Papaya pickle, commonly known as Papita Ka Achar, combines fresh raw or green papaya with mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and a variety of other spices. My recipe explains the simple steps to make papaya pickle at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Papaya pickle is a vibrant and flavorful traditional Indian condiment.
- Store the pickle in an airtight glass container in a cool dark place. Refrigeration is optional for additional shelf life.
- Serve it with roti, paratha, naan, pulao, biryani, steamed white rice, different types of curries, samosas, pakoras, grilled meats, sandwiches, wraps, salads, dosa, and idli.
- Papaya pickle tastes typically sweet, tangy, and spicy with a bit of nutty and pungent undertone.
- Green chili pickle, mango pickle, radish pickle, carrot pickle, lime pickle, and garlic pickle will offer a somewhat similar taste as the papaya pickle.
I came across this pickle recipe at a free yoga class in the park that I visited out of sheer curiosity. One of the instructors had brought this dish for post-session energy. She offered it to others, including me, with homemade bread, and I loved how healthy it was. I asked her to teach the recipe to me. She explained it patiently, and I tried it that week.
My husband said it felt clean and calm, and the boys found it refreshing. Now, it is one of our favorite pickles. That morning reminded me that balance doesn’t only come through stretches—sometimes, it arrives through food that aligns body and soul with quiet nourishment.
How to Make Papaya Pickle? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Start by taking a raw papaya. Wash it, peel it, and cut it into very fine thin and small pieces. Take two cups of raw papaya.
Step 2: Take a pan, heat it, and add 3 tbsp sesame oil. Heat the oil and then add ½ tbsp mustard seeds.
Step 3: Add 2 tbsp garlic cloves and 3 tbsp ginger pieces.
Step 4: Add 4 pieces (slitted) green chilis and 5 to 6 pieces of curry leaves. Mix everything until it turns brown under medium flame.
(Pro tip: Sesame oil is best for making this pickle.)
Step 5: Turn off the stove and add 1 tbsp turmeric powder. Stir all the ingredients.
Step 6: Add 4 tbsp asafoetida, 1 tbsp fenugreek powder, and 4 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder. Stir all the ingredients.
Step 7: Put on the flame and keep it low. Add 200 ml vinegar into the spice mix. Mix all the ingredients.
Step 8: Add salt as per your taste and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Wait until it starts simmering.
Step 9: Add two cups of raw papaya into the spice mix and blend it well with all the ingredients. Cook it under low flame. Stir it often until it softens.
(Pro tip: Do not cover it and cook.)
Step 10: As soon as the papaya softens and cooks well, turn off the flame. Your papaya pickle is ready.
Step 11: Take a clean sun-dried glass jar, grease it with sesame oil. Add all the pickle into it and enjoy the delicacy.
Recipe Card

Papaya Pickle | Papita Ka Achar
Ingredients
- 2 cups Papaya (washed, peeled & cut into very small slices)
- 3 tbsp Sesame oil
- ½ tbsp Mustard seeds
- 2 tbsp Garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp Ginger (cut into small longitudinal pieces)
- 4 pieces Green chili (slitted)
- 5 pieces Curry leaves
- 1 tbsp Turmeric powder
- 4 tbsp Asafoetida
- 1 tbsp Fenugreek powder
- 4 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- 200 ml Vinegar
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
- Start by taking a raw papaya. Wash it, peel it, and cut it into very fine thin and small pieces. Take two cups of raw papaya.
- Take a pan, heat it, and add 3 tbsp sesame oil. Heat the oil and then add ½ tbsp mustard seeds.
- Add 2 tbsp garlic cloves and 3 tbsp ginger pieces.
- Add 4 pieces (slitted) green chilis and 5 to 6 pieces of curry leaves. Mix everything until it turns brown under medium flame. (Pro tip: Sesame oil is best for making this pickle.)
- Turn off the stove and add 1 tbsp turmeric powder. Stir all the ingredients.
- Add 4 tbsp asafoetida, 1 tbsp fenugreek powder, and 4 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder. Stir all the ingredients.
- Put on the flame and keep it low. Add 200 ml vinegar into the spice mix. Mix all the ingredients.
- Add salt as per your taste and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Wait until it starts simmering.
- Add two cups of raw papaya into the spice mix and blend it well with all the ingredients. Cook it under low flame. Stir it often until it softens. (Pro tip: Do not cover it and cook.)
- As soon as the papaya softens and cooks well, turn off the flame. Your papaya pickle is ready.
- Take a clean sun-dried glass jar, grease it with sesame oil. Add all the pickle into it and enjoy the delicacy.