Sun-Dried Lemon Pickle - Kerala Style | Dried Lemon Pickle
Ingredients :
Lemon - 2 kg
Kanthari chilli - 300g
Garlic - 100g
Ginger - 2 pieces
Curry leaves
Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
Dried red chillies - 10-12 nos
Gingelly oil - 2 tbsp
Asafoetida - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 2 tsp
Fenugreek powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tsp
Vinegar - 1 tbsp
Method :
To prepare a flavorful sun-dried lemon pickle, begin by gathering kanthari chillies from the backyard and washing them thoroughly. Wash the lemons and dry them with a clean cloth before slicing them into thin, round pieces. Marinate the lemon slices with salt, ensuring they are evenly coated. Lay a banana leaf in a sunny spot, spread the salted lemon slices on it, and leave them to dry under the sun. Simultaneously, wash the kanthari chillies, marinate them with salt, and spread them over the lemon slices to dry together in sunlight.
While they dry, peel and wash ginger and garlic, then cut them into small pieces. Collect fresh curry leaves and set everything aside. Heat a pan and roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds, then let them cool. Separately, roast dried red chillies and set them aside as well. Heat gingelly oil in a pan, add asafoetida, and fry garlic, ginger, and curry leaves until golden brown. Remove and set them aside. Grind the roasted red chillies with coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds into a fine masala. Then grind the fried garlic, ginger, curry leaves, and asafoetida into a separate paste.
Once the lemon slices and kanthari chillies are dried, remove them from the sunlight. Heat oil in a pan and fry the dried kanthari chillies, then add the prepared masala mix. Stir in turmeric powder, fenugreek powder, salt, and a touch of sugar, mixing well. As the mixture dries slightly, add the sun-dried lemon pieces and stir thoroughly to ensure all pieces are coated evenly with the masala. Finally, add vinegar for tanginess, mix well, and remove from heat. Your aromatic and spicy sun-dried lemon pickle is now ready to serve!