Cucumber Acar

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Mom has just started her preparations, and every year she will make the Cucumber Acar. Here in Kuching, Acar is eaten with prawn crackers.

This year, I am able to contribute to the process of making the Cucumber Acar at home.

Cucumbers with the ends chopped off

Wash and core and then cut

Then the gruelling task of shredding begins

Shred some carrots too and add in salt. Let it stand till the water comes out of the vegetables.

Then squeeze'em dry.

Then shred ginger, garlic and fresh chillies finely. We dried these in the sun.

Meanwhile, sautee the spices, which consisted of chilli, buah keras, turmeric, belacan & some dried prawns.

Sautee till fragrant and let it cool.

In a large pot, dissolve sugar in vinegar over low fire. The ratio is 1kg of sugar to 600ml of vinegar.

When the vinegar cools, mix in the spices & vegetables.

Ensure the veges are totally soaked in the vinegar

This is what it looks like the next day.

Bottle the acar and keep in a cool place.

Serve with chopped roasted peanuts and toasted sesame seeds.