no fixed amounts.
Firm, sour raw green mangoes, washed and cut into medium pieces[wp-avakaya]
Mustard powder, red chilli powder, salt and fenugreek powder[wp-avakaya]
Sesame oil, heated and cooled[wp-avakaya]
Garlic, asafoetida and turmeric (optional)[wp-avakaya]
Start
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What changes: Firm raw mangoes are chopped with a sharp blade and dried until no moisture is left

Step 1 of 4
Cut firm mangoes in swift strokes and dry the pieces
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented

The pieces are dried in the shade until no moisture is left.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

Avakaya is a Telugu pickle of sour raw mango, cut into pieces and dried, then coated thickly in mustard powder, red chilli powder and salt. It is packed tight in a jar, sealed under heated and cooled sesame oil and left in direct sun for several days, then matures over several weeks.

What makes this one different

Avakaya gets its bite from a heavy coat of mustard powder and chilli under sesame oil, where North Indian aam ka achar is kept under mustard oil.

Related ferments

Variants

  • Avakaya with garlicIncludes a significant amount of garlic (Vellulli avakaya).

Safety

No safety study of avakaya was found. FAO notes that the high acidity of finished green mango pickles keeps the risk of food poisoning low, but that is for brined mango pickle in general.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

Wikipedia says avakaya evolved as a way to keep sour mangoes for eating year round. It is usually made in summer, when green mangoes are most available, often as a family or community event.

  1. [wp-avakaya] English Wikipedia, Avakaya (ingredients and preparation, citing The Hindu 2020 and 2023 and Pant, India, The Cookbook, 2010), read 2026-10-23wiki
  2. [fao134] Battcock M., Azam-Ali S. 1998, Fermented fruits and vegetables, a global perspective, FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 134, chapter 6, 6.2.1 Green mango picklegov