Avakai ......THE MANGO PICKLE

Ingredients:

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• Avakai Mango - 15 medium sized

Mangoes used for making Avakai are typically very sour and slightly fibrous. Wash the mangoes well and pat it dry completely with a towel.Chop into big pieces as shown in the picture.

While chopping,use a "aruval"(or butchers knife) since the mangoes have to be chopped along with the seed inside.

You may also get to buy chopped mangoes directly from the market.In this case,wash them well twice or thrice.Drain the water completely and pat them dry with a towel.Remove the fleshy inner part of the seed.This will automatically wither off as you wash.But make sure you remove it off in every mango.

Spread the mangoes on a towel and let it dry in hot sun for 2 to 3 hours till there is no moisture in the mangoes.

For making pickle:

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Measure the chopped mangoes using a cup.For every 7 cups of chopped mangoes(not heaped),use the following ingredients in their exact measures as mentioned below.

• Mustard powder - 1/2 cup(Grind 1/2 cup of mustard seeds into a fine powder in a mixer)
• Red chilli powder - 1 cup
• Salt - 1 cup
• Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
• Fenugreek seeds - 2 to 3 tablespoon
• Gingelly oil(Idhayam brand preferred)- 1 and 3/4 cups

Wash suitable containers for storing the pickle,clean with a towel and dry it in sun.Make sure there is no moisture in it.

Method:

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• In a wide open bowl(Make sure its dry),add red chilli powder,mustard powder,salt,fenugreek seeds,turmeric powder and mix well with a spatula as shown below.

• Add 1 cup of oil and mix well with the spatula without lumps.It will look like molagapodi /Idly podi mixed in oil.
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• Dip each mango piece in the prepared paste(if you have enough time:)) and put into the container one by one or else do it in bunches.(5 to 6 pieces in one shot)
• Make sure the mango piece is well dipped and has a good covering of the paste all around it.Refer to the video below for better understanding.
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• If the paste becomes very thick and dry,add little oil in between and mix well.Repeat the above process for the rest of mangoes.
• Once you are done with all the pieces,you will have little paste left over.Add remaining oil,mix well and add on top of the container .Refer to the video below.

• Mix the mangoes and spices well with a spatula.Make sure you do not mash the pieces.
• Close the lid tightly and cover with a cloth.
• Stir well once in a day for 10 days and always keep the container closed air tight.
• By then the mango pieces would have soaked and blended well with the spices.

Yummy Avakai pickle is ready.Serve with hot rice and ghee or curd rice.