Delicious Dates and lemon pickle
Delicious Dates and lemon pickle
Dates and lemon pickle is a special recipe popular among the people from South India. Delicious sweet flavour of dates combines well with the sour taste of lemon pieces. Reddish brown texture of the pickle comes with the use of red coloured chilli powder. A small amount of sugar is used for an additional sweet flavour. The presence of sliced green chillies, dried red chillies and the red chilli powder plays its part in providing a light spicy hot taste. Unique flavour of this pickle goes well with boiled rice and Biriyani recipes. Have a look at the list of ingredients used and the method of preparation of this unique pickle recipe.
Ingredients used in Dates and lemon pickle
- 4-5 large lemon or 8-10 small lemon
- 18-20 Dates (finely chopped )
- 2 tablespoon of Gingelly oil / Nallenna
- 1½ teaspoon + 1 teaspoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of Mustard seeds
- 2-3 dried Red chillies
- ½-inch ginger piece (finely sliced)
- 9-10 Garlic cloves (sliced or halved to fine pieces)
- 3-4 medium sized Green chillies (slit to two pieces)
- 2 tablespoon of red coloured chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon of fenugreek powder
- A pinch of Asafoetida / Hing
- 1 teaspoon of Sugar
- 1/4 – ½ cup of hot water
- 2 tablespoon of Vinegar
- Salt for the taste
Method of preparation of Dates and lemon pickle
- Heat 1 tablespoon of Gingelly oil / Nallenna in a pan.
- Add the lemons and heat it for 5-8 minutes. Stir it continuously using a wooden ladle as the skin becomes soft.
- Once it is ready, switch off the flame and keep it aside for cooling.
- When the lemons are completely cooled to the room temperature, slice it to 6-8 pieces.
- Transfer the lemon pieces into a glass jar or a bowl, add some salt and 1½ tablespoon of sugar. Mix it well and keep it for 1-2 days.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of gingelly oil in a deep frying pan. Add the mustard seeds and once it splutters, add the dried red chillies and fry it for few seconds.
- Now, add the sliced ginger, green chillies and garlic pieces. Stir fry it to a light golden brown texture.
- Add the dates pieces and cook it for 3 minutes. Once it gets cooked and become soft, reduce the flame to a low range.
- Now, add the chilli powder, hing/ kayam, fenugreek powder, and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
- Saute it for few minutes and add some hot water, vinegar and a pinch of salt for the taste.
- Boil it to a thick solution and switch off the flame. Keep it aside for cooling.
- Add the lemon pieces and mix it well. Check the salt and add it as per the requirement.
- Once it is cooled, transfer it to an airtight container.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. Once it is cooled, pour it over the pickle. Keep it aside for 2 days.
- Delicious Dates and lemon pickle is ready, serve it as a side dish for boiled rice or Biriyani.
