Strawberry Pickle/Oorugai/Achar: Strawberry Avakai, Thundu Strawberry And Vadu Strawberry

I have been blogging since 2007, but I have never had this much fun, coming up with the idea, preparing every pickle, documenting, picking out names for each pickle and relishing it. The original idea for the strawberry pickle came from my husband. He suggested that I treat strawberries like vadumanga, a pickle that is very popular in the south of India, prepared with baby raw mangoes. Since the strawberry have a tartness and its size resembled the raw baby mango I decided to experiment with it. Though, he suggested one type of pickle I made three different types.

 My consultant for this pickle was my Amma. In all these years, she has been the sole pickle maker for our family and friends. She has been blessed and gifted with hands that made pickles that never spoil or taste bad. I asked her how she made the vadumanga's and if there was a recipe. She said it all depended on the type of raw baby mango used. Apart from that, she said she would throw in the salt and spices and it always worked. But, I asked her to help me out with this recipe because I was no pro. She told me that the most important thing to do was clean and dry well before use and to add enough salt to allow the ingredients used to release its water. Apart from that it was important to preserve it well.

Strawberry Vadu:

Gadgets: 

Bowl
Cloth
Measuring Spoons and Cup
Bottle
Blender

Ingredients:

Strawberry ( not too ripe) - 9
Sesame Oil - 3 tbsp
Mustard Seed Powdered - 1 tbsp
Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 4 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Preparation:
Time: 5 Days
1. Wash the strawberries and dry them on a bowl to remove water.

2. In a bowl mix oil, turmeric powder and salt. Add the strawberries and coat it well with the spice mix.

3. Store this in a bottle and cover the lid tightly. Allow it to sit with the salt for 3 days. By this time, the strawberry would release its water.

4. Add the mustard powder and chilli powder and mix well. Allow it to marinate for over a day before serving it with yogurt rice.

.................................................................................................................................................

Strawberry Aavakai:

Gadgets:

Clean Cloth
Bowl
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Jadi/ Bottle
Blender

Ingredients:

Strawberries - 12 ( preferably not the sweet kind)
Sesame Oil - 3-4 tbsp To coat the strawberries
Turmeric Powder - 3 tsp
Salt
Red Chilli Powder - 4 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 3 tbsp powdered
Garbanzo Beans - a hand full

Preparation:
Time : 5 days

1. Wash the strawberries  and dry them with a towel gently.

2. In a bowl mix oil and turmeric powder. Toss in the strawberries until they are all well coated.

3. Sprinkle salt ( 2 tbsp) and mix and cover the bowl. Allow to sit on the kitten counter for a day. The next day add more salt ( 2 tbsp) and give a gentle toss. On the third day you will see the salt bringing the water out of the strawberries. Add another 2 tbsp of salt and let it sit.

4. On the fourth day grind mustard seeds in a blender. Add this mustard along with the chilli powder and garbanzo beans. Give it a toss.

5. Cover and allow for the spices to enter the strawberries.

6. Make a bowl of yogurt rice ( thair sadham) or mix it with rice with a dash of sesame oil and enjoy strawberry avakai sadham.

.........................................................................................................................................................

Thundu Strawberry Oorugai:

Gadgets:

Seasoning Ladle
Measuring Spoon and Cup
Bowl
Cutting Board
Knife

Ingredients:

Strawberry - 10 ( Try using the tart strawberries)
Salt
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Sesame Oil - 1 tsp
Asafoetida Powder - a few pinches
Fenugreek Seeds - 1/8 tsp

Preparation:
Time: Under 10 Minutes
1. Cut the strawberries into small pieces.

2. Heat the seasoning ladle with some oil. Add asafetida, mustard seeds, allow it to pop, add fenugreek seeds, chilli, turmeric powder and salt.

3. Toss it into the strawberry. Serve it with yogurt rice.