Figs only for desserts? Move over Mango Thokku, Figs are here to rule the Pickle Scene this summer!
Figs Thokku / Anjeer Thokku / Anjeer (figs) Instant Pickle
There are some days when I am happy cooking the regular stuff and blogging whereas there are some days when I get all wild in the kitchen space and get all the pans / kadhais possible to dish out various things that are available in the fridge. Discovering Figs Thokku was something that I never planned in the first place. The other day, when I went to buy some vegetables, my fruit vendor insisted I buy these fresh figs. Honestly, I haven’t bought much fresh figs as we both don’t drink a lot of milkshakes at home except during summers and also, the dried ones are always available at home especially for Narayan who loves these more than me. But then I thought, lets make a nice Fig Jam and Narayan would love it. Having that thought in mind, I bought a box of these 12 nos. to be precise.
So I cut a fig and tasted it, didn’t like it too much. I don’t like dried figs either by the way. So I took the sugar out to make the jam. Then suddenly, I have no idea what struck me, I took the chilli powder out and said, Iska toh Acchar hi banega ab.. and what a discovery it was, delicious, fingerlicking thokku that could give Manga Thokku or Mango Pickle a run for its money.
The day I made the pickle was also the day I walked for almost 10 kms and my legs were killing me along with my back. Had been teaching kids plus cooking / baking etc and also doing some prep work for the weekend meals. So, I decided to play a guessing game with my friends on Facebook by posting a pic of this thokku and asking them to guess the ingredients. While most of them guessed the other ingredients like lemon juice, salt, chilli powder etc but the key ingredient remained a mystery, until I revealed it to them after some time, much to their shock! The responses and the few licks of the pickle here and there made me forget about the pain altogether.
I am an eternal pickle lover and make very fine pickles at home which I distribute to friends and family members. My husband always encourages me to sell my stuff as its pretty delicious, in his words. Anything in season, I make pickles. I am anticipating Mangoes in another week or so in the market here and will be all set to make fresh batches of pickles.
Making the figs pickle taught me an important lesson – Take a risk in life, it pays. I need to take more such risks in life, not that I haven’t earlier, but I think I should surpise myself often – Good surprises are always welcome, isn’t it? Okay, thinking about this, I wonder, what if the pickle preparation had gone south? Take risks but don’t expect them to guarantee the best results always. Always smile and work it out the next time!
Here’s to staying positive, taking risks like a boss!
Recipe for Figs Thokku / Anjeer Thokku / Anjeer (figs) Instant Pickle
Makes a small bowl of pickle
Ingredients
- Fresh Figs / Anjeer – 6 nos.
- Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
- Red chilli powder – 1.5 tblsp
- Lemon Juice of half a lemon
- Jaggery – 1 tblsp
- Sesame Oil – 1.5 tblsp
- Salt as per taste
Method
- Clean, pat dry the anjeer and roughly chop them.
- Blend them into a mixer grinder until it forms a smooth paste. Don't add water.
- Heat a pan, add oil and then the mustard seeds, once it crackles, add the fig paste.
- At this point, turn the heat at the lowest point, else the fig paste will splutter and be all over the place due to its moisture content.
- Let it cook for some time, say 3-4 odd minutes and then add the jaggery, red chilli powder, salt to taste along with lemon juice.
- Keep stirring the mixture until it thickens up (as per the pic) – Another 2-3 minutes.
- Switch off the flame, remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool down completely before transferring to a clean and dry glass container / jar.
- This pickle stays good for over a week but sadly, it wont last for even 2 days at home, I guarantee.
Recipe Notes
- Figs have a natural sweetness and no tartness unlike mangoes, so addition of lemon juice helps elevate the taste.
- The figs that I had at home weren’t that sweet so I had to add additional Jaggery as a sweetner. Also Jaggery is a must in all the thokkus to bring about the balance with the red chilli powder.
- You may adjust the quantity of red chilli powder according to your taste and preferences. I prefer spicy pickles and in general, my tolerance to chilli powder and anything chilli is quite high.
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Vidya Narayan
Awesome recipe. Thanks for sharing recipe of new type of pickle.
My pleasure dear. Glad you liked it.
Such a beautiful innovation, I justttt love thokku with any fruit, tried it with cranberries and blueberries but never thought of figs...thanks for sharing Vidya?
My pleasure and so glad you loved it.
Great idea to make thokku using figs ! It looks so delicious !!
Glad you liked it Megala!
We have the same passion for making pickles! Which red chillies do you use? Love the colour.
Loved it.
Glad to know another pickle lover just like me. Thank you dear.
That’s great it turned out so good , I can imagine the combination of ingredients must give that wonderful sweet n sour taste , have to look for figs to make this now!!
Thanks dear.
Such an innovative share Vidya ??
Thanks dear.
You sound so much like me! 🙂 I am happy cooking the usual stuff most days and blogging about them, but some days I pull out every dabba in the kitchen and go wild experimenting. 😀 Well, the results are not always great, but sometimes they are so wonderful that it makes up for all the failures!
This recipe is wonderful - I'm so going to try this out. I never can resist fresh figs. I keep buying them, though I really have no clue what to do with them. We don't like the taste of fresh figs all that much either. I usually end up eating one or two and then throwing away the rest. 🙁 Now, I know what to do with them!
Thanks so much dear. Glad we share the same feelings. Do try, I am sure you will love the recipe.
