April 26, 2007

NIMBU MASALA!

Nimbu Masala made of yellow Lemons, is my contribution to Nupur from 'One Hot Stove" blog's "A to Z Indian Vegetables" 's event.This week's letter is "N", thanks for hosting Nupur!:)


Lemons:

Nimbu means Lemons or Limes in Hindi.I am using thick skinned yellow lemons in this dish which are less bitter and has lot of pulp to make the dish substantial.Savor the spicy lemony Nimbu Masala!



The lemons are used primarily for their juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used, primarily in cooking and baking.Lemon juice is about 5% acid,which gives lemons a sour taste.Lemons contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.In Ayurvedic medicine(India) that a cup of hot water with lemon juice in it tonifies and purifies the liver and is high in Vitamin C.More info here.





Nimbu Masala:
Do not use green Limes for this dish.Limes have thin very bitter skin which will not taste good when cooked.You must use Lemons with thick yellow skin with pulp to make delectable Nimbu masala.



I don't how many of you know about this Nimbu masala, but I love making this dish which I found in one of my old cookbooks and often serve with Parathas. It's deliciously soft and tangy and spicy,tastes divine with thick layered parathas or as a side dish with rice. I really hope you do give it try!:))


You need:


3 large Lemons,1 large onion minced,salt and 1/2 tsp sugar as optional.
To roast and grind:1 1/2 tbsp Coriander seeds,1 tsp cumin seeds,1 tsp Mustard seeds, 2 dry red chilies,4 tbsp dry coconut, and grind with 1" ginger,2 small garlic,1/2 an Jalapeno,few curry leaves.
To season: 1tbsp oil,1/2 tbsp butter,1/2 tsp mustard seeds,curry leaves,1 dry chilly,pinch of hing and 1/4 tsp turmeric.


How to make it:



Cut Lemons as shown to smaller pieces,put them all in a bowl with water,microwave for 10 mins on high.Drain all the water to take the bitterness out of the lemons.Keep aside.Roast all masala ingredients and grind with the rest as above until a smooth paste with little water.Keep aside.





Heat oil and butter,add all the seasoning first as said above.Add minced onion and fry until reddish and then add the ground masala,saute for few mins.Add in half cooked Lemons and simmer for 15mins or until sauce thick and oil shows on top.Adjust the salt and chilli pd.You could add 1/2 tsp sugar if you like but not necessary.That's it!! You can keep it in the fridge for 3 days, not more than that because of the Coconut.



Delicious Nimbu masala with Parathas:



Enjoy and have a great weekend. Watch out for some useful tips and tricks using Lemons or Limes next week!:))

53 comments:

Sia said...

i am surely gonna make this... looks very interesting ashakka. nevr used full lemon in cooking except for pickles. quite innovative dish i must say:) not sure if i have heard of this also. ah!!! my cheeks!!! it hurts:)

FH said...

HAHAHA!! Told ya!
You can keep it for a week in the fridge,tastes so good with bread slices too.Arvind ate 2 parathas with it last night!:D
After all the cooking,it's not that tangy and wonderful with Sajje rotti too.Hope you make it this weekend, a great lunch for weekdays too wrapped in Chapatis.
I had made this many yrs ago and forgotten about it until last week .I had to make something for N!!Add more chili pd if you like.Hugs.Enjoy.

Prema Sundar said...

I was thinking what to make for N and couldn't find any vegetable with N. Good idea to use lemon (nimbu) for masala.As Supriya said i too have tasted only pickles using whole lemon.This is new to me and sounds good too. thanks.

Pravs said...

Does this taste like a lemon pickle ? Have not cooked lemon this way. looks yum !

Sharmi said...

Waw yarr Asha, so innovative for "n"
My cheeks hurts. this is so different from Achar. nice and delicious looking.

FH said...

Prema,narial,nutmeg are the other choices for N too!:))
Hope you try this Nimbu masala,excellent with parathas.Can't wait what you make for N!!:))

Pravs,when you cook Nibus,it looses most of the tanginess.With masala added ,it tastes a cross betn pickle and almost dry curry! I love it,lasts for a week ,not more than that bcos of the coconut.Try.

Bong Mom said...

Even I am going to make this for sure...almost like a achaar

USHA said...

Hi Ashaji,

Nimbu masala...hmm....first after reading title i thought it would be similar as pickle....but my expectation was totally wrong..it was completely different.....looks great...

FH said...

