Cucumber Pickle (Acar Timun)

This acar timun is normally prepared during wedding feasts or can be eaten with normal plain rice,tomato rice or beriani.

3 cucumbers-remove the centre and cut into strips of 3 cm each.
1 carrot-shredded or cut into strips like the cucumber
1 big onion-sliced
2 red and 2 green chillies-halved
2 tbsp roasted sesame seed
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
1/2 cup vinegar
3/4 cup oil

Ingredients to be blended:

6 cloves garlic
3 cm ginger
2 cm fresh turmeric
10 dry chillies
10 candlenuts

Mix vegetables with 1 tsp salt, using a strainer, press out the juice.Heat oil in pan and fry blended ingredients.Fry until fragrant.Add sugar, salt and vinegar.Fry until sauce thickens and the oil seeps to the top. Leave to cool.When cooled, add the vegetables and sesame seeds.

Below is another easy to make salad that does not need any cooking.I observe this salad being prepared by the Nasi Beriani hawker near my house.

Easy Cucumber Salad:

2 cucumbers, remove centre and cut into strips as above.
1 carrot, cut as cucumbers,
1/2 pineapple,remove skin, core and cut into strips like the cucumber.(You can use canned pineapples and you need not add anymore sugar).
a little sprinkle of sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup vinegar