This Indian style preserved lemons simply known as lemon pickle | lime pickle is tart, a little spicy and sweet. It is a perfect accompaniment to simple meals like rice and dal (lentil curry).
Lemon or lime pickle is one of my favorite pickles along with the Gujarati sweet mango chundo pickle. Along with adding flavor to a meal, Indian pickles also aid in digestion. They differ to a great extent from the Western counterparts! It is more than just saturating veggies in brine/vinegar.
Pickling in India is a laborious process, from drying the veggies under sunlight, to the preparation, storing and then it’s maturation. It involves the use of complex spices, all of which add to the tingling flavor of the pickle.
In today’s recipe, there is no drying in the sunlight involved. It is rather just cooked and preserved. This is my Mum in law’s recipe that has been tried and tested over the years. It is super simple to make.
I am more biased towards sweet and sour pickles as opposed to the spicy ones, just my preference! This lemon pickle is just that, sweet and sour with a subtle heat that is not very overpowering. If you like a spicy lemon pickle, increase the chilli powder.
Table of Contents
How to make lemon pickle | lime pickle?
Wash and dry the lemons or limes well. Cut into quarters, remove the seeds and transfer to a bowl. It is important to remove the seeds, this helps in reducing the bitterness in a lemon pickle. This needs to be left for a day.
The next day, you need to prepare a simple tempering of mustard seeds, ginger, garlic and curry leaves.
Next add red chilli powder, vinegar, sugar, salt, and the lemon pieces. Let it cook until the peel softens. That’s pretty much it about this lemon pickle recipe.
You can use limes in place of lemons to make this pickle too.
Nothing beats homemade pickles. It is flavor packed and free of artificial preservatives. Do give this easy lemon pickle recipe a try!!
Step by step instructions to make lemon pickle recipe
1.Rinse the limes/lemons well with water, pat dry completely with a clean kitchen napkin. Cut into quarters, or smaller pieces, remove the seeds. Sprinkle some salt, mix it well, cover and leave it at room temperature for a day.
2.Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mustard seeds, once they splutter add curry leaves.
3.Next, add chopped ginger, garlic, saute until fragrant.
4.Add red chilli powder, vinegar, sugar, salt to taste. Mix it well.
5.Add the chopped lemon pieces, mix it well. Let it cook on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the lemon peel is tender. Check for seasonings, balance it out with more vinegar/ sugar if required. Switch off the heat. Let it cool to room temperature. Transfer into a clean and a sterilized glass jar. Store it in a cool place, at room temperature. Let the pickle mature for at least 2-3 weeks, before consuming. The longer the better.
HOW TO MAKE GOAN STYLE LEMON PICKLE?
Lemon Pickle Recipe (Goan Style)
Ingredients
- 1 lb lime/lemons the thin skin variety is better
- 2.5 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1.5 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
- 3 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon red chilli powder
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar/ white vinegar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the limes/lemons well with water, pat dry completely with a clean kitchen napkin. Cut into quarters, or smaller pieces, remove the seeds. Sprinkle some salt, mix it well, cover and leave it at room temperature for a day.
- Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mustard seeds, once they splutter add curry leaves.
- Next, add chopped ginger, garlic, saute until fragrant.
- Add red chilli powder, vinegar, sugar, salt to taste. Mix it well.
- Add the chopped lemon pieces, mix it well. Let it cook on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the lemon peel is tender. Check for seasonings, balance it out with more vinegar/ sugar if required. Switch off the heat. Let it cool to room temperature. Transfer into a clean and a sterilized glass jar. Store it in a cool place, at room temperature. Let the pickle mature for at least 2-3 weeks, before consuming. The longer the better.