Hi Sharmi,I know! Looking at my own pics,my mouth starts watering!!:D
Hope you try.

Hi Sandeepa, hope you try this weekend with Parathas.It was deilcious with warm layered rotis.Chatpataa masaledar Achar would be a great title!:D

Hi Usha,it's almost like south Indian dry curry with coconut and all!:))Give it a try.

Suma Gandlur said...

I never heard of this. Must be delicious.After reading the post, I felt that the masala used in this dish is so tempting that it can be used with any other vegetable as well.

Mishmash ! said...

Hey, you wont leave lemon rinds too, isn't it ?:))) I have heard of pickles with it but not the masala dish and as usual, I got to read one more new stuff from u :)

Shn

Richa said...

love it! give me anything with nimbu! this creation is really unique. tell me something, can i pressure cook the nimbu, I'm trying to avoid using the m/c for longer periods.
thanks buddy for this lovely dish!

FH said...

Suma ,you are right.You can use masala with tendli,Bendekai etc.It tastes equally great.Try with Nimbu first:)

shn,rind of these big lemons can be cooked but not the other green limes.Try it this weekend.Wait until next week when I post Tipology with these lemons!;D

You are welcome Richa:))
As long as lemons are half way cooked but not fully,it's okay to use any method,even boiling on the stove top with water.Just make sure you don't cook until it's soft.We just need to take bitterness out ,not cook too much.Enjoy.

Anonymous said...

asha, i am sure it will taste chatpata.

Anonymous said...

When i read the post i assumed you would give a recipe of Nimbu pickle..and as i read your post i was amazed at this delicious recipe ...I have never heard of it..it sounds delicious..right now i am preparing your Mysore Sambhar recipe :-)

Deepak Gopi said...

Lemon I enjoy only for lemon juice.I hate it even eating it as pickle.But your post and photos make me think again about Lemon
@ deepak -that is pooram,onam is on august.
pooram greetings to u and family :)

Roopa said...

Asha it so tempting!
ymmm! this would be just right even for sandwich for lunch box would be great anisuthe

sure to try this sometime when i get whole lemons

Sig said...

Asha, hats off to you... U are the queen of the kitchen :), who would have thought of making a masala with lemons! :)

Coffee said...

My MIL makes this a lot...... but I think she uses more quantity of sugar to make this pickle like sweet and sour. But I don't think she adds garlic and ginner..... I think it would add a nice touch to it!!!!!! Will do it that way :)

FH said...

Reena,a little chatpata,not so much after cooking and adding masala!:))Try it.

Susham,it looks like pickle,doesn't it?:D I made thick although recipe said it should be curry.I sauteed until oil showed on top so I keep it for a week in the fridge but it lasted just 2 days!;D
Enjoy the sambhar:)

FH said...

Hello Lemon hater!!:D
You don't like lot of things Deepak,you are a fussy eater.Good luck to your future wife!;D
They bring the Elephants for Pooram too!I have only seen Onam pics.It's beautiful though,thanks for posting it:)

Roopa,fabulous for lunch wrapped in chapatis,it will make you happy for the work day!:)) Try it,lemons are easily available at the groceries.

FH said...

I know Sig,I don't many know this dish.I am going to link this at FH too!:D :D :D
Thank you,I appreciate it.Have a great weekend:)

Coffee,I think you are talking sweet,hot and sour pickle,I have bought and tasted that in England in Gujarati stores.It's yummy.
This is lemon curry rather than pickle,with all the coconut masala which doesn't last more 5 days may be.Try it and give the recipe to MIL,she will thank you!:))

david santos said...

Thanks for you work and have a good weekend

FH said...

You are welcome David and have a great weekend as well:))

Kribha said...

Dear Asha,
what a unique dish? I'm surely going to make this. Like many others, I have had only juices and pickles. Really nice entry.You are soooo creative.

Suganya said...

Hay never heard this...its looks YUM! YUM!....I realy want to give it a try....

bee said...

gorgeous dish with lemons. i'd like to try this.

FH said...

Thanks Kribha,glad you liked it.It is unique,try it:))

Hi Sukanya,Thanks girl:)) I love your profile photo of Krishna!Beautiful.

Thanks Bee.Hope you do, a quick chatpataa for parathas!Have a great weekend:))

Mona said...

Yum Yum.that is mouthwatering really. It looks like nimbu achar!

Asha did I tell you , my husband is from Bangalore too!

FH said...

