Indian cooking challenge for the month was a pickle from the state of Punjab. Srivalli gave us Simran's mom's recipe. So, far, I can say, this is the easiest of all the challenges. This was a new kind of pickle for me. Though most of the pickle made in South India is spicy, we have our share of salted pickles and pickling in brine. And those doesn't call for any oil and salt is the only preservative. I have tasted store bought pickles that uses mustard oil. So I am used to the pungent mustard oil in pickles.
As I said, the recipe is very simple. You have to just mix all the ingredients and leave it for two weeks for the flavors to mingle. I did just that. After 10 days, I did a taste test and felt I should spice it up more. Washed and wiped dry, a handful of green chillies. Chopped it, not fine, and added it to the pickle.
I find the oil very flavorful, with the spices soaked in it. You can add some spice masala to the oil and brush it on your khakra/roti/puri. It will taste awesome.
The initial measurement given by Simran was for 5 Kg of mangoes. Srivalli scaled it down to 1/2 kg of mangoes. The spices were given in grams and I don't have kitchen scale. I used some online converters and got a fair idea of how much it will be in teaspoons/tablespoons.
I am giving the measurement as I used.You need
- Raw Mangoes - 1/2 kg
- Mustard oil - 50 ml
- Salt - 4 tblspn
- Methi / Fenugreek seeds - 2tspn
- Kalonji / Nigella seeds - 1 tspn
- Saunf / Fennel Seeds - 2 tspn
- Turmeric powder - 3 tspn
- Whole Peppercorns - 2 tspn
- Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Method
Select mangoes which are sour. That works best. Chop the mango in to 1 inch pieces. Dry it in the sun for 2-3 hours. You can also spread it under the fan if no sunlight. Wash the glass/porcelain jar to store the pickle. Sun dry the jar too.
Take a large pot. Add mustard oil, turmeric, salt and the spices. Mix well. Add the sun dried mangoes and toss well, until they are well coated with the masala.
Keep the jar in the sun for a day. Leave it to mature for two weeks, though you can use it right away too.
I think basically as South Indians we expect our pickles to look fiery and taste that way too. We are most used to the sesame seeds oil and personally for me, this totally new flavour pickle was different in that sense. I am wondering what your tweaks would render to the pickle!
ReplyDeleteI love this pickle....yours look fab.
ReplyDeleteShow and Tell
Event - LGSS_Potato
WOW!!! This is absolutely tempting & yummy!!!
ReplyDeleteHahahha.. I guess all of us just felt the same thing - more heat to the pickle :-) But it was good.. I kind of like the flavor of mustard oil so I was ok with it too..By the way you have a good blog :-)
ReplyDeletelooks yum,perfect with paratha,.
ReplyDeleteTangy and tempting pickle...
ReplyDeletesince we r used to punjabi food...the red chilly not being there was ok...its a flavourful pickle n u have done a grt job..the oil is delicious too...
ReplyDeletelooks very delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe color and appearance itself is very appealing. My mouth waters when I visually see the pics and read your recipes(especially the mango ones)! Last time it was with mango sheer!
ReplyDeleteLooks great and I love any kind of pickle especially with mango.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you could make it Jayasree...love looks good..
ReplyDeleteWowww... Authentic and delicious recipe.. looks simply superb.. thanks for the awesome recipe.. :)
ReplyDeleteIndian Cuisine