No masala, No Oil Green Chili Lemon Pickle (Achar)

Not so long ago we had one of those lazy weekends where we did not feel like cooking much , did not feel like going to restaurant either and just lazed around, made just plain rice and simple daal. But then when hunger struck us we were left drooling and thinking of different possibilities, options and more yummy stuff to munch along with the plain food.

Dear Husband (DH): “Wish we had a simple lemon pickle at least and that would have kicked up a notch of this plain food. We need to make it next time and keep it handy”.

Dear Wife(DW):”Bah, easier said than done… making a pickle is a pain staking process, it is not like making Thokku or the Crisps, you first need to prep them, add the seasonings, make the masala, put in load full of oil, baby sit it….blah blah”.DH: “Ah! None of the above, it is easy and the taste is out of this world”.DW:” Let me not sugar coat this. This will not work; you are way too hungry to think correctly”

DH:”Just watch what I do and you will be surprised. Are you ready?” 

• Ingredients
• 10-15 lemons/limes (make sure that the skin is not very thick)
• Salt
• 4-5 green chillies (depending on spice level, add more or less per taste)

Method:

Day 1:

• Wash the lemons and wipe them thoroughly. Make sure there is no water on the skin.
• Cut them into small bite sized cubes.
• Take an air tight container and place one layer of diced lemons, slit green chillies at the bottom and top it with a teaspoon of salt. 
• Next place another layer of diced lemons and add spread around teaspoon of salt. Continue until all the diced lemons are finished. Shake well and close the lid.

Day 2-7:

• Shake it once everyday and make sure you do not open the lid.
• After about a week or so, the juice from the lemon begins to gets thick and juicy. The mixture blends well and the taste is neither salty nor spicy.

Day 10: Ready to eat !

 This is a very simple yet tasty pickle and goes very well with Daal rice, yogurt rice etc.This is my contribution to AFAM:Lemon an event hosted by EC at Simple Indian Food Easy Cooking Blog.

• 1

  That sounds like a awesome pickle.. My mouth’s watering just thinking about the tangy spicy lemon pickle.. Good one.

  Pavani on August 25th, 2008
• 2

  Wow,that is very creative,normally I avoid pickles because of the level of oil in them this seems quite a nice variation……

  Usha on August 25th, 2008
• 3

  Srulp…….. So mouthwatering. Nice and great recipe…

  Sukanya on August 25th, 2008
• 4

  that’s a great recipe.Have to try it out.

  PG on August 26th, 2008
• 5

  BTW, the link to the event you mentioned does not seem to work

  PG on August 26th, 2008
• 6

  mmm. oil free pickle? I am so making this. looks so delicious and juicy.

  BTW, posted the recipe for Baked Puri today. Check it out!

  Uma on August 27th, 2008
• 7

  awesome. if you have sunshine, try manisha’s no-oil lemon and lime pickles. we’ve made them two years running now. but you need to make them in the sun, or in a very low oven.

  bee on August 27th, 2008
• 8

  Thanks All.

  thanks Uma. Off I go to check the baked puri

  Bee, thanks for the recommendation. I will do check it out.

  redchillies on August 27th, 2008
• 9

  You Rock! this looks great RC:)

  mansi on August 29th, 2008
• 10

  I came here as soon as I saw no masala and no oil. This is pure genius!

  Mallika on August 30th, 2008
• 11

  Hi I too made the same pickle.With very little difference.If time permits visit,http://tastycurryleaf.blogspot.com/2008/08/lemon-sides.html

  CurryLeaf on September 2nd, 2008
• 12

  This pickle is something we have at home always..and amma makes them with lemon peels she collects after taking away the juice..also adds bitter gourd..tastes yumm..with curd rice. Happy Gowri habba & Ganesha Chaturthi RC..

  Lakshmi on September 3rd, 2008
• 13

  mouthwatering… pickle is my weakness. i just cant d without it.

  Anjali J. on September 8th, 2008

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