Pickle Powder

This powder can be used to make any pickle, be it gooseberry pickle, mango pickle or lemon pickle.
This is a basic recipe and can be bought in stores. But why buy, when you can make it at home?

Ingredients:
Dry Red chilly - 250 gms
Methi seeds / uluva / fenugreek - 50 gms
Asafoetida / kayam - 50 gms
Salt - 150 gms
Sugar - 25 gms
Turmeric powder - 10 gms

Method:
Dry fry the red chilly in a heavy bottomed pan on a very low flame till it becomes a deeper shade of red. Keep aside to cool.

Dry fry the Methi seeds till they pop. Cool completely.

Now take the asafoetida gum and and flatten it as much as possible.
The gum is preferred as it has more smell than the powder available in the market.
This gum needs to be fried in a little oil on a low flame, till it becomes very crisp inside out.
Cool this also.

First powder the red chilly in the mixer.

Then add the methi seeds and powder it.
Next add the asafoetids strips.

Once powdered, add the salt, turmeric powder and sugar.
Grind into a smooth powder.

Store in an air tight container until required.