• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Padhuskitchen


  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • VIDEOS
  • USEFUL TIPS
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • FESTIVAL RECIPES
    • Avani Avittam
    • Pongal Festival
    • Vinayaka Chaturthi
    • Thiruvathirai
    • Navratri Recipes-Navratri Sundal Recipes
    • Varalakshmi Vratham
    • Karadaiyan Nombu
    • Tamil New Year
    • Adi Perukku
    • Krishna Jayanthi
    • Diwali
    • Karthigai Deepam
    • Christmas
    • Onam
  • Side Dish For Chapati
  • CONTACT
  • Privacy Policy

Lemon Pickle Recipe -Lemon Pickle

August 22, 2010 by PadhuSankar 61 Comments

Here is another pickle from my kitchen. In my family everybody loves pickle, so I prepare it often. I cannot eat curd rice without pickles. In fact I prefer pickles as a spread for bread rather than jam. Luckily I do not have a sweet tooth.This pickle goes well with parathas also. Today we will learn how to make lemon pickle/Elumichai oorugai following this easy recipe.

Lemon pickle

Lemon Pickle-Elumichai Oorugai


 Prep Time : 10 mins

 Cook Time : 15 mins 
 Yields: 1 Cup
 Recipe Category: Pickle
 Recipe Cuisine: Indian

   Ingredients needed

   Lemon -6 juicy ones
   Rock salt powdered -1/4 cup flat
   Turmeric powder -a generous pinch
   Chilli powder -5 tsp
   Fenugreek seed powder -1 1/2 tsp

   For the seasoning

   Oil -1/4 cup (sesame seed oil)
   Mustard seeds -1 tsp
   Asafoetida/hing – 1/2 tsp

Preparation


Dry roast fenugreek seeds and powder it. (Since I make pickle often, I usually dry roast 1/4 cup of fenugreek seeds and powder it. I  use needed quantity and store the rest in an airtight container.)

Wash the lemons and wipe it dry with a towel. Cut lemon into 8 small pieces. Remove as much seeds a you can. If there are a few seeds, it does not matter. Add turmeric powder, salt and mix well. Leave it for a minimum of 3 days. Every morning, just mix it well with a dry spoon or shake it well and keep it closed.

how to make lemon pickle

On the fourth day

Method 


Heat oil, add mustard seeds, asafoetida, when mustard seeds splutter, add the lemon pieces along with the lemon juice and fry well until most of the juice evaporates and the mixture thickens (can you see the difference between both the pictures below – (first one is before cooking, next one is after cooking)

Then add chilli powder and cook for a few more minutes until the raw smell of the chilli powder goes.

lemon pickle recipe-elumichai oorugai

Then add fenugreek powder, mix well and switch off the gas. Leave it to cool.

easy lemon pickle

Storage 

After it cools, store it in a clean glass bottle inside the refrigerator. If handled properly, it stays good for 6 months in the refrigerator. You can keep the bottle inside the refrigerator and take only needed quantity daily from the bottle. 

Note – If using iodized table salt or iodized rock salt, reduce it a little. Also I have used homemade chilli powder which is not hot. If using store bought chilli powder, reduce it a little than the quantity mentioned.

More Pickle Recipes

Gooseberry Pickle

Lemon ginger pickle 

Mixed Vegetable Pickle 

Oil Free Lemon Pickle

Garlic Pickle 

I have compiled all the pickles recipes in one page. Do check out more variety of  Pickle Recipes.

If you found this post useful, I would really love it, if you pin it or share it with your Facebook fans or Twitter followers or Google+ circles today. All it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. It will keep me motivated. Thank  you!

Related posts:

Peerkangai Chutney for Idli-Dosa-Ridge Gourd Chutney Recipe

Sweet Appam Recipe without Baking Soda-Sweet Appam with Rice flour-Wheat flour-Rava

Ragi Idli Recipe-Soft Finger Millet Idli Recipe

Mint Chutney-Pudina Chutney-Side dish for dosa/Idly

Filed Under: Pickles, Uncategorized, Video Recipe Tagged With: Lemon, Uncategorized




Previous Post: « Chickpeas Sundal recipe -How to make sundal- Channa sundal
Next Post: Idiyappam -Sevai – String hopper recipe -How to make Idiyappam-Idiyappam flour »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Priti

    August 22, 2010 at 11:05 am

    I love lemon pickle..drooling now

    Reply
  2. Nithu Bala

    August 22, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Padhu, I love lemon pickle..lovely presentation Dear..

    Reply
  3. Jay

    August 22, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    Great job dear….the color rocks…!

    Reply
  4. asiya omar

    August 22, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    i love the way you present,iam your great fan,padhu.

    Reply
  5. Swathi

    August 22, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    Lemon pickles looks delicious. I love the two lemon guys.

    Reply
  6. Kamalika

    August 22, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    The tiny lil fellows look so cute with a turban on them….the recipe is making my togue tickling to taste it…..

