Lemon Pickle

Preparation time : 3 days + 10 mins
Makes : 2 jars

Ingredients :

Lemons : 20 (12 for pickle +8 for juice)
Chili powder : 1/2 cup approx
Salt : 1cup approx
Methi seeds : 3 tbsp
Mustard seeds : 2tbsp
Hing / Asafotida : 2tsp
Turmeric : 1 tsp
Oil : 1/2 cup

Method :

Wash lemons thoroughly and wipe them with a dry cloth.
As we are going to store this pickle , the lemons should not contain any water on them after washing them.
Cut each lemon into 8 slices and take off the seeds.
(Take each lemon cut it into half, cut each half into half , cut each one into half again and you will end up in 8 pieces)

[I took very big lemons, so i cut each lemon into 16 pieces or 12 pieces.
As i used very big lemons (UK lemons) so i used 8 lemons for pickle and 4 lemons for juice.
I got 2 full jars(priya 300g jars) of lemon pickle.]

Keep these aside.
Take those lemons for juice , clean them, wipe them with dry cloth.
Squeeze them into a bowl with a strainer.
Now add this lemon juice to those cut lemons, mix it.
Add salt, turmeric powder and mix it once again.
After mixing all these well, if you see in the bowl with a spoon, you should see some salt at down of the bowl.
We are making saturated solution, then the pickle will stay for long ( here salt is the preservative).
Close it with a lid and keep aside for 3 days in a place where there is no moisture.
(My grand ma makes this and she keeps this, as this will stay for even more longer time, and whenever she wants to use, she will mix chili pdr ... and the remaining steps below.)
On third day, Take a pan, heat it, add methi seeds to it, mix it continuously on low flame till it gets golden brown.
Take a grinder, grind methi seeds into very fine powder.
Add this methi powder to that lemon.
Also add chili powder to that lemon.
Mix every thing very well.
Check for taste. If you want to add any thing add a bit.
Take a pan, add oil, when it is smoking hot add mustard seeds, hing and turn off the heat.
Let it cool down completely, and then add this to the lemon mixture.
Store this in air tight container, and keep it in fridge.
This will stay for 2 years in fridge.
If you want to keep it out side , in your cupboard then you should fallow my grand ma method :)

Enjoy your pickle.
Thank you, do post your comments :)