Young Green Mango Pickle
Sunday, February 24th, 2008Filed Under Chutneys and Dips and Pickles, India - Kerala, Mango
There is nothing like the sight of a fresh green mango to bring back the nostalgic memories of a happy Indian childhood. Unfortunately after coming to the US, the only real sour variety of mangoes that I could find were the greem frozen ones from the Indian stores. It works in chutneys and such just fine. But those slices are so sad looking, with a tired texture once defrosted, I use those only in emergencies, when the cravings for the green sour mangoes get unbearable. It never gives the satisfaction of the fresh ones though.
But last Friday night, we went on an Indian store raid, hunting for Gongura leaves to make Sailu’s Gongura Mutton curry. Ever since I showed the picture to Siv, he wants to cook this curry, but both of us are not familiar with these leaves. So Friday night, armed with a print out of Sailu’s post that includes a picture of the Gongura leaves, we went on a quest, determined to find the leaves. We went to three different Indian stores with no luck! But the search was not entirely in vain, the last store we hit had a big basket full of fresh young green mangoes - never seen these in any stores before.
These are young mangoes where the seeds are not hard yet, these can be sliced in half through the seeds. It is different from tender mangoes which are normally pickled in whole. I guess these are teenager mangoes, not a baby, not yet an adult either. Look how fresh they are!
We picked up about 3lbs of these beauties, and already finished half of those. Siv has them sliced with salt and chili powder, I just have them with salt. Before we completely run out of the mangoes, I wanted to pickle some. I don’t expect the the pickle to last long either, Siv can finish off half a bottle pickle in one go, so the pickling is more of a blogging activity than a preservation method. 
Recipe courtesy Flavors of the Spice Coast by Mrs.K.M.Mathew
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh green mangoes, seeded and diced
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil (gingely oil is the best, if available, use more oil if planning to keep the pickle for a while )
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp fenugreek powder
- 1/2 tsp asafoetida powder
- a few curry leaves
- 2 cups boiled water
Method
Toss the diced mangoes in salt in a bowl, cover and marinate for about 1/2 an hour or more.
Heat oil in a pan, reduce the heat to medium low and add the chili, turmeric, mustard, fenugreek and asafoetida powders and curry leaves. Fry for a few minutes till the spice powders are aromatic, making sure not to brown the spice mixture.
Add the water and bring to a boil.
Remove from the heat and let it cool. Add the marinated mango pieces. Mix well and bottle.
This pickle can be kept at room temperature, and is best a couple of days after it is made. Transfer to the refrigerator after about a week, if there is any left.

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Check out the details here.
Comments
44 Responses to “Young Green Mango Pickle”
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I love vadu mango pickle! It’s always been my favorite. As far as gongura goes, we’re only able to get it in the warmer weather months here. Not sure how it is out in Seattle, though. Great pics and nice easy recipe!
wow!i love mango pickle….this looks deliciuos and simple..will try them for sure..thanks for sharing
vaayil vellam varunnu
Yumm pickle…..
Wow, I love this pickle. Used to get a warning from mom that its just a pickle and not some subji to eat so much ;)…Pic is great Sig..
pickle looks tempting…if you are fond of tangy things, then you should try gongura…they taste good..
“The pickling is more of a blogging activity than a preservation method” - ROFL! But then, you’re preserving it on your blog!
Mango pickle is the best that is for sure. I have never ventured into making my own though. Looks fab!
I am literally drooling while reading this!! Slurp!!
You make me nostalgic Sig….i remember whenever I used to go on a vacation to Kerala, me n my cousin would always hide on the terrace or anywhere for that matter with stolen green mangoes n some seasalt, n boy….was that a treat…we would even buy some readymade sachets of this pickle from the local grocer for 25 ps each & snack on them…..where are those days…
it looks so inviting… winter disappeared overnight here and now even ripe mangoes have hit the market!!
Hello Sig,
I have been a silent reader of your blog for quite sometime.I stumbled on it while blog hopping and can u believe I sat and read thru your entire blog for 2 whole days and now I look forward to your posts.I have tried a couple of dishes and they came out well.The pictures are fabulous and the restaurant reviews r great too.Just reading that makes me want to come to Seattle though i live in dubai and it has too some great restaurants.Keep this great blog going Sig!!!!!!
