Instant lemon pickle

Pickles are normally associated with tedious procedures and long term projects involving cutting, mixing, drying and remixing etc. Now many of us do not have time for all these processes and we end up buying readymade pickles from market.

Here is a recipe for "Instant lemon pickle". It is not time consuming and easy to make. The pickle tastes just as the original one does. I have made this pickle in January and put it in the refrigerator. It is tasting fresh and yummy even now! If you have to make some spicy pickle in a short notice, this is a very good recipe!

Ingredients:

•      5 Fresh ripe lemons
•      2 Tbs. chile powder
•      2 or less Tbs. salt
•      1 Tsp. methi mustard powder
•      3 Tbs. oil
•      1 Tsp. hing (asafetida)

Directions:

1.      Wash and dry lemons.
2.      Place them in a pressure cooker and cook till five whistles.
3.      Stop cooking and let cool.
4.      Open the cooker and let the lemons cool.
5.      Drain any water that is collected.
6.      Cut the lemons in the bowl itself, so that the juice is not lost, in to smaller pieces.
7.      Add chile powder, salt and methi mustard powder.
8.      Mix well.
9.      Heat oil in a small pan.
10.      When oil is hot, add hing and remove from heat.
11.      Pour hot oil over the pickle mixture.
12.      Mix well and let stay for about an hour.
13.      Fresh lemon pickle is ready to eat.
14.      If kept in a refrigerator, the pickle stays for a long time.