Spicy Mixed Vegetable Pickle

Step 1

Mix all the chopped vegetables, mango and garlic in a glass or clay mixing bowl. Quarter the limes and squeeze as much of the juice out of them as you can over the other ingredients. Heat some water in a pan with a steamer and steam the limes quarters for about 15 minutes to soften them. You can add the steamed lime quarters as they are to the bowl or cut them into even smaller pieces before adding.

Step 2

Using a pestle and mortar, one tablespoon of black mustard seed into a course powder. Pour this powder along with the chilli powder, turmeric, fenugreek and salt over the vegetables and fruit in the bowl. Stir well to combine.

Step 3

Now in a small frying pan, bring about 3 tablespoons of the oil to a bubble over high heat. Add the mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, reduce the temperature to medium high and stir in the cumin seeds, Kashmiri chillies and curry leaves. When these become fragrant, pour in the remaining oil, stir well and pour it all over the chopped vegetables.

Step 4

Mix really well. The vegetables should be submerged in the oil. If not, add a little more and then cover with cling film. In the summer months, you can place this outside in the sun. In colder months, place it all in a sunny window.

Step 5

Leave to ferment for three days, stirring every eight hours or so. Then scoop it all into a sterilized jar (see page xx) with a tight fitting lid. You can taste it now but wait for at least a week if you can. It gets better!

Step 6

This pickle will keep in the fridge for at least three months. Make sure that the vegetables are always covered in oil to avoid it going off.