Perfect! With a bowl of curd rice this is divine!
I just finished a whole bowl last week in about 2 days - salted and tempered, it was just yummy! Enjoy yours while it lasts!
Sig, those are some really great mangoes…the pickle looks very tempting
Oh, guess what? We went to Charlotte and we bought 2 real Indian green Mangoes after a looong time. The Spanish one we get here is so half ripe and stringy, we were so real happy y’day. We just ate them with chilli pd and salt like a snack as we used to do India as kids!
Pickle looks yum. I thought of it pickling them, but then temptation got the better of me!!
Sig, those pickle make my mouth water, where the mangoes sour enough? the best for this is Kili Mooku (parrot beak) mango, if it is familiar to you mention to Siv I bet he has heard of them and tasted them.
As for Gongura leaves, you have to wait till summer,you will find them for sure then.
I meant unfamiliar to you
What a coincidence! y’day I was checking my dashboard and saw a mango pickle yet to be published …but by the time Oscars got over, I was in a sleepy mood and didnt make the post
but no water in my recipe….lots of oil instead
Shn
lol…u r such a devoted blogger, sig
what with you sacrificing the precious fruit for a blogging activity 
btw, in ur opinion, what other fruit will work here?
Looking at the picture my mouth is wattering.
Last year when hubby was in London he bought 1 dozen of Alphonso mango back home and they were delicious and sweet.
We’ve planeed to go to London end of March then i will look in the INdian shops if they have green mangoes there.
Hey Sig, love this recipe, I know what you mean about the pickle not lasting too long!!!
The mango season’s starting here in India and I just made my version of this pickle a couple of days back.
I got into making my own pickles about 5 years ago. So i’m going to be pickling mangoes every which way the next 3 months or so!
I simply love this mango pickle and it’s so instant too.
This is such a lovely pickle! Lucky you to have found the good quality raw mangoes, girl! Enjoy them as much as you can! Have my share too :). I’ll do better than Siv, i can finish the whole bottle in one go
hugs,
musical.
ho! ente daiyvame!
Gingely oil is the best in pickles !!! I can finish a whole batch of curd rice just seeing that pic.
Wonderful! A quick pickle that we can make and enjoy in the short time we have remaining here. I’m going to pick up some green mangos as soon as possible!
Sig there gorgeous beauties look very “Juicy”. I am craving for this pickle…plzzzzzzzz send me some.
Ohhh Sig, that pickle is to die for!!! Who doesn’t like Mango pickle, just the mention of it makes me drool. Lucky gal u found these mangoes, I think I should keep an eye out for it too. Got ripe ones, not the raw ones.
if only i could get some of those mangoes !! Like to have like siv did
I am a fan of vadu manga pickle.Pickle pic has come out so well.
U have that effect - while you are enjoying the mangoes..here we are drooling over them. As a child, we would steal these babies from our neighbors tree, while my grandparents house we were in had three trees
. Stolen mangoes r more tastier. My grandparents neighbors knew it, but let us indulge as they were too old to pickle or do anything
i get my stash of kanni manga from kerala every year….after seeing these pics…i am thinking parathas and pickle or upma and pickle for breakfast tomorrow….avakaya of course!!
Sig,
Oooh can you send me some of that!! thnx dahling
You make pickles too! Daaaaaaag. Pics brought back thoughts of hot summers in India and stealing raw mangoes from the yard (yep stealing from my own yard) and sitting up in the terrace with good friends, giggling and enjoying our steal with some salt and red chilli powder
mango pickle yummm MOUTHWATERING
Shall I send some sunshine over, Sig??
I’m looking forward to March when I’ll get some good mangoes here.
Sig,
Gongura in the US is only available from Jun-Nov months. I actually grow it in my back yard, I am in Dallas, TX where there is plenty of sun and gongura plants thrive in full sun. I can send you some, email me your address, but remember you have to wait a few months !
Jyothi
mmmm….love mango pickle!! lucky u!!
Oh yeah..i wish i was in Seattle all the time
What is the name and location of the store where you found the mangos, I would like to buy some myself please let me know A.S.A.P, thank you, it sounds delicious.