Athela Marcha and Olives – Instant Pickle
Athela Olives and Athela pickle is a very well-known Gujarati-Style Chili pickle that is served as a condiment. Athela olives is my take on athela marcha. It is a mix of olives, green chilies, jalapenos, carrots and fresh turmeric as well.
This instant condiment is so common in Gujarati households or occasions. As a Kathiyawadi, we would have athela marcha with ganthiyas and fafdas. It would be incomplete meal if chili pickle is not part of it. Ohh, and those Sunday mornings with puri, cha and athela marcha is a killer combo. Athela Marcha are also called raiwala marcha.
The vegetables and other ingredients used in this recipe
Usually, people make couple of variations.
- Gajar Gobhi Shalgam – Carrots, Cauliflower and Radish.
- Carrots and Chili pickle.
- My version includes – green chilies/Jalapenos, carrots, fresh turmeric, and olives. I wanted to experiment with olives and always knew it would work perfectly. They taste awesome.
Some variations can also include whole garlic or grated, even ginger slices. It all tastes great and depends on your family’s preference.
Other ingredients include – spices, after all it’s a pickle.
There is asafoetida, turmeric and red chili powder, I love fennel seeds, so I have added them, oil, salt and lemon juice work as preservative. So, they are important. In Athela Marcha people don’t usually add jaggery, but I love tiny amount in it. It’s totally optional.
Dry Spices 
How to enjoy this condiment?
Condiments play a huge role in our day to day eating. We enjoy this fresh and quick, crunchy pickle as part of thali meal. Back in India, this would be on our lunch and dinner table with other foods like rotli, shaak, dal and rice. I love it with hot puris and tea.
Raiwala literally means mustard laden. You see those yellow little seeds are yellow mustard seeds. Mustard seeds play a huge role in making any pickle recipe whether it be instant or longer version. These yellow split mustard seeds are called ‘rai kuria’ and easily can be found in Indian grocery stores.
Storage
Pickles are made in a way that most of the ingredients help as preservative. Transfer it to a glass jar, preferably and it should be kept in the fridge for couple of weeks.
Athela Marcha and Olives
Ingredients
Spices
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard seeds/Rai Kuria
- 3/4 tsp red chili powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds optional
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp asafoetida/hing
- 1/2 tsp jaggery optional
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
Vegetables
- 1 medium sized carrot peeled and chopped lengthwise
- 1 jalapeno or 3 green chilies long stem, chopped /slit
- 12-15 green olives
- 3 fresh turmeric chopped lengthwise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Cut all the veggies and leave them aside.
- In a bowl, mix all dry spices and stir to combine.
- Toss the spice mix on chopped veggies and olives. Give it a stir.
- Heat up oil until it’s enough hot. Remove and add the oil to the veggie and spice mix. Toss to combine everything and make sure it everything is well coated with oil and spices. Add lemon juice and toss again. You can add jaggery too. Jaggery is not usually added to this type of pickle. But I love the taste .
- Transfer the pickle in a jar and store it in the fridge. It stays well up to a month.