OMG such an innovative recipe , I could have never thought of making figs ka achaar, hats off to you , lovely recipe and love the way you write.
Glad you loved it Soma. Thanks so much for all the kind words.
Thokku looks so good.. Love this variation made with figs ,so innovative .
Thanks so much
Awesome idea dear!!! Our neighbor used to always give us a large bag of fresh figs from his garden and we used to enjoy it as a fruit, but this one we never thought of!! Next time we get a bagful, your recipe is the first one I am going to try 🙂 🙂
Wow garden sounds wonderful and I can imagine how fresh the figs would have been. Do try, I am sure you will love it. Thanks so much.
It's a very unique recipe and I would love to make it at home. I have never heard of making a chutney out of figs.
Thanks so much dear.
This idea made me to say a wow to you.. Very Healthy Thokku Vidya.. Much much innovative recipe...
Thanks so much Sujitha dear, glad you liked it.
Loved reading this post and my takeaway from it apart from the recipe is the life lesson on taking risks. I am not very adventurous in my kitchen. Thanks to blogging, I do keep trying something new once in a while, which reminds me that I haven't tried a thokku recipe. maybe its time I should try one.
Glad you liked the life lesson! Being adventurous works once in a while. Thank you so much.
That is definitely to a very innovative and very delicious looking thokku. I would never in thousand years think of making a chutney out of fresh figs. That is a great one!!
Thank you so much dear. Glad you liked it.
yumm yumm yumm. Perfect solution. Last week I bought a bag of Figs looking for the sweetness. Well, that particular bag decided against being sweet. Now I know what to do with such a batch. Thankyou.
Thank you so much dear, glad you liked it.
This is truly innovative Vidya.. I am just drooling here. What a fiery red colour ! Feel like tasting it right now 🙂
Haha .. I can imagine. Thokkus are a southie's delight isnt it? Thanks dear.
Lovely and interesting recipe...can't imagine such a tangy recipe from figs..Will try for sure.
Glad you liked it Drashti. Thanks so much
Very innovative! I am a big fan of pickles 🙂 Thanks for the share!
Your welcome. Thanks dear.
What unique recipe. We had big tree of fig. Because of it big root, we have remove it. Now I have to buy to make this 🙂 love it.
A big tree of figs sounds exciting.. Do try it, when you can find some fresh figs, you will love it. Thanks so much.
Wish you plan to move to Goa Vidya and in my vicinity at that, (travelling here can be crazy) then you can keep me supplied with these yummy pickles. I love figs and end up gobbling them every time I buy them so this one no chance in my kitchen.
Yummy yummy.
Haha.. I wish! Exchanging food and learning from each other would be so much fun. Thank you so much dear.
You are tempting me with this fingerlicking goodness thokku, seriously i want to get some figs now. But am living in a Country where figs is not available rite now, hope i will get them a day. Cant wait to give a try to this dish.
Do try whenever you can lay your hands on a good batch. I am sure you will love it. Thanks dear.
Saved this for my next adventure. I always find making pickle intimidating but it won't stop me from trying ??
Do try it dear! Am sure you will love it.
Vidya, i just love the twist you made using figs. Interestingly wow and looks so tempting as well
Thanks so much dear. So Glad you loved it.
I never got to taste the fresh figs but reading your post I guess they don't taste so good. Making thokku is a good idea.
Fresh figs I guess is not everyone's cup of tea. As I have mentioned I am not a big fan of the dry version too so I guess pickles worked for me. Thanks dear.
We get a lot of figs at home but seriously I never thought of making this kind. Looks delish Vidya
Thank you so much Jayashree. Glad you loved it.
I eat dry figs as dry fruit never bought the fresh one. WIth those you prepared pickle. Sounds so much fun to make. Bookmarking.
Thanks a ton dear! Do try!
Wow .. now this a perfect innovation Vidya , hats off.. Thokku looks amazing. So mouth watering.
I remember when you relieved the dish name on FB on guessing game , i literally zoom the pic to see. I could only say WOW... It's really a superb share.
Haha.. Glad you remember the guessing game. I was surprised myself it turned out so well. Thanks a ton dear!
Such a brilliant idea! Fig ka achar, sounds so exotic and I bet it tasted amazing. Soon there will be a fig season in my part of the world too and can not wait to try your recipe:)
Please do, i am sure you will love it. My batch at home is over and we thoroughly enjoyed it with Indian Meals.
Its always dried fig milkshake / fig jam na! Yesterday when I went to buy veggies, saw boxes of fresh figs and since I dint want to make jam, I came off without buying a box. Wish I had seen your post a day earlier! Anyway the next time I see one, I am definitely picking it up to make this thokku. This sounds way exciting than jam!
Pickles are always way more exciting! Glad we share the same feelings. Do try, I am sure you will love it. Thanks dear.
Again innovation at its peak!Fig Thokku!Wowie!
Haha.. It vanished in 2 days, was seriously good. thank you dear.
You are so innovative Vidya, loved the figs thokku. Who would think that figs can be converted to a thokku?well done dear.
Thanks so much my dear
Such a unique thokku! Must have been a sweet and spicy riot of delicious flavours Vidya!
Glad you liked it. It did taste super! Thanks dear.
Lovely innovation Vidya, I can imagine the flavors..So delicious !!
Thanks so much dear. It was certainly delicious!