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sweet lemon pickle recipe | sweet nimbu ka achar | easy Indian lemon pickle | no oil lemon pickle | lemon pickle without oil |

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Tarla Dalal

 17 December, 2024

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Table of Content

About Sweet Lemon Pickle, Nimboo Ka Achar, No Oil Lemon Pickle down arrow
Ingredients down arrow
Methods down arrow
Like sweet lemon pickle down arrow
What is sweet lemon pickle made off? down arrow
Preparing the lemons down arrow
Cooking sweet lemon pickle down arrow
Pro tips for sweet lemon pickle down arrow
Nutrient values down arrow

3 ingredient sweet lemon pickle recipe | sweet nimbu ka achar | easy Indian lemon pickle | no oil lemon pickle | lemon pickle without oil |

sweet lemon pickle is a brilliant Indian pickle that causes a burst of sweet and tangy flavours on your palate which is an all-time favourite, with fans spanning across generations! Learn how to make nimbu ka achar.

The preparation of this no oil lemon pickle needs a bit of tact, but is not difficult if you follow these instructions properly. You need to begin with buying the best of lemons for pickle. Learn how to select lemons.

To make 3 ingredient sweet lemon pickle, wash the lemons and wipe them dry using a dry cloth. Cut each lemon into quarters. Transfer into a clean, dry glass or steel bowl, add the rock salt, toss it well, cover with a lid and keep aside for 7 days. Make sure you toss it very well every day without using your hands or spoon. Transfer the lemon-salt mixture after maturing in a deep non-stick pan, add the sugar, mix well and cook on a slow flame for 22 minutes, while stirring continuously. Cool the mixture completely in the same deep non-stick pan. Once cooled, store in an air-tight glass container and use as required.

The lemons and salt are allowed to mature for about a week. The salt here acts as a preservative and the maturing period is necessary for the lemons to absorb the flavours of salt. It is important to toss the lemons in lemon pickle without oil every day during the seven-day maturing period to avoid fungal growth.

Later, when cooking the lemon-salt mixture with sugar, it is very important to follow the exact method paying special attention to the flame level and cooking time. A timer will be handy for this sweet nimbu ka achar!

Once done, this easy Indian lemon pickle stays good for almost an year when stored in dry airtight containers. The colour of the pickle might change over time, but not to worry, the pickle will taste as fabulous as ever. Ideal to serve with Indian breads like Parathas, Rotis, Puris, Naan and Kulchas.

Tips for 3 ingredient sweet lemon pickle. 1. Remember not to toss the lemons with salt with hands, as the warmth of the hands may cause fungal growth. 2. During the maturing period, you must also take care to store the pickle in a cool place away from heat, but not in the fridge. 3. After making, this pickle is best stored in a glass container and not steel canister. 4. Again after the pickle is ready, store in a cool place and always use a spoon to serve it.

Enjoy 3 ingredient sweet lemon pickle recipe | sweet nimbu ka achar | easy Indian lemon pickle | no oil lemon pickle | lemon pickle without oil | with recipe below.

 

Sweet Lemon Pickle, Nimboo ka Achar, No Oil Lemon Pickle recipe - How to make Sweet Lemon Pickle, Nimboo ka Achar, No Oil Lemon Pickle

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Preparation Time

5 Mins

Cooking Time

22 Mins

Total Time

27 Mins

Makes

4 cups

Ingredients

For Sweet Lemon Pickle

Method
  1. Wash the lemons and wipe them dry using a dry cloth.
  2. Cut each lemon into quarters.
  3. Transfer into a clean, dry glass or steel bowl, add the rock salt toss it well, cover with a lid and keep aside for 7 days. Make sure you toss it very well every day without using your hands or spoon.
  4. Transfer the lemon-salt mixture after maturing in a deep non-stick pan, add the sugar, mix well and cook on a slow flame for 22 minutes, while stirring continuously.
  5. Cool the mixture completely in the same deep non-stick pan.
  6. Once cooled, store in an air-tight glass container and use as required.

