When Home Comes Packed In A Jar : A Tale Of Taste, Mother's Love, And Nostalgia

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Anika always looked forward to going home for the holidays. It wasn't just about seeing her family, it was about escaping her hostel's so-called food. The moment she stepped inside, her mother, Malini, welcomed her with a tight hug, followed by a quick inspection.

"You've lost weight!" Malini frowned, pressing Anika's arm. "What do they even feed you in that hostel?"

Anika sighed. "The dal is mostly water, the chapatis are hard to chew, and let's not talk about the weird curries they serve every day, I don't even know what they are."

Malini shook her head in dismay to her daughter's response.

A week later, Anika was packing bags to go back to college. On the other hand, her mom Malini got to some serious work in the kitchen. "Here, this will last for weeks, and add some flavour to your food" she said, handing a jar to Anika. She scrutinised the jar and smiled in joy. It was her mother's famous fish pickle. She hugged her tightly. "Thank you Mom"

When Anika returned to her hostel, she barely had time to set her bag down before her roommates, Riya and Tanya, attacked.

"You're back!" Tanya said, hugging her dramatically.

"We missed you so much," Riya added, eyes darting towards her bag.

Anika narrowed her eyes. "You missed me or the thing that I have in this bag?"

Tanya grinned. "Both, obviously. But mostly the special thing in that bag of yours"

Before Anika could protest, Riya unzipped her bag and pulled out the jar like a thief discovering hidden treasure.

"You heartless people!" Anika cried.

"Correction-hungry people," Riya said, already unscrewing the lid.

Within minutes, they were sitting cross-legged on the bed with a plate of hot rice, dipping spoons into the spicy, tangy fish pickle. Tanya took one bite and let out a dramatic sigh.

"This is heaven."

Anika shook her head but couldn't help laughing. Maybe she wasn't the only one who needed a taste of home.

If reading this made you crave a taste of home, why not bring that comfort to your own kitchen? Whether you're missing home-cooked food at your hostel or just want to add a burst of spice to your meals, making fish pickle is easier than you think. With the right blend of spices, crispy fried fish, and a little love, you can bottle up a piece of home just like Anika's mother did. So, are you ready to try it? Then here you go.

Spicy Fish Pickle

Ingredients

For Marination

• 250g fish (any firm boneless fish, cleaned and cut into small pieces)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper powder
• 1½ tsp red chilli powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder

For Frying

Gingelly oil (sesame oil) or Coconut Oil

For Masala

• 1-inch piece ginger (thinly sliced)
• 6 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)
• 5 green chillies (sliced)
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp fenugreek powder
• ¼ tsp asafoetida powder
• ½ cup vinegar
• 3 tbsp gingelly oil (extra for preserving)

Instructions

Marinate the Fish

• Clean the fish pieces and pat them dry.
• In a bowl, mix salt, black pepper powder, red chilli powder, and turmeric powder.
• Coat the fish pieces evenly and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Fry the Fish

• Heat gingelly oil in a pan. Enough oil to fry the fish nice and crispy.
• Fry the marinated fish on medium heat until golden brown.
• Remove and set aside.

Prepare the Masala

• In the same pan, heat 3 tbsp gingelly oil.
• Add sliced ginger, garlic, green chillies, and curry leaves.
• Sauté until golden brown.
• Add red chilli powder, fenugreek powder, and asafoetida powder.
• Stir for a few seconds until aromatic.

Combine & Preserve

• Pour ½ cup vinegar into the masala and let it simmer on medium heat for a minute.
• Add the fried fish and mix well.
• Ensure the pickle is coated with enough oil to prevent spoilage.

Let the fish pickle cool completely before storing in an airtight glass jar. The flavours deepen over time, making it even more delicious!

So go ahead, enjoy this fish pickle with a plate of rice for lunch or dinner with your family or friends.