You love pickles with rice and rotis, and snacks as well. Usha R Munshi discovers that making them is fun, too!

Our grand-mothers and generations before that made pickles year after year with great enthusiasm. You've probably wanted to, too, but couldn't bring yourself to expend all that time and energy. The good news: It's easy! And can be quick!

The Truth About Making Pickles

Pickles are not difficult to make, nor preserve!

Essentially, there are two things to pickle making - the main ingredient (mango, lime), and the method.

These days, you have the choice of several pickle making methods. In our 'Gourmet' section, you have the slow traditional way that takes four to six weeks - the way our grandmoms would do it -- and the cheat's ways. There are also pickle masalas available in the market that you could try. Pick your style.

Next come the ingredients - again you have numerous choices.

So, ingredient, method... Next, follow the law book.

No need to panic or worry. After the initial marinating period, it is vital to stir and mix the pickle thoroughly and check its taste. Then, add salt, chilli or any other spice powders or oil as required. Such additions are needed at times to ensure good taste of the pickles you've made. And, your tongue knows best.

They Made Pickles, So Can You!

I Made: Mango pickles - three varieties - just once. I picked a few mangoes from a friend's garden, cut them to different sizes and made the spicy South Indian avakaya, sweet mango and salt-only pickle! They were all polished off by my friends.

What I Liked About Making Pickles: It's fun, innovative, exciting. Also very satisfying - you can store this for a while, and every time someone eats it, you can feel great about it. In fact, pastas and salads are passé now. Everyone seems to be making pickles. What's in or what is going to be in very soon, are the traditional 'grandma' pickles, of course, made a lot simpler! It's all about good taste and quick-to-make recipes!

- Lalitha Shivaprasad, 28, Market Research Project Director, Bangalore

I Made: A sweet lemon pickle. Actually, I was stuck with three dozen ripe, large, juicy lemons and I was too lazy to squeeze them for lemonade. I cut them into equal sized pieces, added a bit of chilli powder, sugar and lots of salt...

What I Liked About Making Pickles: It was great fun. I felt proud that I managed to make delicious pickle. In fact, it was easy too and I think I will try making more! It isn't really a grandma chore at all. Actually, it's not too time consuming either. And, instead of worrying about the 'unhealthy' colour and low quality ingredients in readymade pickles, we could make them our way, right at home!

- Gandhali Paranjpe, 30, Journalist, Mumbai