by: easyfoodsmithPosted on:

NIMBU CHHUNDA / नींबू का छुंदा (LEMON CHUTNEY)

 

 

I had decided that I won’t begin this post with the clichéd phrase – ‘When life gives you lemons, make a lemon chutney’ or something of that sort. Arrey! There are so many options to choose from when life hands out lemons so why just lemon chutney! Why not lemonade, lemon pickle, lemon rice, lemon cake, lemon curd, lemony potatoes, lemon pudding, lemon bread, lemon popsicles, lemon infused salad, lemon chicken, lemon cookies !! I mean the list is endless.
 
However, having said that, I will now talk about this chutney. In fact, while I was keying in the title for this post, I was a bit confused whether to call it lemon chutney or perhaps lemon pickle. I settled for the lemon chutney coz I thought it was closer to chutney, since one, there is no oil which essentially goes in most Indian pickles and two, I beat the day lights out of the lemons…seriously! I whizzed them in the mixer to make a rough puree. And…Chutney in Hindi means something that has been minced to smithereens. 

Gorgeously coloured with slightly tart, sweet, spicy and sour flavours, this chutney is addictive. For a person who does not relish lemon pickles, I find myself reaching out for the jar again and again licking spoonfuls. Not only is it delicious, it is also aids in digestion. And it is such a breeze to make that it is embarrassingly effortless!
 
There is just one catch though…the chutney is surely a breeze to make but it takes atleast 10-15 days for the flavours to infuse and mature for it to be truly savoured; at least it was a tad strong for me to enjoy before that. I believe Meyer lemons would be the ideal choice for this chutney.

The chutney pairs beautifully with almost everything – stuffed Indian breads, savoury crepes (besan or dal chila), baked potatoes, grilled fish, lamb chops, lamb seekh kebabs, roasted chicken, slow roasts, cheese and bread. You could even add it to dip of your choice! Once you make it, believe me, you are gonna make it again and again. Best thing about this chutney is that it can be made at any time of the year since lemons are always available year around.
 
Here is what you would need…actually just four ingredients!
 
350 grams (+/-) Lemons
400 grams sugar (adjust to taste)
Salt to taste (I used approx. 2½  tsp)
2 tsp red chilli powder (mine was not too hot)

Select lemons that have thin skin and are soft to touch when slightly pressed. 
Wash and scrub the lemons well. Keep them soaked in water for approximately 8-10 hours to get rid of the natural oils of lemon.
Wipe the lemons well and cut them in 3 roundels. Remove the pips.
Transfer them to a grinder and pulse them till they are roughly pureed. (There should be no chunks though)
Transfer to a glass jar or a non-reactive container and add sugar, salt and red chilli powder.
Cover the mouth of the jar and keep it for a 10-15 days. Stir it once or twice each day during this period using a dry spoon or spatula. (I prefer keeping it in sun for 3 – 4 days to hasten the process of maturing)
The chutney is ready! 
Do not forget to read all the notes. Note: Since the peels go in along with the rest of the lemon, I believe organic lemons would be an ideal choice. Or give the lemons a good wash and scrub since there can be a possibility of them being coated with wax.
 
Note: Don’t panic if your chutney does not look like the one in the pic. The freshly made one will have a pale lemonish colour. As it matures, it will attain a deeper colour.
 
Note: Just like wine, which gets better as it ages, this chutney will become tastier and rich in its flavours as it matures.
 
Note: The chutney gets polished off so soon in my house that I have never known how long it possibly lasts!
 
Note: Always use a dry spoon to scoop out the chutney from the jar. 
 
IT IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR FROM FRIENDS AND READERS. I CAN ALSO BE REACHED AT: easyfoodsmith@gmail.com

58 thoughts on “NIMBU CHHUNDA / नींबू का छुंदा (LEMON CHUTNEY)”

  4. I have never made chutney…this lemon one it sure looks great, very handy and yes, goes well with about everything.
    Thanks for the recipe and hope you are having a great week 😀

  10. I definitely will be making this! I’m assuming that it doesn’t need refrigeration especially during the curing days. Am I correct? I bought some lemons to make preserved lemons, but, as always, I bought more than I used. This is the perfect used for those remaining! Thanks for sharing this!

  11. Wow!!! great we gujju make lemon pickle almost same way…. but we r not use grated lemon this is something new for me… nice recipe.

  15. Its stunning and perfectly made. I agree and love how you started the intro of “there’s more you can do with lemons”. Well said and spot on with the right recipe.

  16. I have never made nor even tasted lemon chutney but I’m going to make this tomorrow. A friend brought me heaps of lemons the other day. I’ve made lemon curd and was wondering what to make next. I know now!

  22. I love Chutney and I’ve seen and tried different kinds. But Lemon chutney is new and so refreshing!!　Sounds and looks delicious!

  24. Hey! I’m very happy to have found your blog. I’m sort of addicted to good ethnic recipes, especially more exotic ones (me being an European and thus outsider), the kind that state proper measures, cooking times, easy instructions and the original name of the dish 🙂

    Happy happy happy. I’m glad I dropped by. 🙂

  35. LOL glad to see I’m not the only one makes things too hot. I made an enchilada sauce last week, the recipe said 4 tbsp chilli powder. I thought no way my chilli powder is extra hot to opted for 2 tsps and it was still way too hot!

    Your lemon chutney sounds delicious though shall try this soon and WILL NOT add 2 tsps chilli powder! Not making that mistake twice, thanks for sharing.

    1. 🙂
      You can go ahead with 2 tsp of chilli powder coz I didn’t use the hot one. Mine is medium hot which pairs beautifully with other flavors.

  37. What other spices can be added to this: carom seeds, nigella seeds, cinnamon, cloves or anything else to enhance the flavor? Just wondering.

  38. looks amazing…..will definitely try it out…I have a query …are we suppose to use the entire lemon skin?…I mean the white part also or just the yellow part…..as the white part has a bitter and unpleasant taste….please help with this…..

    1. Thanx.
      Yes. The whole lemon goes including the white bitter part along wid the rind or the yellow skin. The bitterness wears off once the chutney matures.
      I sometimes keep the jar in the sun for a week to hasten the process of ripening the chutney.
      I hope your query is answered to your satisfaction 🙂

  40. looks so tempting…I don’t think even I need to know how long it stays because I’m sure it won’t last long in my jar too 🙂

    1. I have never made this with jaggery. But in case you want to give it a go, I suggest keeping the amount of jaggery slightly more than the amount of sugar mentioned here. Also, grate it for better assimilation. I hope this helps.

Comments are closed.