Dates Pickle

Dates pickle / Eenthapazham achar is a malabar delicasy. It goes best with Thalassery Biriyani. It has a sweet, tangy and spicy taste goes well with chapati and dosa also. Try this sweet and spicy dates pickle. 

Ingredients

• Dates  250gm  30 to 35 
• Ginger 1 tbsp chopped
• Garlic 12 to 15 cloves chopped
• Green chilli 3 chopped
• Chilli Powder 2 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida Powder 1/4 tsp
• Fennel Seeds 1 tsp
• Salt 
• Sugar 1tsp
• Gingelly oil 2 to 3 tbsp
• Vinegar 1/3 cup
• Water 1/4 cup
• Curry leaves few chopped

Method 

Remove seeds and soak dates in warm water for 30 minutes. Then just crush the dates in the blender and keep it aside.

Make a paste with garlic and fennel seeds with little water in the blender. 

Heat oil in a pan when the oil is hot add the chopped ginger, green chilli and curry leaves saute for 1 minute. Add the garlic fennel paste and saute well, till the raw small goes off. Keep in low flame and add turmeric powder, chilli powder and asafoetida powder. Saute for few seconds, then add vinegar and water. Bring to boil. Add the crushed dates and cook for 5 -7 minutes till the vinegar is absorbed and dates are softened and cooked. There will be some soft dates pieces left behind to add a nice chewy texture. Add the sugar and salt. Remove from fire. Once its cool you can put it in a glass jar.

NB: if you want can add mustard seeds and cumin seeds crushed and saute with ginger and all, that also give some different aroma. If you don't like dates chunks in the pickle then grind as a smooth paste instead of just crushing. Enjoy cooking..