KONKANI STYLE OIL-FREE VEGETABLE PICKLE | NONCHE

This Nonche (Pickle) is a staple in Konkani households. I remember making this Pickle last year in 2020 and everyone loved it so much because it’s so different. What makes it unique is that unlike other oil based pickles, this is water based and therefore has a low shelf life. But if you store it well, they can last a long time. I still use it and it’s already a year old. Infact, just this morning I took the jar out and realised I had not shared this recipe, which is why you are seeing these year old photos now 🙂

Though this can be used instantly right after you prepare, I like to leave it out for a few days to let the Mustard release its tanginness and tenderise the vegetables, flavoring them inside out and yet stay a little crunchy. This pickle goes great with Rice & Datta Dalithoy (Konkani Dal) and can be eaten with Khottos too, which is a Konkani variant of Idlis.

Always use fresh vegetables for this pickle. The pickle will taste better when the vegetables are crunchy.

Being oil-free, it’s a great choice for all those who care about suing oil in their diet. I sometimes use this as replacement for Kasundi (Mustard Sauce) for my Egg Rolls! This is a Gluten Free, Vegan and therefore Dairy Free and also Keto, Paleo & Diabetic Friendly Pickle. Good for the heart and safe for those with cholesterol issues too! Just use this like a dip or a chutney and not a full fledged sabji haha. I used this today for my egg rolls!

INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Mix Vegetables (Read method for details)
1 Cup Mustard Seeds
15 Byadgi or Kashmiri Red Chillies
1/4 Tsp Asafoetida (Hing)
2 Tbsp Grated Ginger
Salt To Taste
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
Water to thin it out

METHOD

• Choose the vegetables you wish to make this pickle with. You can use carrots, cauliflower, raw mango, tindora, beans, green chilli, etc or a mix of all these veggies. I’ve used Cauliflower and Raw Mango only.
• Wash the vegetables really well especially if you are using Cauliflower. I like to break the Cauliflower into tiny bite sized florets, as small as I can get. Then soak them in salt water and wash thoroughly ensuring there are no worms or dirt left behind. Drain them well and pat them dry.
• With the Raw Mango, I only wash the exterior well, wipe it clean and dry before chopping them into small pieces. Raw mango should be fresh, crunchy and sour. The sour, the better. I do the same with Ginger, small pieces again. Drop these veggies into a pickle glass jar with some salt and mix well. Keep aside. Also make sure all the cutlery you are using is clean and dry.
• You can use Bimbul (Tree Sorrel), Karmbal (Star Fruit) or Lemons instead of Raw Mango or when they are not in season.
• With a little bit of water, grind together the Byadgi Red Chillies (Kashmiri works just fine, we want the colour and not much of the spiciness), Mustard Seeds, Asafoetida and a little Salt. The water used is boiled and then cooled to room temperature. This ensures longevity of the pickle.
• Now pour this pickle masala over your veggies and give it a mix.
• Also I’ve used a lot of Mustard because I don’t want the pickle to be too watery and want them to last a long time. The watery version which we Konkanis make don’t last more than 10 days in the fridge.
• But a lot of Mustard also means it’s going to taste bitter and will be super thick. So to give a little extra tanginess and to further thin this out, I add Lemon Juice to this.
• After you add Lemon Juice, taste and see if this needs more salt and add if required. Salt is a preservative too, so don’t shy away from adding what’s necessary.
• If it feels too thick, that’s okay. Leave it out for 2-3 days or more (depending on the local weather conditions) and check everyday. Also smell and taste a little everyday. You don’t want this to rot. It wouldn’t since you haven’t used a lot of water, but you just never know sometimes. So always check. This will leave a little water on its own due to the salt.
• But if you still want to thin this out further, then add some ‘boiled cooled down’ water or more lemon juice and mix well.
• Transfer to the fridge and give it a few more days, until the tanginess of the mustard seeps into the pickle. That’s all!
• This pickle tastes fabulous and the best part is it’s oil-free!
• Do let me know if you found this recipe interesting and if you will give this a try! Tag me on Instagram divyashree_mangalorkar