Green Chilli Pickle | Hari Mirch ka Achar

Prepping green chillies

1. Rinse green chillies a few times in water. Wipe dry the green chilies very well.
2. There should be no trace of moisture in them. You can also let them dry on their own under a fan.
3. Remove the crowns and chop the green chilies in 1 inch pieces.

Assembling and mixing pickle ingredients

1. In a dry grinder or coffee grinder, powder the mustard seeds coarsely.
2. In a clean glass jar, add the green chilies, ground mustard seeds and salt.
3. Mix by shaking the jar or use a clean non reactive spoon to mix the contents of the jar.
4. Cover the jar with its lid tightly and keep in the sun for 2 to 3 days. If the sunlight and heat is very intense, then just 1 to 2 days is fine.
5. If you don't have sun and its cloudy all the time, then just keep the jar outside. In the evening, remove the jar from outside and keep it in a dry place in your kitchen.
6. After 2 to 3 days, add lemon juice and turmeric powder to the pickle..
7. With a clean non-reactive spoon, mix everything very well. Close the jar and again keep in the sun for 1 to 2 days.
8. Proceed with the next step after 1 or 2 days.

Making Green Chilli Pickle

1. Heat mustard oil till its smoking point on medium low to medium heat. Let the mustard oil cool till it becomes warm or is slightly hot - about 15 mins.
2. You can use any other oil like sunflower or peanut oil. If using these oils, then just heat them until they are hot. You don't need to heat them till their smoking point.
3. Pour the warm mustard oil in the pickle jar.
4. Cover the jar with its lid and keep the pickle at room temperature for 4 to 5 days for the pickling process to happen.
5. You can even keep the chilli pickle for 2 to 3 days at room temperature and then later in the fridge. Once you start serving the chilli pickle, then keep the jar in the fridge.
6. Serve Green Chili Pickle as a side condiment with a simple Indian meals like dal-rice or curd-rice or khichdi. The pickle can also be served with aloo paratha, gobi paratha, mooli paratha or even paratha or chapati.
7. The Hari Mirch ka Achar should keep well for about 3 to 4 months in the refrigerator.