Hi Mamta only me again. Have just made chilli pickle 9 stuffed. I was just wondering is 2-tbs of mustard correct as it seems a very dry mix. I have only used half kilo of chillis but triple checked my spice weights to correspond. Also have still got about a third of the mix left . I split the chillis lengthways then stuffed them full of the spice mix and put them into 3 jars. Going off the recipe I should only need about 4 lemons but again seems a small amount of lemon juice for 3 jars. Will I be ok to increase the amount of lemons used and if so by how much? These are my little babies which I have grown and nurtured over the year so want to get it right. Bet you're really glad I found this site. :)

Once again thanks for your patience.

Yes I am really glad that you found this site ;-). New visitors are always very welcome, especially the ones who comment/correspond with me, because I learn from them :).

This is my little sister's recipe, I am forwarding your question to her. Off the top of my head, the amount of mustard seems right, the mix is dry. the liquid comes from the chillies themselves and the lemon juice. Did you stuff them firmly? If a little mix is left, it is generally just added to the jar to trickle through the chillies when lemon juice is added. I should think that amount of lemon juice could be increased, but let me be sure from my sister. I will get back to you on this to be absolutely sure.

Hi Mamta

Just wondering if you have had a reply from your little sister about the chilli pickle. I will be going to Serbia on Thursday to visit relatives and would like to have it all done and dusted by then if at all possible.Sorry to be such a pain.

Thanks...jevman

Sorry Jevman, I did speak to her but forgot to reply here! My memory!!!

The amounts are correct. The mix is a little dry but chillies release moisture too, so they are okay in the end.

You can increase the lemon juice a little, but the chillies are not supposed to be drowning in it. Lemon juice is just to give a little tart taste and to help preserve the chillies. Mustard seeds and oil also preserve the chillies. Most Indian pickles need sunlight. Leave it on your window sill, where it is light.

Please let me know how your pickle comes.

One thing, once you start eating the pickle, make sure that you always use a clean and DRY spoon/fork to take it out.

That's great Mamta thanks a lot. Will be leaving them for a couple of months to let everything infuse but I will be sure to let you know how they turn out.

Thanks again.....jevman....

PS She has since sent me a mail as well;

"The masala should be filled tightly. Leftover masala can be filled in the jar on the top of the chillies. Too much lemon will make it too tart. It works as a preservative. Some other preservative can be added to make 100 percent sure that it does not get spoiled."

I think that they use minute amounts of sodium benzoate in some ready made Indian pickles.

Hi Mamta

I made 3 jars of the above ( 500 gms of chillis ) and have about half an inch of lemon juice in the bottom of each jar ( I used 5 average sized lemons )so hopefully this should be ok. I will give it a taste in a few weeks to check. If it is to tart is it ok to empty some of the juice out and add jaggery to sweeten it, plus will still have a long shelf life if I do this?

Thanks again....jevman....

This one doesn't have any sugar or jaggery in it. It is quite hot and sharp.

The lemon juice is not supposed to cover it. You can turn over the jar upside-down every few days.

Well Mamta started eating my chilli pickle stuffed number 9 and got to say they are delish. Not to hot but with a nice citrusy ( if that actually is a word ) bite to them. Have also been throwing them in with the boiled rice to give a nice different flavour. All in all really pleased with them especially as I grew the chillis myself.Keep up the good work.

Thank you javman, I will let my little sister know, whose recipe it is. If you still have some left, could I please ask you to take a picture and send it to me. Many thanks.

Make sure you enter your name in the user name field.