Spicy and sour giant bitter lemon pickle balance the flavours in an elaborate sadya (traditional feast). Here is how you could prepare a giant bitter lemon pickle at home.
Ingredients
400 gms giant bitter lemon pickle (cut into small pieces alone with the peel; seeds removed)
3 tbsp chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1.5 tsp fenugreek powder
Lemon sized ball of tamarind
1 small piece of ginger
8 green chillies
2 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 dried chillies
Curry leaves as required
Preparation
Marinate the giant bitter lemon pieces with salt and turmeric powder
Pour 3 cups tamarind water into an earthen chatty
Into it add chilli powder, turmeric powder, green chillies and ginger
Boil this mixture
When this begins to bubble up, add the bitter lemon pieces
Add the fenugreek powder and jaggery when the bitter lemon pieces are cooked well
Heat coconut oil and splutter mustard seeds
Roast dried chillies and curry leaves
Add this tempering into the pickle
Mix well
Store in airtight glass containers after the pickle has cooled down.
