Acar Timun Sarawak (Pickle Cucumbers)

A friend of mine post a photo of Acar Timun (pickle cucumbers) a few days back in FB. It intrigued me about this pickle as I never heard of it before. Before long, I track down the other images and few more questions to my friend, soon I learned that this is a speciality from Sarawak and normally eaten with fish crackers, or maybe with any crackers..I have to try this..of course I will..anything that look delicious I will definitely try.

The friend later send me the recipe and it seems easy to prepare it, only few basic ingredients and it's ready. But be ready for the house to smell of vinegar, well that's what the kiddos told me while pinching their noses...

Acar Timun Sarawak

Ingredients:

2 kg cucumber

5 pieces shallots

2 cloves of garlic

3 cm ginger

2 tbsp sambal oelek

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick

Salt to taste

3 tbsp oil

Split cucumber into half lengthwise and core, do not peel. Cut diagonal into thin slices.  Season cucumber with salt and drain in colander, keep aside for about 1 hr then wash.

Blend ginger, shallots and garlic in a food processor or mortar and pestle. Heat oil in a pan, sautée the paste until it fragrant. Add the cinnamon stick, lower the heat.  Add the vinegar, salt and sugar, stir. Stir the paste constantly so that it does not stick to the pan.

It is ready when the paste is thicken. Let it cool down before adding the sliced cucumber.

As adviced, I had it with a plate of the crackers..yummy with a slightly sweet, tangy and spicy ..I will definitely doing it again..;

Thank you Saniah for the recipe..