Tomato Pickle

I am writing here after a long break. A lot has transpired in the duration since my last post. The biggest of all is my shift to Mumbai and taking up a job. As can be imagined, I am not left with much time to write, making me a visitor to my own space. But, after the initial settling down, I have decided to write intermittently at the very least. So here is today's instalment a tomato pickle. With the price of tomatoes relatively low right now, do give this tomato pickle a shot.

This is my mom's recipe and she normally prepares some when the price goes down. This tomato pickle recipe includes some garlic to the tomato pickle for added flavor, but it can be onitted if you do not like it.

Ingredients
Tomato, ripe - 1 kg
Garlic - 10 to 15
Ginger, chopped - 3 to 4 tsp
Red chilli pwd - 3 tsp
Turmeric pwd - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
Dry roasted Fenugreek pwd - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida / Hing - 1/2 tsp
Vinegar - 4 tbsp
Oil - 4 tbsp
Salt as per taste

Choose ripe to very ripe tomatoes to make this pickle. Wash the tomatoes well and with a knife make cuts on the tomato penetrating only the skin. These cuts make it easy to peel the blanched tomatoes. Heat a vessel of water and when it comes to a boil add the tomatoes into it. Leave the tomatoes in the boiling water for a few minutes till you see the skin loosening. This means the tomatoes are ready to peeled. Scoop the tomatoes out. When it has cooled enough to handle it, peel them and add them into a blender jar. Pulse it a couple of times, just enough to crush a little and leave small pieces.

 

Heat oil in a pan, add ginger and garlic pieces and saute for 2 to 3 minutes then add fenugreek seeds and saute. Add the tomato - pulp and pieces both, the red chilli powder for medium heat, turmeric pwd and salt. Saute till the liquid is completely absorbed and the tomato pulp is thickened. Then add the dry roasted fenugreek powder, asafoetida / hing powder and vinegar. Mix it in well and saute till vinegar is completely absorbed. At this stage the whole thing should come together and form a ball. Our tomato pickle is ready!

 

My photos will follow in a bit....