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You are here: Home / Pickles / Lemon Pickle,Khatta Meetha Nimbu Ka Achar, Sweet and sour Lemon Pickle

Lemon Pickle,Khatta Meetha Nimbu Ka Achar, Sweet and sour Lemon Pickle

2013-03-30 by Anjana Chaturvedi 40 Comments

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lemon pickle -Khatta metha nimbu ka achar – A delicious oil free, sweet and sour lemon pickle

lemon pickle- Khatta Meetha Nimbu Ka Achar- -I love to eat and make pickles! I learnt this from my grandmother(Nani), who was an expert in the art of pickling. She would make huge jars of different pickles for all of us, every year.

In India we make a huge variety pickles from both fruit and vegetables, seasonal and year round. Mango and lemon pickle are the favorites and as they have a long shelf life are made in large quantities. 

for making this pickle try to choose lemons with thin peel. if the peel is thick then it take longer time to soften.

I make few different versions of the lemon pickle, and today I am sharing the sweet and sour neembu achar recipe . This pickle takes about a month to mature and has a long shelf life ( stays well till it ends:) ).

I have also posted-

  • Green chili pickle
  • Tindora Pickle
  • Punjabi gajar gobhi ka achar
  • Stuffed Green Chili Pickle
  • Mango chick pea pickle

lemon pickle

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3.52 from 31 votes

Khatta Metha Nimbu Ka Achar /Sweet and sour Lemon Pickle

lemon pickle -Khatta metha nimbu ka achar - A delicious oil free, sweet and sour lemon pickle

Prep Time30 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: North Indian Cuisine, Uttar Pradesh Cuisine
Keyword: lemon pickle, Neembu ka achar
Author: Anjana Chaturvedi

Ingredients

  • 800 grams Lemons / Nimbu Indian yellow lemons *
  • 150 grams Salt / Namak
  • 3/4 tsp Turmeric Powder / Haldi Powder
  • 2.5 tsp Red Chilli powder / Laal mirch powder
  • 1.5 tsp Cumin Seeds / Sabut Jeera
  • 1.5 tsp Fenugreek Seeds / Methidana
  • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds / Rai *
  • 2 tbsp Ginger / Adrak Grated
  • 1/2 tsp Asafoetida / Hing powder
  • 2 cup Sugar / Chini

Instructions

  • Wash and wipe lemons with a cloth,there should not be any moisture on the lemons.
  • Now chop the lemons into small pieces(8-12 pieces from a lemon)
  • In a pan dry roast cumin,fenugreek and mustard seeds to a nice golden colour(dont over do this)on slow flame, then grind to make a powder.
  • Mix salt, turmeric ,asafoetida,1.5 tbs lemon juice and ground spices in the chopped lemon pieces and mix well.
  • Cover the jar and keep at room temperature or in sunlight for a month so the lemon skin will become soft due to the salt.keep shaking the jar once in a day.
  • After a month when lemon peel become soft, add the sugar and grated ginger in lemons and mix well .
  • Cover the jar mouth with a muslin cloth and try to keep the jar in sunlight for few hours daily for approx 2 weeks or till the sugar will melt and the syrup become thick.
  • Serving Suggestions-taste great with paratha,rice and khichdi .

Notes

My Notes-
1-I have used small Indian yellow lemons.
2-If you add sugar in the beginning then lemon peels will take longer time to soften .
3- You may also add some chopped green chilies to it at step 6.

 

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  • Lemon Chutney Recipe, How To Make Lemon Chutney
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  • Mooli ka Achar ,Radish Pickle RecipeMooli ka Achar ,Radish Pickle Recipe
  • Instant Green Chili Pickle in Lemon Juice , Nimbu Hari Mirch ka AcharInstant Green Chili Pickle in Lemon Juice , Nimbu Hari Mirch ka Achar
  • Mix Vegetable Pickle | Aloo gajar ka khatta Achar +VideoMix Vegetable Pickle | Aloo gajar ka khatta Achar +Video
  • Aam Papad Chutney Recipe , Mango Leather ChutneyAam Papad Chutney Recipe , Mango Leather Chutney

Filed Under: North Indian Food, Pickles Tagged With: achar, adrak nimbu ka achar, Authentic recipe, Indian pickle and chutney, khatta metha nimbu, Lemon pickle, Lemon preserve, No oil pickle, Pickles and Chutneys, side dish, sour lemon, sweet and sour

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Comments

  1. Mahalakshmi says

    2020-11-26 at

    Ma’am, for double the quantity, should I use 300gm if salt?

