Lemon Pickle Recipe

Lemon Pickle is a traditional Indian condiment made with lemons (or limes), ground spices, salt and an optional ingredient – oil. Many Indian homes make pickles during summer that usually last for an year. Pickles are eaten as a side in an Indian meal and is believed to aid digestion when eaten in small quantities. A typical Indian meal always consists of a pickle and Lemon Pickle is the most common one loved by many. In this post I share how to make it in 2 ways – 15 mins instant pickle (no sun, no oil) and traditional.

About Lemon Pickle

Lemon Pickle also known as preserved lemons is a traditional condiment where lemons are preserved in a brine. A basic brine for this purpose consists of salt and lemons or lemon juice. Sometimes various spices are also added to balance the acidic and sour taste of lemons.

After preserving the lemons in the brine for a period of time, they ferment and soften after which they are edible. In the Indian lingo this is known as achar – Lemon pickle.

In India, each region has a different recipe for making pickles. I share my Mom’s recipes here along with lots of tips to keep the lemon pickle good for an year. However since lemons are available through out the year, I prefer to make them every few months.

Traditionally made pickles are mostly no-cook, except for heating the spices & oil for tempering. My instant pickle (recipe 1) does not require even tempering, so it a no oil recipe. It is a dump & go recipe that needs only 15 mins of your time. But If you are making the traditional recipe (2), the process is different and you will temper the pickle with whole spices.

The traditional lemon pickle can be made with just 3 ingredients – lemons, salt and chili powder. Brining the lemons with acidic ingredient and salt cuts down the bitter taste of the peel. Roasted fenugreek helps in fermentation and adds a aroma. For a extended shelf-life, it is tempered with oil.

More pickle recipes,
Instant Mango pickle
Andhra Avakaya
Instant amla pickle

Photo Guide

New instant pickle recipe 1 (no oil, no sun required)

• Wash and wipe dry 200 grams (7 oz) of lemons. Deseed, cut to 1 inch portions and add to a large clean glass jar. Add 1¼ tablespoons sea salt (or non-iodized salt), 3 tablespoons Kashmiri red chili powder, ½ to 1 teaspoon roasted methi seeds powder (optional) (roasted ground fenugreek) & ½ teaspoon turmeric. Pour ½ to ¾ cup apple cider vinegar (with mother).
• Cover and shake the jar well to mix everything well. Your vinegar should cover all the lemons. Leave this at room temperature for a week in a moist-free place. Shake the jar every day once or twice.
• After 7 days move to the refrigerator and store until the lemon pieces are softened. It takes about a month for the pickle to be ready but we start serving after 2 weeks. If you feel it is low on salt add more salt or vinegar. It will be a bit runny but still good.

How to make Lemon Pickle (Stepwise Photos)

Preparation for traditional recipe 2

1. Rinse 8 large lemons (400 grams) well under running water and pat dry with a clean cloth. Air dry them until completely moist free, preferably overnight.

2. Ensure your chopping board, knife, bowls, spoons and everything else you use to make the pickle are moisture free and dry. You can sun dry or air dry them well for a few hours. I usually pop them in the oven for a while at 60 to 70 C (140 to 160 F)

3. Cut 4 lemons to halves and remove the seeds with a small knife and chop them to quarters or smaller cubes as desired. To a small bowl, extract the juice from the rest of the lemons (4) and remove the seeds.

Then spread them on a large tray spacing apart and sun dry for at least 5 hours. If you live in a place where there is no sunlight, simply keep the tray in your oven and turn on the oven at 40 C (104 F), at the lowest possible settings for 1 hour. Shake the tray after 30 mins. The lemon pieces won’t dry out completely. Keep the oven door ajar (slightly open) through out to avoid moisture building up inside.

Spread red chili powder, salt and turmeric in a tray and keep under the sun for 1 hour or in the oven (without salt) for 20 mins, with the door kept ajar. Later place this on a wired rack so the ingredients don’t sweat.

