Hi Mamta,

In your recipe, what is a newspaper tube?

Also, if I can't find sun at this time of year could I do something different for stage 8 (below)?

7. Fill in jars, close lid and cover the jar with a newspaper tube.

8. Leave in the sun for 10-15 days.

Regards,

Martin

Hello Martin

In winter, I leave the jar on a window sill wherever you get maximum sun.

Newspaper tube; it is just some layers of newspaper rolled around the jar to protect it from fierce sun in India, but allowing the heat to pass through. The strong sun sometimes discolours the pickle. I have just edited the recipe.

Mamta

So now my pickled is made. How well should I press down the mixture ( I added 4 Lidl Easy Garlic by the way to my 1Kg of chillies)? I've added topping oil to 1 jar and it does literally that. It sits on top of the chilli pickle and doesn't permeate downwards. The reason I ask is because when I've bought commercial Chilli Pickles (say from Pataks or JRS (incredibly salty by the way) they've been oily through and through.

Best regards,

Martin

Hello Martin

Garlic; the amounts are not exact. Whatever you have added is fine. You can make it as much or as little garlicky as you want.

Oil; Shop brands do have a lot of oil. Perhaps it makes them last longer on shelves. Perhaps it is because oil is cheaper than other ingredients. I am not sure why they have a lot of oil.

If your oil is not permeating down, you must have packed it quite tightly. Just insert a clean fork or skewer into the jar right down to the bottom, move it about a little to create a space and pour oil. It will trickle down. Do this a few times in different places. Chillies should settle down more in a few days, and then you can add more oil. If it is really impossible to get oil in, you may sterilise another jar, remove a little pickle from each jar and put into this new jar. Then all jars will end up with some space for oil.

My present pickle has been sitting in a jar on my kitchen shelf since before you came for your course. It is still perfectly fine. I do however make sure that all my pans/jars etc. are dishwasher washed on the day I make the pickle and are clean.

Hi Mamta,

The oil soaked in overnight so no problems! I'm adding a bit more black salt but apart from that it tastes perfect!

Thanks for your help again.

Martin