    Reply
    • Anjana Chaturvedi says

      2020-11-28 at

      250 gm salt will be enough for double quantity

      Reply
  2. Aditi says

    2020-05-25 at

    5 stars
    Looks like a great recipe. Can I put the jar in the sun from the beginning i.e. before adding sugar and ginger? Is there a reason why it has to be in the sun after adding sugar but not before?

    Reply
    • anjanaskc says

      2020-05-25 at

      yes you can keep in sun from the beginning ,but if the sun is very hot then the moisture evaporates and the lemon will not become soft.As the water released from salt and lemon juice helps to soften the lemon peel.

      Reply
  3. Sucharita says

    2018-02-11 at

    Hello!
    In the present recipe of kemon pickle can you please mention the number of lemons of average size that makes 800 gms?

    Reply
    • anjanaskc says

      2018-09-10 at

      around 15-18 lemons.

      Reply
  4. Sucharita says

    2018-02-11 at

    Hello!
    You have mentioned 800 GMs lemon. Can you please mention it in number of lemons of average size? I have 15 lemons of a size nearly that of a table tennis ball.

    Reply
    • anjanaskc says

      2018-02-13 at

      Hello Suchitra – use 15 lemons for the pickle ,approx 5 lemons weigh 250 gms

      Reply
      • Sucharita says

        2018-02-13 at

        I am Sucharita and not Suchitra. Thanks for your prompt reply.

        Reply
  5. Basil Ebrahim says

    2017-08-31 at

    hello , need to make home sweet and sour lime and lemon pickles. plse fwd the recipe. live in a flat not much sunshine in the flat. can this be done / boiled in a stove in a pot ??? , plse advise urgently , so that we do not have to wait a long time leaving it / the jar in the sunlight.

    Reply
    • anjanaskc says

      2017-09-05 at

      hello Basil -sorry this is not the instant kind of lemon pickle ,it is sun cooked and need some time .Will soon post the recipe of instant lemon pickle which you can make by steamed lemons.

      Reply
  6. Pravin Mistry says

    2017-03-07 at

    Hi Anjana,
    I have used your recipe for the KHATTA METHA NIMBU KA ACHAR /SWEET AND SOUR LEMON PICKLE as we have a lots of lemon trees here in Spain. So far so good , I have just added the grated ginger and sugar and some chillies so will wait for another 2 weeks. The aroma and taste so far is fabulous, my question is that do I need to put the pickle in the fridge once it is done or can I leave it outside and how long can I keep it in the fridge or outside.

    Reply
    • anjanaskc says

      2017-03-07 at

      Thanks Pravin, no need to refrigerate the pickle ,it stays very well at room temperature till it last :)just take care to add the exact measurement of salt and sugar ,they both act as preservatives.

      Reply
  7. anjanaskc says

    2014-04-27 at

    @Anonymous-you can keep the jar insight your house ,near a window where it get some sunlight.and if it is also not possible then keep in sunlight when ever you are at home,
    just remember to add the mentioned amount of salt and keep stirring the pickle once in a week.SUNLIGHT IS NOT a big issue for pickling.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    2014-04-27 at

    We are working professionals who daily leave home early in the morning. In your pickle receipe for Punjabi mango and lime you have indicated that the pickles need to be kept in sunlight. Will be great difficulty since we not home all day. .. is there any other alternative to manage this

    Reply
  9. shanthi d says

    2013-12-02 at

    I try this…It comes good …specially on pickle

    Reply
  10. Daisy says

    2013-11-20 at

    Any tips on getting the bitterness out? Thanks.

