Vadu Manga | Maavadu: The No-Oil Baby Mango Pickle
Aruna
Maavadu or Vadu Manga Oorugai is a tangy and spicy pickle made with baby mangoes. A traditional pickle from Tamil Nadu, Vadu Manga is made in early summer when baby mangoes are a plenty. It is also a super-easy pickle to make as all you have to do is mix the mangoes with mustard powder, red chilli powder, turmeric, and salt, and let the mix pickle for 3 to 5 days.
Cuisine Gluten Free, Indian, South Indian, Tamil Nadu, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings 20Servings
Equipment
Bowl
Air-Tight Bottle
Spatula
Plate
Ingredients
2CupsBaby Mangoes
1tspCastor Oil(Alternate, Sesame Oil)
For the Masala
2.5tbspMustard Seeds
2.5tbspRed Chilli Powder
1/2tspTurmeric
2tbspSalt
Instructions
Prepping the Baby Mangoes
Gently pluck the baby mangoes off the stem and discard the stem.
Wipe the baby mangoes with a dry, soft cotton cloth and set aside.
Making the Masala (Proportions for 2 Cups of Baby Mangoes)
Grind 2.5 tbsp mustard seeds to a coarse powder.
To the mustard powder, add 2 tbsp salt, 2.5 tbsp spicy red chilli powder, and 1/2 tsp turmeric, and mix well.
Making the Vadu Manga
To a bowl, add 2 cups of baby mangoes and 1 tsp castor oil or sesame oil.
Using your fingers, gently mix the mangoes so that they are well-coated with oil.
Now add the spice mix and mix well.
Transfer the baby mangoes and masala to a dry, air-tight bottle.
Close the lid well and let the mix pickle for 3 to 5 days.
Every day, use a dry spoon to mix the mangoes well every day. Note: The masala will start getting wet with liquid from the mango and salt from day 1 and by day 3 you will have quite a bit of liquid and the bay mangoes will shrivel.
Serving Suggestions
You can enjoy Vadu Manga or Maavadu with curd rice, dal rice, or even with dosa.
Notes
Always choose baby mangoes that are still on the stem. The mangoes should also be small (about 1" to 1.5"" in size), dark green and firm.
Use a soft cotton cloth to wipe the sap (if any) off the baby mangoes before pickling them.
Do coat the baby mangoes with just a bit of Castor Oil (or Sesame Oil). This ensures that the pickle has a long shelf-life.
Mix the Maavadu every day for 2 or 3 days to ensure it pickles well.
As with all pickles, any contact with water or moisture will spoil the Maavadu, so ensure that all vessels, utensils and ingredients are dry.
Keyword Baby Mango Pickle, Baby Mango Pickle with No Oil, Maavadu, Mango Pickle, Mango Pickle with No Oil, No Oil Mango Pickle, Oorugai, Probiotic, Vadu Manga
Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!