Hot and Spicy Yellow Cucumber Pickle

We're celebrating International Hot and Spicy Food Day with Dosaavakaya or Spicy Yellow Cucumber Pickle.

Dosaavakaya 

Pickling vegetables is very common in South India with its origin in Andhra Pradesh. We pickle our vegetables using a variety of spices including mustard seeds, powdered red chilies and oil. The most popular type is mango pickle made with green mangoes called Aavakaya. Other vegetables and/or fruits we pickle are lemon, lime, garlic, ginger, Indian gooseberry and yellow cucumber (Dosakaya) etc.

                                                                  

Below is an easy recipe for making Dosavakai or Spicy Yellow Cucumber Pickle. This pickle goes well with warm plain rice. 

Ingredients

- 1 medium Dosakaya (pictured above), chopped with peel into 1/2" cubes

- 1 lime, juiced

- 1 tsp salt

- 5 Tbsp Vijay Pickle Masala Mix* (as shown in picture above)

Ingredients for seasoning

- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil

- 1/4 tsp mustard seeds

- 1/4 tsp Methi seeds (also known as Fenugreek seeds)

- a pinch of hing (asafoetida)

Procedure

Mix together yellow cucumber, pickle masala powder, lime juice, and salt in a small mixing bowl.

Scoop out the mixed ingredients into a mason jar and let it cure under closed lid for 3 to 4 days in a cool place. Make sure to mix the mixture at least one time each day. After a few days, you will see that water has accumulated in the jar to make a sauce with the other ingredients.

 

In a small saucepan, heat oil on low-medium flame. Once it is warm, add mustard seeds and when they start spluttering, add methi seeds and hing. Fry this mixture for about 30 seconds, turn off stove and add to the pickled yellow cucumber mixture in the mason jar. Mix it well and serve with plain rice and some oil or ghee (clarified butter).

Dosaavakaya mixed with plain white rice and oil

Quick Tips

- Vijay Pickle Masala Mix is made with Chili powder, Turmeric, Mustard powder, Fenugreek, Asafoetida, and salt. It can be found at most Indian grocers like Patel Brothers, Subji Mandi or Delight Bazaar.