Pickles form an integral part of an Indian meal. Seasonal vegetables and fruits are cleaned and finely chopped; they are then mixed with a special blend of ground spices and marinated in oil or lemon juice.
The choice of spices gives the Indian pickle its unique flavor. Most pickles are made in the summer and allowed to mature in the hot sun for at least three weeks before use.
Indian pickles are a variety of spicy pickled side dish or condiment popular in the Indian Subcontinent, in Southeast Asia, and in many other areas among ethnically South Asian communities. The pickle serves as a flavor enhancer and is eaten typically in small pieces with the rest of the meal. There are a wide variety of different pickles made and each is usually made with a mixture of fruits or vegetables which are chopped and marinated in a oil or lemon juice and a variety of different spices and salt.