Sweet Lemon Pickle, Nimboo ka Achar, No Oil Lemon Pickle recipe with step by step photos

Like sweet lemon pickle

 

    1. Like 3 ingredient sweet lemon pickle recipe | sweet nimbu ka achar | easy Indian lemon pickle | no oil lemon pickle | lemon pickle without oil | then see our collection of achar recipes and some recipes we love.
What is sweet lemon pickle made off?

 

    1. What is sweet lemon pickle made off? sweet nimbu ka achar is made from easily available ingredients like 15 lemons, 1/2 cup rock salt (sendha namak) and 5 cups sugar.
Preparing the lemons

 

    1. This is what the lemons look like.
    2. Wash the lemons in water.
    3. Wipe them dry using a dry cloth.
    4. Cut each lemon into quarters.
    5. Transfer into a clean, dry glass bowl.
    6. Add 1/2 cup rock salt (sendha namak).
    7. Mix well by tossing the lemons in the bowl. Don't touch the lemons with your hands or use a spoon. TOSS.
    8. Cover with a lid and keep aside for 7 days. Cover with a glass plate only. Don't cover with a steel plate.
    9. This is what the lemons look on day 2. A little water has been released. 
    10. Day 2. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Now cover again with a plate.
    11. This is what the lemons look on day 3. A little water has been released again.  
    12. Day 3. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Now cover again with a plate. 
    13. This is what the lemons look on day 4. A little water has been released again
    14. Day 4. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Now cover again with a plate.  
    15. This is what the lemons look on day 5. A little water has been released again.
    16. Day 5. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Now cover again with a plate.   
    17. This is what the lemons look on day 6. A little water has been released again.
    18. Day 6. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Now cover again with a plate.   
    19. This is what the lemons look on day 7. A little water has been released again.
    20.   Day 7. Toss the lemons. We hold the glass bowl and toss the lemons almost like flipping them. Avoid hand contact always. Our lemons are ready.
Cooking sweet lemon pickle

 

    1. Transfer the lemon-salt mixture after maturing in a deep non-stick pan.
    2. Add 5 cups sugar.
    3. Mix well. 
    4. Cook on a medium to slow flame for 22 minutes, while stirring continuously. This is the first image of cooking. We started cooking on a medium flame to start. We will be showing you several images.
    5. After 2 minutes of cooking the sugar has started melting. We are cooking on medium flame.
    6. After 6 minutes of cooking and stirring on a medium flame. We can see the lemons are cooking in the melted sugar. Image 3 of cooking the sweet lemon pickle. 
    7. After 8 minutes of cooking and stirring on a medium flame. We can see the lemons are cooking well in the melted sugar. Image 4 of cooking the sweet lemon pickle. 
    8. After 11 minutes of cooking and stirring on a medium flame. We can see the lemons are cooking well in the melted sugar. Image 6 of cooking the sweet lemon pickle. 
    9. At 14 minutes, reduce flame to low and cook. Image 7 of cooking.
    10. At 16 minutes, this is how the lemons look. Image 8 of cooking.
    11. At 19 minutes, increase flame to medium and cook. Image 9 of cooking. We are almost done.
    12. At 22 minutes, we are done. Image 10 of cooking. Our lemons are cooked.
    13. Cool the mixture completely in the same deep non-stick pan.
    14. Once cooled, store in an air-tight glass container and use as required.
Pro tips for sweet lemon pickle

 

    1. Remember not to toss the lemons with salt with hands, as the warmth of the hands may cause fungal growth. 
    2. During the maturing period, you must also take care to store the pickle in a cool place away from heat, but not in the fridge.
    3. After making, this pickle is best stored in a glass container and not steel canister.
    4. Again after the pickle is ready, store in a cool place and always use a spoon to serve it. 
Nutrient values (Abbrv)per plate
Nutrient values (Abbrv) per cup
Energy715 cal
Protein1.1 g
Carbohydrates174.3 g
Fiber1.9 g
Fat1 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium15021 mg

Click here to view Calories for Sweet Lemon Pickle, Nimboo ka Achar, No Oil Lemon Pickle

The Nutrient info is complete

Your Rating*

user
Madhavi

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hello, Thank you for the recipe. I do have one concern before trying to make the pickle. Usually when we heat lemon and sugar together, it turns bitter. I am surprised that no one has complained about that. Do I go ahead and make it without worrying about bitterness?

