Lime Pickle / ನಿಂಬೆಹಣ್ಣಿನ ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿ

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ.

Here is a special pickle from my Aunt's kitchen. Normally, if we prepare the lime pickle, we need to wait for at-least 4 - 5 days to get it set well. Specialty of this pickle is that you can use it instantly!! My Aunt will prepare variety of pickles with seasonally available tangy fruits and vegetables. During my hostel days, always I used to have a stock of pickles prepared by her. This pickle is a good combination with curd rice.

Preparation Time: 40 - 45 minutes

Ingredients:

Medium sized lime 4 - 5

Salt

Red chilli powder 5 - 6 spoons or according to taste

Turmeric - 1/2 spoon

Sugar - 2 spoon

Water - around 2 cups

Spices: Mustard seeds - 2 spoon, Cumin seeds - 1/2 spoon, Cloves - 4, Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 spoon, Asafoetida

For tempering: Oil - 6 spoon, Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 spoon, Mustard seeds - 1/2 spoon, little asafoetida and pinch of turmeric

Procedure:

Remove the seeds from the lemon fruit and cut them into medium size pieces. Sprinkle some salt occasionally on the chopped lime pieces in order to prevent the pickle from getting bitter.

Take around 2 cups of water, add needed amount of salt to prepare the pickle and bring it to boil (Add the salt approximately and can add some more salt later, if needed).

When the salt water reduces to 1 cup or 1 1/4 cup, add the chopped lime pieces, sugar and 1/2 spoon of turmeric. Mix it well and remove it from the flame. Let it get cool down completely. Here, we have added the lime pieces to the hot water to make them get cooked little-bit and make them smooth. This will ease the process of keeping the pickle mixture for a week to get set well. The whole funda behind keeping the pickle for so many days before using them is to make the lime pieces smooth.

In the meanwhile, dry roast all the ingredients under the Spices category except fenugreek seeds. Roast the fenugreek seeds separately until you get nice aroma. Combine all these spices together and prepare a smooth masala powder.

Roast the red chilli powder by adding few drops of oil for 2 - 3 minutes and keep aside.

Once the salt water mixture gets cool down, add the masala powder and red chilli powder. Check the taste and add some more salt or chilli powder, if required. Transfer the pickle mixture into an airtight bottle or container.

Now, you need to complete it with the tempering part! Heat the oil, add fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida and pinch of turmeric. Once it starts spluttering, switch off the flame and allow to cool down completely.

Pour the tempering on the pickle and store the pickle. 

You can use the pickle same day also. If you keep it for 2 - 3 days to set right, it will be even more better! Mix the pickle with a spoon nicely before using. Try this pickle with curd rice for sure :)

Tips:

• My mom has given me a nice tip on how make the pickle to taste as fresh ones after few days / months of preparation. What you need to do is -  make the tempering with 2 - 3 spoons of oil, few fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, mustard seeds and pinch of turmeric. Don't forget to add the tempering to the pickle once it gets cool down.
• To retain the freshness, it is always better to take small quantities of pickle (from the pickle you prepared) in a container for daily use. It prevents the remaining huge quantity of pickle getting exposed to the air frequently.  

Sending this over to the Condiment Mela - hosted by Srivalli.