Instant Mango Pickle

The mango season was her favourite, always had been. Apart from the weather being favourable for all the kids to hang out for endless hours, it also marked the vacation from college and the visit to the village. While she didn't particularly like being surrounded by all the relatives commenting on how she had grown up so much and how it will soon be time to look for a groom for her, there was something in the village atmosphere that she always looked forward to. Away from the hustle bustle of the city life that she was used to, she liked going to the village unlike others of her age who thought it was very dull & boring.

She loved sitting on the banks of the small river that ran across the village. She liked visiting the local temple for the calm & peace. She loved the ‘khaddi’ ice cream (ice cream on a stick) which was nothing but frozen flavoured water. And then there was adventure of picking mangoes right from the trees. That was the best part of all, even though her mother kept reminding her that she was too old to do such things and more so because she would go out with the boys.

One such afternoon when the household was asleep she tip toed her way towards the backyard and jumped to the other side to meet her friends, 6 boys & one more girl of her age. She knew that if her mother came to know about this excursion of hers she was in for a sound scolding but the lure of the mango tree made her forget all the caution. They made their way towards the grove of mango trees that they had been eying for some time. She climbed one of the trees with ease and found that there were more green mangoes on that one. She thought about having them with some salt & red chilli powder and that was enough to motivate her to start picking them and throwing them on to the back pack that she was carrying. She heard some one shouting from the other end as she reached for another mango and she started to panic. Could it be some one from home who had come looking for her?

She quickly hurried down and ran all the way home and so did all her friends. On reaching home, she quickly emptied her backpack near the tulsi plant as she did not want to be caught with them. Her mother came out just as she had finished and called her for the tea. She was quite relieved to realise that no one had missed her while she was away.

A couple of hours later she strode into the kitchen and found her mother excitedly chattering about the mango pickle she was going to make. She had never seen her so excited about something she regularly used to make. Curious, she asked about it and her mother told her how she had chanced upon these lovely green mangoes near the Tulsi plant and right when she was going to the market to get them! She smiled, said nothing and started thinking about the dinner with the delicious pickle.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never knew that you can be creative when you are under pressure, but it just so happened that I realised that today was the last day for the event that I am eagerly awaiting every month - Of Chalks & Chopsticks #3. Having promised myself never to miss this event under any circumstances, this is what I came up with at the last minute. But isn't that the whole essence of this post anyway, what with the last minute mango pickle?

Instant Mango Pickle

Ingredients

• 2 Green Mangoes, seed discarded & cut into medium sized pieces along with the skin.
• 1 tblsp oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/4 cup Jaggery, grated (adjust according to taste)
• 1/2 tsp Ground Fenugreek
• 1/2 tsp Ground Mustard
• 1-2 tsp Red Chilli Powder (Adjust according to taste)
• Salt

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. When hot, add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add the hing and the turmeric powder and wait for it to sizzle. Do all this on a low-medium flame so that the mustard seeds & hing get ‘fried’ a little.

Next add the mango pieces and mix to coat. Sauté this on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.

Add the ground fenugreek, ground mustard, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well and fry for another minute or so.

Add enough water to completely cover the mango and put in the jaggery. Mix well and bring to a boil and then let it simmer until it thickens a little.

This pickle can stay well for about 3-4 days in the fridge.

My Notes: This pickle should taste sweet, sour & spicy. You can adjust the quantities of jaggery & chilli powder according to the sourness of the mangoes and your individual taste. Also, green mangoes which are a little soft rather than firm, work very well for this pickle.

PS: I just realised that I hardly ever name my stories. Should I name this one & if yes, any ideas?