Pickled Sardine

Mathi/Chala Achar/Pickled Sardine

Ingredients

• Sardine/Mathi-1 kg
• Garlic-20 cloves (long strips)
• Ginger-2 big pieces (strips)
• Green chilly-15 (slits)
• Curry leaves-4 strings
• Chilly powder-2 1/2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
• Asafoetida powder-less than 1/4tsp
• Fenugreek powder-less than 1/4 tsp
• Salt- to taste
• Mustard seeds-1tsp
• Fenugreek seeds-1/2tsp
• Oil- for frying
• Vinegar-1cup
• Hot Water-2 to 3 cups
• Dry red chilly-5 (slits)

For Marination

• Chilly powder-2 1/2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
• Salt- to taste

Cooking Method

• Choose very small sardines ..Small ones best for pickle than big sardines..
• Cut ,clean and wash them properly using salt and vinegar ..
• Then make gashes on each sides..
• Make a paste of chilly powder,turmeric powder and salt ..Marinate the sardines with this masala ..Keep aside for minimum 15 minutes
• Heat 3 tbsp oil in a heavy bottomed non stick pan
• Fry ginger pieces,garlic pieces ,green chilly separately,Keep aside
• Then splutter mustard seeds,fenu greek seeds,dry red chilly and curry leaves one by one
• Then switch off the gas and add all the powders and saute until the raw smell goes..
• Then add vinegar ,boiled water ,salt and roasted ginger-garlic and curry leaves ..Mix well ..Keep aside ..
• Now fry the sardines in batches till they become crisp (dont burn )
• Add all fried fish into the prepared sauce ,mix well and boil well for 10 minutes in medium flame ..
• Check the salt and sourness ..So yummy but simple mathi achar is ready ………….