Also keep the lemon juice in the sun or in the oven. If keeping in the sun, spread a thin muslin cloth over the bowl of lemon juice. These steps will ensure your pickle won’t spoil.

Make The Lemon Pickle

4. Before making the pickle, ensure all of the ingredients including salt are at room temperature and not warm. Add the chopped lemon pieces to the jar or bowl. Then pour the lemon juice to the same jar or bowl.

5. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon salt and turmeric.

6. Mix everything well. Lastly sprinkle another half tsp salt over the pieces. This step helps to prevent spoilage.

7. Cover and rest for 24 hours in a dry place. Avoid keeping in high humid places like kitchen counter etc. I left mine in the living.

8. After 24 hours, lemons will begin to change the color slightly but not tender yet. If it is summer where you live, then you can wait for another 2 days. I decided to go ahead after 24 hours as it was raining.

9. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons red chilli powder and ½ to 1 teaspoon roasted methi seeds powder /fenugreek powder.

10. Mix all of them again. Cover and set aside .

Tempering

11. Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a pan. I used mustard oil here so heated it until smoky. However you can use any oil you prefer. When the oil turns hot, add ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds, 2 to 3 crushed garlic cloves and 2 red chilies. Once the garlic turns golden, turn off the heat. Add ⅛ teaspoon hing now. Cool this completely.

12. Pour 2 tbsps oil of the cooled along with garlic and mustard. Mix well. At this stage taste and add more salt and chilli powder.

13. Transfer this to the jar. Pour the rest of the oil on top. Press down the lemon pickle with a spoon so the pieces all go under the oil.

14. Ensure there is a layer of floating oil over the lemon pickle. This helps in shelf life. Cover with an airtight lid and refrigerate. Let the pickle mature for at least 10 to 20 days before you serve. When the pickle is ready, the lemon pieces will soften & the bitter taste reduces.

I always refrigerate this pickle after I make it as the weather is humid here. Serve lemon pickle in any Indian meal as a side. Always ensure you use dry spoons to serve the pickle.

Here are some tips that may be helpful

Pro Tips

1. Ensure all the ingredients, knife, chopping board, bowls, spoons and all other things used to make the pickle are dry and moisture free. Do not use anything directly from the refrigerator. Bring them to room temperature and use. This step is essential for a good shelf-life.

2. Lemons with thin skin are used to make the pickle as they taste less bitter and mature quickly after pickling. Lemon juice is used to tone down the bitter taste in the skin.

3. Chilli powder is the key ingredient here. It is nothing but pure 100% ground red chilies. I suggest using a milder version for lesser heat.

4. Oil has been traditionally used in most Indian pickles as it prevents the growth of mold or fungus. Oil-free lemon pickle can be made following the same recipe I have shared below. Just skip the oil. But there are chances of the pickle turning moldy depending on the weather conditions.

5. Fenugreek seeds or methi seeds are used in most traditional pickles as they help in fermenting the pickle well. These seeds also adds a unique flavor without leaving a bitter taste. This is optional and you may skip.

This recipe needs only a small amount of fenugreek powder which is hard to make in any blender. So I usually roast about 2 to 3 tbsps of these seeds and then powder them. This keeps good in the fridge for an year. You can add a bit of this to any pickles.

Tempering

Tempering the pickle with whole mustard seeds, garlic and red chilies is optional buts adds some flavor. You may skip all of these and just heat the oil. Cool it completely and then add it to the pickle.

Color of the lemon pickle will change from red to brownish as the pickle ages or matures.

Right time to make

The best time for pickling is during hot summers. We avoid during the monsoon as there are higher chances for the growth of fungus.

Lemons vs Lime

The same recipe can be used to make lime pickle as well. We usually make this with lemons and avoid lime. The skin of the lemon is less bitter than the lime. So most people prefer using lemons. Please note that lime pickle takes longer to mature.

Serving suggestions

This can be eaten as a side in any Indian meal. We usually serve it with a simple dal, rice and ghee or with curd rice.

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Recipe Card

Lemon Pickle Recipe First Published in March 2020. Updated and republished in July 2022.