Chemmeen Achar/Prawns Pickle

Chemmeen Achar/Prawns Pickle

Today's recipe is a spicy and tongue tickling pickle made with prawns. Everyone has their own version of this delicious pickle. This is my mother's recipe and she has been pampering me with bottles of delicious home made prawns pickle.But when I run out of my stock of pickles I have no other option but to make it myself. I assure you it is a simple and quick recipe and can be preserved for months. It goes well with rice. Small varieties of fresh prawns is best for this  recipe. Try this,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
To marinate the prawns

Small or medium sized prawns- 1 1/2 lb
Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp

For the masala
Ginger- 3 inch thick peice
Garlic- 2 whole
Green Chilly-6-8
Curry leaves- a few
( make all the above into a course mixture)
Garlic thinly sliced-5- 6 cloves
Mustard powder- 1 tsp
( slightly dry roast mustard and then powder it)
Chilly powder- 2 Tbs
Fenugreek powder- 1/2 tsp
Clove- 2-3
Hing- 1/3 tsp
Vinegar- 1/2 cup
Gingerly oil- 1/2 cup
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Sugar- 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Clean  prawns,marinate with the ingredients listed under 'to marinate' and keep it aside for 10 minute. Shallow fry this is two three tbs of gingerly oil and set aside.
In the same pan pour the  rest of the oil and add mustard seeds and clove. When it splutters add  sliced garlic and curry leaves and after a minute the coarsely crushed ginger, garlic and green chilly mixture and saute till it becomes golden brown. Add hing and chilly powder and saute till the raw flavor disappears. Add prawns,mustard powder, fenugreek powder, sugar and salt and mix well. Simmer for two or three minutes and pour vinegar and switch off the flame. Allow this to cool down completely before transferring it into bottles.

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy..