Hot Lime Pickle
Salty, sour, chilli hot lime pickle with fenugreek and mustard seed. Dollop it beside curries, dal and poppadoms.
- Time40 min plus 5 days softening
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.15 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 56kcal
- 2.3gcarbs
- 1.2gof which sugars
- 5.3gfat
- 1.5gsaturates
- 0.4gprotein
- 0.3gfibre
- 2.0gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Cut each lime in half, then each half into 4 small pieces, removing any pips. Toss with the salt and turmeric in a bowl.
- 2
Pack the limes into a clean, dry 750 ml jar, with all the juice and salt. Close the lid and leave on a warm windowsill, shaking once a day, for 5 days. They should become soft and the skins should look dull.
- 3
Heat the oil in a small pan over a medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and fenugreek and fennel seeds and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mustard seeds pop. Take off the heat at once so they do not burn.
2 min - 4
Stir in the chilli powder, cumin and garlic and let it sizzle gently for 30 seconds off the heat. Leave to cool completely.
- 5
Tip the cooled spiced oil into the limes and stir really well, so all the pieces are coated and covered by the oil and juice. Spoon into a sterilised jar.
- 6
Leave for 3 more days before eating, giving it a stir each day. Keep in the fridge and eat within 3 months, always using a clean spoon. Throw it away if you see mould or smell anything off.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