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Madhvi, We have tried the recipe in our kitchen.. it has not turned bitter. You can go ahead and try the recipe..

user
Somayya Patel

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi. Recipe worked well. I added finely sliced fresh red chilli, during the cooking process. Adds a pleasant flavour and also looks very appealing mixed in with the lemon.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Somayya, we are delighted you loved the Nimboo ka Achar recipe.

user
Very tasty..... kids love it

March 13, 2025, midnight

4 
user
Arya Ghosh

March 13, 2025, midnight

I am a diabetic, yet I love sweet-sour lemons. In that case, ma''m, can I use 2-3 cups of sugar instead of 5??

5 
user
Kumud

March 13, 2025, midnight

I wish you have put the weight instead of the number of lemons. Indian lemons are much smaller than the American. So it tossed out all the proportions. I added more salt & hope it works. Other than that recipe sound yummy. Never made it, so kind of anxious to see the results. Thanks & BR

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Kumud, Do give us your feedback.. once you have tried the recipe.. Happy Cooking!!!

user
Avinash

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Smitha Menon

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Smitha , we are delighted you loved the Nimboo ka Achar recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Ranbir

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Ranbir , we are delighted you loved the Nimboo ka Achar recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Fan

March 13, 2025, midnight

If I want to use gud instead what measurement should I take ?

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi, We have not tried using jaggery..

user
Natasha

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Awesome tips for sweet lime pickle ????

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Thanks so much for trying our recipe, it means a lot to us. Keep trying more recipes and sharing your feedback with us.

user
Priya

March 13, 2025, midnight

The lemons caught mould when kept in the sun. Will I have to throw away the 1kg lemons or there is a way to wash them n reuse?

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Priya, We have rectified the sweet lemon pickle recipe, do try this new recipe, we are sure you will get an excellent pickle. The major problem might be for your fungus that happened in the lemons is that you need to toss it everyday when the lemons are put to mature. Happy Cooking !!

user
Dashrath

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Foodie #610225

March 13, 2025, midnight

This is the first time I made pickle at home inspired by your recipe. I was looking for some oil free recipe and with natural ingredients like gud. I tried this recipe. It came out so good...my hubby gave me great compliment...that it is just like store bought. Everything perfect... thanks for such wonderful recipe!!! A must try!!!

5 
user
Healthy Eating

March 13, 2025, midnight

This is a beauty. Love the tangy and sweet taste of the juice.

5 
user
arymal07

March 13, 2025, midnight

Simplicity of ingredients coupled with patience - its a wonderful recipe. I've had to tweak the recipe a bit for convenience. All the same thank -you Tarla aunty for sharing this.

5 
user
Shabnam

March 13, 2025, midnight

I tried it the same way but on cooking,the lemons remain hard.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Covering the lemons in the bowl is very important to prevent them from turning hard. Hope you had covered them well.

user
Mrs, Archana Khare

March 13, 2025, midnight

Can you give d size of cup to be used.150ml or? Please clarify.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi, 1 cup is 200 ml approx.

user
Usha Gaur

March 13, 2025, midnight

I tried this recipe After about a month there are white patches on top layer of pickle. The taste is OK. How can I get rid of this infection in my sweet lemon pickle?

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Dear Usha, Please check if you had followed all the instructions shared in the recipe. 1. It is important to toss the lemons every day during the seven-day maturing period to avoid fungal growth. 2. Tossing has to be done without using hands or spoon to avoid fungal growth. 3. During maturing period, the pickle has to be stored in a cool dry place away from sunlight. 4. After making the pickle and cooling, it has to be stored in an air-tight container, preferably a glass container and not a steel bottle.

user
Roma Sachdeva

March 13, 2025, midnight

I like your recipe. Please tell me if I want to use jaggery instead of sugar what will be ratio/quantity and precautions if any. Jaggery is healthier option than sugar.

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

We haven''t tried the recipe with jaggery. Sugar is preferred in this recipe as it has a cooking time of 22 minutes. Jaggery might become too thick.

user

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