    Reply
  7. PALATABLE

    August 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    Looks so yummy dear, that presentation is really cute…

    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

    Reply
  8. Suja Sugathan

    August 22, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    Delicious pickle..drooling here

    Reply
  9. aipi

    August 22, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    lemon pickle looks so tempting..mmmm!!

    Reply
  10. Vivarjitha

    August 23, 2010 at 2:04 am

    aww…cute pics…i just LUV the lemon pickle…nice blog…on my way followin it!!!

    Reply
  11. Madhuri

    August 23, 2010 at 2:19 am

    Nice one… should give it try …

    Reply
  12. ♥LOVE2COOK♥

    August 23, 2010 at 2:59 am

    Hi dearie, hru doing? Been so long since I came here na! 😉

    Pickles..yummm! Where's my share ya! 😀 hehee take care!

    Reply
  13. Pavithra

    August 23, 2010 at 3:49 am

    Ha ha so cute lemons with mouthwatering pickles…

    Reply
  14. Babli

    August 23, 2010 at 4:20 am

    I am fond of pickles and lemon pickle ismy favourite. Thanks for your lovely recipe. Lemon pickle looks tempting and feel like having it now. Wonderful presentation.

    Reply
  15. kothiyavunu.com

    August 23, 2010 at 4:42 am

    looks tempting padhu..love to gobble up with curd rice..nice presentation.

    Reply
  16. Prathibha

    August 23, 2010 at 4:52 am

    Those cute lemons are really good…I love lemon pickle too

    Reply
  17. Sweetartichoke

    August 23, 2010 at 7:11 am

    heehee! these two lemon guys are so cute!!
    Pickles looks delicious, too!

    Reply
  18. சாருஸ்ரீராஜ்

    August 23, 2010 at 7:40 am

    mouth watering and easy too …..

    Reply
  19. chaitrali pathak

    August 23, 2010 at 7:59 am

    looks nice..and so mouthwatering…yumm yumm

    Reply
  20. Mina Joshi

    August 23, 2010 at 9:07 am

    The lemon pickle looks so yummy!! I love the pickle but have never made it!! Would love to try it out!!

    Reply
  21. Priya

    August 23, 2010 at 9:46 am

    FIngerlicking pickle..yummy..

    Reply
  22. Lav

    August 23, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Love any pickle !! Yummy Yummy

    Lavanya

    http://www.lavsblog.com

    Reply
  23. Khaugiri

    August 23, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Lovely presentation as allways. Mouthwatering pickle dear.

    Reply
  24. Vasavi Suresh

    August 23, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Wow, that's a lovely presentation again. I always love the way you present the food. Love the recipe of pickle too.

    Reply
  25. Krishnaveni

    August 23, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    lemon pickle is always my fav, beautiful picture

    Reply
  26. Ananda Rajashekar

    August 23, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Oh I can drool on that pickle with anything that cook in my kitchen 🙂

    Reply
  27. Jaleela Kamal

    August 28, 2010 at 7:41 am

    SSSSSSSSS very yummy.

    Reply
  28. Jaleela Kamal

    August 28, 2010 at 7:45 am

    nice presentation, u r all pickle varieties /

    Reply
  29. RENU

    August 31, 2011 at 10:30 am

    hi padhu
    i made lemon pickle…it came good…it was sour….how to correct it next time?

    Reply
  30. The Conqueror

    July 19, 2013 at 10:08 am

    Hi Padhu,

    Which oil is advisable for seasoning for this lemon pickle?

    Reply
  31. PadhuSankar

    July 20, 2013 at 5:35 am

    I use sesame seed oil (gingerly oil for all my pickles)

    Reply
  32. Unknown

    July 20, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Hi Padhu,

    how do i remove seeds when i cut lemon… i have more than a dozen to make pickle….i am hoping, if you respond today i will make it tomorrow…

    Thanks,
    G

    Reply
  33. PadhuSankar

    July 20, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Unknown – You have to cut the lemon into half and remove the seeds manually with a knife tip or spoon. It does not matter if there are a few seeds but try to remove it as much as you can.

    Reply
  34. Manjula Ganesha

    December 19, 2013 at 3:50 am

    can we use sunflower or coconut oil for lemon pickle

    Reply
  35. Padhu Sankar

    December 19, 2013 at 6:46 am

    Manjula -use only sesame seed oil/gingelly (nallaennai) for pickles

    Reply
  36. Rebecca Hosford

    June 22, 2014 at 7:16 am

    Hi, great recipes thank you.. I have left the lemon, salt and turmeric for 5 days and now want to fry the seems etc with the lemon, what do I do with the juice ? Is it drained off or added with the lemons? Thank you

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      July 4, 2014 at 1:00 pm

      My apologies for not replying to you immediately.I was on a vacation to UK and was back only yesterday. You can add the juice also as it is only lemon juice. It will not spoil the pickle. Thank you.

      Reply
    • Unknown

      January 21, 2016 at 6:08 am

      I did not even add fenugreek powder, even before it, the pickle turned so bitter, I couldnt even taste anything else… Should we even cook the lemons?

      Is there anything I can now do to correct this?

      Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      January 21, 2016 at 10:59 am

      May be the lemon you used was bitter. Some lemons have thick skin which may be bitter. You have to cook the lemon well in oil and then only add chilli powder. I have written that clearly.

      Reply
  37. sharmila pathy

    July 21, 2014 at 10:05 am

    I hav tried this but the pickle became bitter (kasapu) how to correct this plz reply i hav dozens of lemon waiting for done

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      July 22, 2014 at 7:20 am

      You would have over fried the fenugreek seeds or you would have added more of it. After adding fenugreek powder,mix well and switch off the heat. Another reason could be – lemon variety.

      Reply
  38. A.K.SATHISH KUMAR

    December 13, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Is it necessary to keep the pickle in the fridge?
    We can't keep it outside?

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      December 14, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      Yes, you have to keep it in the refrigerator.

      Reply
  39. Sandhya N.S.

    January 19, 2017 at 1:06 am

    Awesome presentation… I'm going to try it…

    Reply
  40. Lakshmi Iyyappan

    March 12, 2017 at 8:17 am

    I prepared today… its too bitter….plz tell me how to correct….i hope u reply me asap

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      March 14, 2017 at 8:12 am

      It might be due to the quality of lemons or you must have used green ones.

      Reply
  41. bhuvanaskitchen

    December 7, 2017 at 5:58 am

    Every steps said by you was followed but the pickle came bitter

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      December 7, 2017 at 9:31 am

      The problem is not with the recipe but with the lemons. Some lemon skin has a bitter taste. This recipe is followed for generations in our home.

      Reply
  42. Sharada Krishnan

    December 7, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    Hi padhu today i tried lemon (lemon from the tree at home first time plucked..sema smell) pickle folliwing ur receipe. Let me tell you abt tbe taste after few days. Thanks dear

    Reply
  43. Unknown

    March 30, 2018 at 1:25 pm

    Nice.. Thanks for the recipe.. Can you please post bitter gourd pickle recipe

    Reply
  44. Manikandan

    April 6, 2018 at 12:13 am

    It turned out really well. Thanks Padhu.

    Reply
  45. Mum's blog

    July 12, 2018 at 10:00 am

    Excellent results. Thank you Padhu

    I use your recipes for most veg cooking

    Reply
  46. My Books Wikia

    August 4, 2018 at 5:22 am

    hi is there any specific reason for it to be out for 3 days? i have cut and mixed the lemon in salt and turmeric today. can i saute it today in sesame oil or should i wait 3 days?

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      August 5, 2018 at 11:42 am

      It will turn a little soft in 3 days and will get mixed well with the chilli powder and oil.

      Reply
  47. Shobha

    January 16, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    Huge fan of yours Padhu. This recipe came out well even with the larger lemons available in Dubai. The slight bitterness goes away after a week

    Reply
  48. Vilasini

    February 6, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    Hii, should i leave the marinated lemons out for 3 days or inside the refrigerator for 3 days??

    Reply
    • PadhuSankar

      February 13, 2020 at 10:55 am

      Marinate at room temperature.

      Reply
  49. Ramanathan

    December 7, 2020 at 5:21 am

    Thx for your publishing. I tried it and it came out well. How do I get the bitterness off the lemon? Any thoughts?

    Reply
  50. Menaka

    August 16, 2021 at 1:22 pm

    Hi Padhu, Suppose I have to use 25 lemons, should I proportionally increase all ingredients (multiply by4) ?

    Reply
    • PadhuSankar

      August 21, 2021 at 11:05 am

      Yes but now a day the chilli powder is very spicy and the salt is too salty,we get only iodised. So add a little less.

      Reply
  51. Lakshmi Mukundan

    March 19, 2023 at 4:58 am

    Just made pickle for the first time. Followed the recipe step by step. Came out excellent. Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About the Author

Meet Padhu, the Chef, the photographer, recipe developer and web designer behind Padhuskitchen which features Simple Indian Vegetarian recipes, healthy recipes, kids friendly recipes, Indian festival recipes, traditional South Indian Vegetarian ...

Read More

Padhuskitchen Recipes on YouTube

Padhuskitchen Youtube

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

Browse by Cuisines

Kerala Recipes
Punjabi Recipes
Andhra Recipes
Gujarathi Recipes
Maharashtrian
Tamil Brahmin Recipes
Karnataka
International
Indo Chinese Recipes

Browse by Categories






Recent Posts

  • Cabbage Rice-Lunch Box Recipe-Cabbage Pulao Recipe-Muttaikose Sadam
  • Chana Dal Pulao-Bengal Gram Dal Rice
  • Ragi Masala Dosa-Finger Millet Masala Dosa Recipe-Kelvaragu Masala Dosai
  • Girmit Recipe-North Karnataka Style Masala Spicy Puffed Rice Chaat
  • Poha Sweet Snack-Breakfast-Kerala Aval Vilayichathu-Sweetened Rice Flakes

Baby Recipes

Baby Recipes

https://youtu.be/ObMz4uI5zUc

Copyright © 2025 Padhuskitchen