Notes
Enjoyed this Goan style lime | lemon pickle? You may also like these Goan pickles-
I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your feedback with photos and suggestions to me at [email protected]
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Regards,
Freda
Maggie says
Hi your recipe is great what if m using large lemons should I apply salt and keep for more time to soften the skin.thanks
Freda Dias says
Hi Maggie! Its best to use lemon or lime with thin skin for this pickle. You may keep for more time to soften the skin if needed.
anaaibachan says
Looks good! Great blog!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much! thanks for stopping by 🙂
anaaibachan says
You’re welcome. I will check your other posts as well. Thanks
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Much thanks 🙂
Himali Shah says
It is one of my fav pickles. I love having it at gujrati restaurants. Thank you for this recipe. Will ne trying soon. Again, lovely photography 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Glad to see you here 🙂 thanks a tonne Himali 🙂 <3
Himali Shah says
My pleasure ! 😀
Linda Fernandes says
My Gosh what a eyes treat ?
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much:) seeing you after a long time! Hope everything is good at your end 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much, Linda 🙂
milliethom says
This pickle sounds wonderful, and looks wonderful, too. Does it make much difference to the flavour whether limes or lemons are used? I’m sure it would be a great accompaniment to many dishes, including cold ones.
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Millie:) It wouldn’t really make a big difference with lime or lemon, these pickles do make a good accompaniment to many dishes, usually those that aren’t heavily spiced.Thanks for visiting 🙂
Megha Agrawal says
Had tingling taste in my mouth by just watching your pickle. Your variation is different from usual lime pickle (that’s without garlic). I’m sure it must have tasted really good.
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Megha!Yes , its a little different from the usual way it’s done in the South, but taste just as good 🙂 Thanks for reading 🙂
kushigalu says
Drooling… Looks so good and awesome recipe!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks a bunch Kushi:)
Vajeea says
yummmmmm my mouth is watering just by looking at the pics!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Aww!! thanks so much Vajeea 🙂
CHCooks says
Beautiful Freda! I love love love your food photos 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
That really means so much to me!! Thanks so much 🙂
Traditionally Modern Food says
Never added garlic for lelon pickle..I can imagine the flavours will try..looks yum
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Vidya 🙂
Love Served Daily says
Yummy
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks dearie 🙂
agenda19892010 says
?
Loretta says
Wow, salivating here just reading the ingredients. I’ve never attempted a pickle before, good for you, it looks terrific!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Loretta!
Smiling Notes says
My mouth started watering the moment I saw these pics Freda!! Yum!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
hehe!! I guess all of us go through that point :p thanks dear 🙂
MyCulinarySaga says
Awesome Freda… I’m drooling !
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much sweetie <3
youthfoodblog says
Wow, I can smell the aroma!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks Chris 🙂
Neethu says
Tastyyy!!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
🙂 🙂 thanks Neethu 🙂
Lina says
This is awesome…I have always been a pickle fan! I love it with curd rice.!!!!!…..love the pics btw!!!!!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
I can have pickle with anything 😀 thanks Lina 🙂
Lina says
Haha….
Aruna Panangipally says
This version of lime pickle is quite different from what we make in the South.
Will try your version soon!
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Agree with you Aruna! it is very different, hope you like this one 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
This looks lovely and I know it would be great with Dal! yumm
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Totally Lynn!! do they have these kind of pickles in Saudi ?? thanks so much!
Lynz Real Cooking says
yes for sure and they have some yummy mango ones!! very spicy
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Oh !! Nice to know 🙂 they do make the spicy ones in India too , I don’t like that as much , I prefer the sweeter mango one 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
yumm sounds so good
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
Wonderful as always Freda
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks Lynn<3
Lynz Real Cooking says
Most welcome
Linda says
Sounds delicious Freda! I’ve never had lime pickle – the flavors sound really intense 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Linda 🙂
Nandini says
My mouth just started to drool 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Aww.. Thanks Nandini! I guess that’s what pickles do to most of us 😀
Chitra Jagadish says
Droolicious pickles….
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks so much Chitra 🙂
priyankamoraes says
Although Mango Pickle is my all time favourite , your pictures look tempting !
Freda @ Aromatic essence says
Thanks a bunch Priyanka 🙂
Freda Dias says
Thanks for adding in the link in your post, Laura! The chicken looks mouthwatering, I can literally taste it! I was trying to leave a comment on your blog, but I don’t see an option for that particular post..