Avakaya Pickle

I love pickles and thokku varieties especially when they are made with mango.I feel Avakaya pickle is loved by most of us.Avakaya is special type of pickle which is very very popular in Andhra.Once my mom tried this pickle.Though it was tasty, in no way it matched the taste of original andhra avakaya.But this time I referred a lot of website and finally found the perfect recipe.Avakaya mango is cut in a special way unlike the usual mango.This variety of mango is very hard and difficult to cut and you cannot use your usual knife to cut this mango,so it is generally cut and given by the mango sellers itself..You need to pay extra for the cutting.

Ingredients:

• Avakaya mango pieces -6 cups
• Sesame oil -1/2 to 3/4 litre
• Mustard powder -1 cup
• Powdered rock salt -1&1/4 cup
• Red chilli powder -1 cup
• Fenugreek powder -1 tbsp

Method:

• In a wet towel rub the mango pieces and let them dry under fan/shade.DO NOT SUNDRY THEM.
• Sun dry the mustard seeds and then powder them in a mixie.
• Powder rock salt also. Dry roast fenugreek seeds and powder them also.
• Now in a bowl measure the above dry ingredients and mix them well.
• In another bowl pour 1/2 litre of sesame oil.
• Now first dip the mango pieces in oil and then coat them with the spice mixture.
• This method ensures that each piece is well coated in spice mixture.
• Now after coating the entire batch of mango pieces pour the remaining oil on top of the mango pieces.Do not close the lid tightly.
• Leave it for 48 hours.(After 24 hours mix them once well).
• After 48 hours mix them well and bottle them.(Pickle can be consumed after this 48 hours of standing time).Wipe the bottle with a tissue or dry towel to remove all the moisture before bottling pickles.
• Once bottled oil must float on top if not pour some more oil.
• Wipe the sides of the bottle and close it tight with a lid.
• Refrigerate.

Notes:

• DO NOT WASH MANGO PIECES.Just wipe them with wet towel.
• If you cannot sun dry mustard seeds just roast them for 1 minute.Not more than that.
• Always use either glass bottles/porcelin(Jaadi) for pickling.DO NOT USE PLASTIC CONTAINERS.
• Make sure there is no moisture in mango pieces, laddle,bowls/vessels and bottle you use.
• I usually refrigerate pickles also.So you can also refrigerate to be on the safer side.
• When you use spoon to take the pickle from bottle remember to wipe the spoon and then use.
• I purchased 2 kg of mango pieces.