Hi Mona,no you didn't and now you tell me!!! That's so good to hear,say hello to him from me!:)
Yeah,Nimbu achar with lots coconut masala!:D Tastes great with warm parathas,hope you try this weekend.
There is a Farmer's market fair here today,planning to go and have fun.

Did you checkout FH this week,dal saag and missi roti?!!YAY!;D
Have a great weekend Mona,it's 7.45am Saturday here now,having some coffee,see you later,hugs.

krystyna said...

Hi Asha!
My lovely lemon!
I love lemon juice and drink it every day. And that's true what you write:
"In Ayurvedic medicine(India) that a cup of hot water with lemon juice in it tonifies and purifies the liver and is high in Vitamin C."
Thanks for this lovely dish. Looks fantastic.
Have a great weekend!

KF said...

Dear U are great!I like lemon pickle,I am sure that this too will be tasty..I gonna try this..

sunita said...

Even for me, the only cooked lemon is in pickles...this is such a new way...thanks for sharing...

FH said...

Hi Krys,lemons are great for daily use.Wait for my next post,I will give you more uses with Lemons!;D

Hi KF,almost like masala lemon pickle,not quite that tangy.Hope you do:))

Hi Sunita,I had made this long time ago,but totally forgotten it until last week,thanks to letter "N"!:D
hope you try it,thanks.

Gattina Cheung said...

lemon, coconut, and curry leaves... any word for more-than-perfect? I'm sure gonna make your nimbu masala, and will experiement if they freeze well. Or do you have any advise Asha? Have a great sunday!

FH said...

Hi Gattina,it sounds even better when you say it that way!:D
It will last in the fridge for a week but I have never frozen Lemons before ,so I don't know.
But just the coconut masala does freeze well as I do freeze most dishes with coconut.Freeze a small amount for a starter and see how it goes:)

Suganya said...

I have never heard of anything but lemon pickle.. I was wondering y this dint cross my mind... Clever one, I shud say...Now I HAVE to buy lemons even after the citrus frost and their skyrocketing price. Thanks for yr visit to my bog :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Oh, another fabulous recipe! I use lemons virtually everyday in everything from tea to veggies to salad dressing.

FH said...

Hi Suganya, thanks. Hope you try.Trust me,it tastes so good with parathas and even rice:))

FH said...

Hi Susan,one more to add to your list of lemony dishes!:)) Enjoy.

ServesYouRight said...

OMG - you are such an incredible cook! So creative and so much variety!!!!!

Smita

Menu Today said...

Hi Asha,
This dish sounds like instant pickle. Very nice one thanks for sharing.

Note:
All your earlier dishes look nice.

FH said...

Hi Smita,thanks!:)) I will do my best to bring something interesting.

Hi MT,it's something like that with coconut masala.Hope you try it:))
Thank you.

Creativecook said...

My husband is going to love this, I have to try it.

Rinku

FH said...

Hi Rinku,hope you do.Very tasty with parathas:))

Sheela said...

Thanks for this recipe, Asha. I usually make nimbu achaar - let it sit for a few weeks to develop flavors - but, your recipe is ready to eat! I have to try it! and am sure it will go so well with my favorite simple yogurt rice :)

FH said...

You are welcome Sheela,enjoy the recipe.
Unlike Achar,this doesn't last long bcos of the coconut but it's so yummy,it won't last long anyway!:D

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Asha, I would never in a million years think to cook up whole lemons like this!! What a lovely dish! I can see I have lots of catching up to do here and at FH. Hope you're finally enjoying sneeze-free spring!! :)

FH said...

Lindaaa!!!:))))

I really missed you! Hope you had a great break and enjoyed it.Looking forward to your updates.

Thanks ,hope you try.Miraculously,this Spring is easy on me this year.It rained a lot,so pollen is down.I am feeling great.Until mid June,I have to be careful,after that I am home free!;D

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

Amazing recipe!!!!! This is a must try one...... and btw, didnt find the myrtle beach post that you were referring to :(.... can you send me the linnk to the post plzzz...

FH said...

Ramya,thank you,do try:))

MB; go to recipe Index,find Nature etc , and then Carolina Coast and click on it to see 2-3 pics I took there!

mommyof2 said...

Do we need to microwave them and throw the water? can't we use them as it is? I don't mind the bitterness..

FH said...

Hi g!If you like the bitterness,go ahead and use it fresh.No problem.It probably taste like Karela but not that bitter.
Make it with just two big lemons first,just to see instead of wasting it if it's bitter..If you like the taste,then you can make with more.Good luck:)