    Reply
  11. shanthi d says

    2013-11-07 at

    yummy…nice presentation ..I love this pickle…U can also try this.. lime pickle

    Reply
  12. sripriya kannan says

    2013-10-23 at

    yummy…mouth watering on seeing this pickle…u can also try tis.. lime pickle

    Reply
  13. Maayeka says

    2013-10-07 at

    @Shekhar-thank for pointing it out,I have updated the post 🙂

    Reply
  14. Shekhar says

    2013-10-07 at

    In the recipe for sweet and sour lemon pickle whatever happened to the asafoetida???

    Reply
  15. Maayeka says

    2013-06-30 at

    @Alka you can also make this on stove but the result will be slightly different.chop the lemons and then steam cook them in a closed container till they become soft,then mix all the ingredients and sugar and cook on slow heat in a heavy bottom pan till sugar melts and the syrup become thick.

    Reply
  16. alkadixit says

    2013-06-30 at

    is there any way to cook lime on stove top instead of making the chutny in the sun?

    Reply
  17. Naqabi says

    2013-04-26 at

    I will check out thank u for ur instant reply. awaiting ur next pickle 🙂

    Reply
  18. Maayeka says

    2013-04-26 at

    @@Aara the process and ingredients of making mango pickle will be slightly different then making lemon pickle,I have posted aam ki laungi (sweet and sour mango chutney )and Marwari style grated mango and chick pea pickle,check the recipe in my recipe index, try them,I am sure you will like them too,and also posting a delicious punjabi mango pickle recipe next week 🙂
    Take care
    Anjana

    Reply
  19. Aara Shaikh says

    2013-04-26 at

    Dear anjana jii I wanted to make this kind of pickle with raw mangoes, is it possible? though i wanted to follow this recipe with lemons, but sudenly there is kgs of raw mangoes poured in at my house, pls do direct me will it come out well enough?

    Reply
  20. Maayeka says

    2013-04-12 at

    @Aara Shailh-yes dear you can use any jar except the metallic ones.the pickle stays happily in a plastic jar:)

    Reply
  21. Aara Shaikh says

    2013-04-12 at

    I was telling my mom about this recipe, but i dont have glass jars 🙁 can i use plastic ones?

    Reply
  22. divya says

    2013-04-01 at

    looks very tempting & delish!!

    Reply
  23. FabusRelish says

    2013-04-01 at

    Me droling here….Can I hav some???
    I shall surely try dis one..
    Plz peep into my blog too
    http://fabusrelish.blogspot.in/

    Reply
  24. Julie says

    2013-04-01 at

    finger licking good,yummy!!

    Reply
  25. Nilu A says

    2013-04-01 at

    Wow.. that's a real tempting one. thanks for sharing.. I'm a new blogger… Do visit my blog… http://kitchenserenity.blogspot.in/

    Reply
  26. Lavanya T R says

    2013-03-31 at

    Yummy yummy pickle
    Latest Post – Country Chicken Curry / Natu Kodi Curry

    Reply
  27. Gauri says

    2013-03-31 at

    Tongue tickling pickle!

    Reply
  28. Mina Joshi says

    2013-03-31 at

    Great recipe. Will try and make this pickle soon.

    Reply
  29. Sangeetha Priya says

    2013-03-31 at

    Finger licking pickle, love it…

    Reply
  30. Mishti Aara says

    2013-03-30 at

    wow thats very nice and simple 🙂

    http://sweets-n-spices.blogspot.in/

    Reply
  31. Sanoli Ghosh says

    2013-03-30 at

    Oftenly I purchased this lemon pickle. Yours turned out awesome! Lipsmacking good.

    today's post:
    http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/2013/03/hyderabadi-vegetable-dum-biryani.html

    Reply

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About Maayeka

"Maayeka" means a mother's home. I am Anjana Chaturvedi, and I share on this blog traditional vegetarian and vegan recipes from India, that have been handed down to me from my mother, aunts, and grandmothers. All of these recipes are "Sattvic" - cooked without using any onions or garlics - which are known as "taamsic" or negative ingredients in Ayurveda. Hope you enjoy these recipes and feel free to reach out to me for any questions or feedback!

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