The short answer
Mixed achaar with daal chawal and paratha, lemon achaar with khichdi and fish, green chilli with sandwiches and egg paratha, plum chutney with pulao and biryani, and imli chutney with chaat and pakoras.
Pairing chart
| Dish | Reach for |
|---|---|
| Daal chawal | Mixed or lemon achaar |
| Aloo or plain paratha | Mixed or green chilli achaar |
| Biryani | Mixed achaar, plus raita |
| Pulao | Plum chutney |
| Khichdi | Lemon achaar |
| Chaat, pakoras, dahi baray | Imli chutney |
| Samosa, kebabs, BBQ | Mango or plum chutney |
The rule of thumb
Rich, plain or starchy food wants sour and spicy achaar. Fried or salty food wants sweet chutney. When in doubt, mixed achaar works with almost everything.