Side dish or secret weapon. Turns out there’s a difference.
PART 3 OF THE SWEET SOY SERIES
Remember that bright thing sitting next to the satay? It has a name. It’s called acar (an Indonesian Pickled Relish). It takes about ten minutes to throw together. Which means there’s no excuse not to make it.
“On its own it’s almost too much. But next to the chicken, next to the rice everything changes.”
EP #74
Here’s all you’re doing:
What You Need
English Cucumber
1 Carrot
1/4 Onion
Dice each into relish-sized pieces
White Vinegar – 1/4 cup
Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
Sugar – 2 tablespoons
Chop cucumber, carrots, and red onion smaller than you think (this isn’t a salad). Place in a jar with remaining ingredients and let sit. At least 30 minutes.
That’s it. No heat. No technique. Just a knife, a jar, and a little patience. The vinegar does the work while you do nothing. A ratio of effort to reward that I can fully support.
HONEST VERDICT
Put it on the satay. Put it on rice. That’s where it earns its place on the plate. Not as a side. It’s the thing that ties everything together.
It takes ten minutes and costs almost nothing. Your satay and rice will taste next level.
Still not sure if you should cook it?
Use the Bravery Scorecard: https://shouldicookit.com/bravery-scorecard/
Should I Cook It? 
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