Gajar Ka Achar (Carrot Pickle)

Ingredients:

3cups water

230gms carrots (scraped and cut into 2"long sticks)

11/2tbsp mustard seeds

1/2tsp chili powder

1/8th tsp. each ground mace, cloves and cardamom

2tsp salt

1/4th cup shredded jaggery (gur)

1/3rd cup mustard oil

Preparation:

Boil the water in 2-litre saucepan. Add carrots and blanch for a minute.
Drain the water and then spread carrots on a clean cloth and sundry (or spread them on a towel lined cookie tray and air dry in an oven (200-degree Fahrenheit) for an hour).
In a bowl mix the mace, cloves, cardamom, salt and jaggery.
Add the carrots and toss to mix. Transfer to a sterilized glass jar.
Pour the mustard oil into a small saucepan and place it over a moderate heat. As soon as oil begins to smoke remove it from the heat and cool it for 4 minutes, then pour it into the jar and cover it with a clean cloth.
Set the jar in sunlight for 13-14 days, bringing it indoor evrynight. Shake the jar two or three times daily.

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