An Exclusive Recipe - Vanaja's Lime Pickle

This lime pickle is Vanaja, our Life Skills Trainer's recipe. Pickle is a South Indian delicacy, a spicy, tangy, fermented sauce which you can add to any Indian meal. An acquired taste, every region of India has their own twist. Here is the version from Karnataka! 

Vanaja’s Lime Pickle

Makes 2 medium-sized jars..    

Ingredient

• 1 kg limes (the smaller the better)
• 12 tsp salt
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 3 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 4 tsp red chilli powder
• 1½ cups oil

Lemons can be used instead of lime, just make sure to cut them into the same sized chunks.

Preparation

Cut the limes into roughly 2cm sized chunks and remove the seeds.

In a large bowl, add 2 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of turmeric powder to the lime , mix well and set aside for 5 minutes until the juice is extracted. Tip the lime onto a cloth or tea towel to blot the juice for a few minutes.

Once blotted, put the lime back into the mixing bowl and add the remaining 10 tsp salt. Mix well, cover and let it rest for 5 days, giving it a stir every couple of days.

Method

After 5 days, roast the cumin and fenugreek seeds over low heat, till they sputter and crackle. Add the red chilli powder and grind.

Heat the oil in a pan and add the ground spices. Cook for a couple of minutes and turn off the heat. Once it has cooled, add the lime quarters and mix well. Transfer it to jars and let it rest for another day or two before eating.

The pickle will keep for about 6 months in the fridge, and 3 months outside.