Serves: 5
Total Calories: 204

1 pound pearl onion, peeled
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons kalonji seeds
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup mustard oil or olive oil
1 small piece muslin or 4 layers cheesecloth (enough to cover the mouth of a jar)

1. Make a cross-cut at the base of each onion, going three-quarters of the way to the top. Lightly open the cuts and stuff a pinch of salt in each one. Reserve any leftover salt. In a spice or coffee grinder, very coarsely grind together the fenugreek, fennel, peppercorns, and kalonji. Remove to a bowl and mix in the turmeric, cayenne pepper, and the reserved salt.

2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick wok or saucepan over medium-high heat and add the spice mixture it should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Add the onions and cook about 5 minutes, making sure all the onions are well coated with the spice mixture.

3. Let cool and transfer to a sterile glass jar. Cover the jar with the muslin, securing it with a rubber band, and place in a warm, sunny spot in the kitchen or outside in the sun. (If the pickle jar is outside in the sun, bring it inside in the evening.) Shake the jar once or twice each day, until the spices are plump and soft and the onions are crisp-tender, 3 to 5 days. The onions will release some juices that is quite normal. Store about 10 at room temperature and about 6 months in the refrigerator. The onions keep getting stronger over time.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Total Calories: 204
Calories from Fat: 193

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Chutneys and Pickles
Basic Green Chutney
Cilantro-Lime Chutney
Classic Hyderabadi Ginger-Sesame Chutney
Cooked South Indian Mango Pickle
Cranberry Chutney Preserve
Crunchy Cucumber Pickle
Crushed Lemon and Fresh Red Chili Pepper Pickle
Eggplant and Malanga Root Pickle
Fragrant Mango Chutney
Fresh Coconut Chutney with Cilantro
Garlic and Fresh Red Chili Pepper Chutney
Green Garlic and Nuts Chutney
Hazram's Coconut-Tamarind Chutney with Mint
Lemon-Pickled Fresh Ginger Sticks
Mama's Punjabi Mango Pickle
Mama-in-Law's Mango Pickle with Roasted Spices
Minced Ginger-Lime Pickle
Mint Chutney with Pomegranate Seeds
Mint-Garlic Chutney with Peanuts and Tamarind
Minty Sonth Chutney with Mango (or Tamarind) Powder and Jaggery
Mixed Vegetable Pickle with Garlic
Peanut and Garlic Chutney
Pearl Onions in Pickling Spices
Pickled Chili Pepper Purée with Tamarind
Pickled Turnips and Cauliflower
Pickled Turnips with Black Mustard Seeds
Prabha's Green Chili Pepper Pickle
Puréed Fresh Mango-Ginger Chutney
Puréed Green Mango Chutneys
Quick Mango Pickle
Rama's Grated Mango Pickle
Red Tomato Chutney Preserve with Sesame Seeds
Roasted Black Chickpea Chutney with Peanuts
Roasted Coconut Chutney
Roasted Dal and Fresh Green Chili Pepper Chutney
Scallion-Ginger Chutney
Semolina-Coconut Chutney
Sesame-Peanut Chutney
Shahina's Shredded Coconut Chutney
Sonth Chutney with Dried Mango Sliced
Sonth Chutney with Fresh and Dried Fruits
South Indian Cilantro Chutney
South Indian Tomato Chutney
Spicey Apple-Ginger Chutney Preserve
Spicy Apricot Chutney Preserve
Spicy Cranberry Pickle
Sun-Cured Pickled Lime (or Lemon) Wedges
Sweet Sonth Chutney with Dates
Sweet and Sour Fresh Lime Pickle
Tart Apple Ginger-Chutney with Green Tomatoes
Tomato Chutney Preserve with Cashews and Raisins
Vinegar-Marinated Green Chili Peppers
Water Pickle with Crispy Cauliflower and Carrots
Yogurt Cheese Chutney with Minced Greens
Yogurt Chutney with Puréed Greens
Yogurt Chutney with Roasted Dals and Spices
Yogurt-Almond Chutney