Preserves have been many ages popular throughout the world and people seem to adopt them as some sort of tested tradition. They are a great means to store foods for dressings to add extra flavors to the meals to make them tangy spicy or savory. Non veg pickles also have their regular takers and they are popular in Indian and Pakistani kitchens and in countries where Indian cuisine is popular.
Non-veg pickles and what makes for prawn pickles, shrimp skillet pickles, chicken pickles, and fish pickles. We will also briefly mention how these rave-in-your-mouth essences are with the vegetarian ones.
What Are Non-Veg Pickles?
Non-veg pickles include those pickles that are prepared with meat or with fish. They include the preparation of proteins such as chicken, fish, shrimp, or prawns by soaking them in spices in oil and vinegar or any other acidic solution.
These pickles are especially commonly used in regions where there is active use of halal seafood and meat products like the coastal states in India, most of the parts in South East Asia.
Types of Non-Veg Pickles
1. Prawn Pickle
Prawn pickle is the prize liked by the seafood lover. Both available using fresh prawns, this pickle has a spicy element consisting of mustard seeds, curry leaves chilli powder, and a sour base from vinegar or lemon juice.
Once the prawns are tender to the touch, they are cooked until it absorbs all the flavors of the spices. Prawn pickles will make a very light dish when served with rice or flatbreads and can transform a plain meal into a gourmet affair.
2. Shrimp Pickle
The preparation is also close to that of prawn pickle but instead of using prawns, the shrimp are much smaller and tender. Most of the spices used to prepare this dish have been carefully measured to enhance the sweetness of the shrimp.
Shrimp pickle can be eaten on its own, together with rice and vegetable stew, or even placed on crackers or bread as a quick bite.
3. Chicken Pickle
Chicken pickle is quite spicy and it has an aromatic taste, therefore it’s a great meal for anyone who loves chicken. Nuggets have pieces of chicken that are marinated in Spices, ginger garlic, and vinegar before the chicken is cooked.
The end product is a highly flavored sour and hot pickle that goes well with steamed rice. The idea of chicken and pickles has become viral nowadays, specifically in India and South Asia region.
4. Pickles Made from Fish
Fish pickles are available in many kinds, primarily based on the type of fish that has been used. It could be kingfish, mackerel, or anchovy for example. The fish is normally gutted, skinned, and then coated in some spice mix, oil, or other acids.
When pickled fish is prepared, fish can easily last for months and give the food a rich and fantastic taste.
Vegetarian Pickles: A Brief Comparison
Sure, non-veg pickles such as prawn or chicken pickles certainly have their fan base, but what’s with the evergreen vegetarian pickles? Here are some popular vegetarian pickles and how they stack up against their non-veg counterparts:
- Lemon Pickle: As it turns out, lemon pickle is a sour dish that goes well with all types of fish curry meals. Unlike non-veg pickles, it is lighter and more refreshing to get some in our system.
- Pickle Tomato: Used tomatoes that are sun-dried or fresh, this pickle has a sweet and sour and spicy taste. While I love veggies, I would recommend it to anyone, especially veggie lovers who want a rich-flavored food.
- Imli Pickle: Tamarind-based pickles are processed in and sour ratio making them extra savory. Implicitly, many lack the rich and savory characteristics of the non-veg pickles.
How Are Non-Veg Pickles Made?
The vegetarian and non-veg pickling process is almost the same, but care must be taken while handling meat and seafood. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Preparation: Wash it and add simple flavor ingredients such as turmeric and clean then marinate them.
- Cooking: Each time after cooking the protein in the pan it is done. In this step, the procedure is very important for seafood, especially in the aspect of freshness and food quality.
- Spice Mix: You should blend spices such as mustard seeds, fenugreek, red chili powder as well as a pinch of asafoetida. Toes the spices further to bring out the best out of them.
- Mixing: They should add the cooked protein to the spice blend. Include vinegar, lemon juice, or tamarind, stringent enough to make the pembina tangy; but enough oil to act as a preservative.
- Storage: This must then be put in sterilized glass jars and stored for use again the next day. As mentioned above it is best to let it cool before refrigerating or letting it mature for a few days to enhance the flavor.
Pairing Non-Veg Pickles
Non-veg pickles are incredibly versatile and can be paired with various dishes:
- Rice: Plain steamed rice also goes very well with non-veg pickles such as chicken pickles or shrimp pickles.
- Bread: You might eat pickles fish or prawn pickles with any flat bread like parathas or naan for a heavy meal.
- Snacks: You can include non-veg pickles as snacks with fish crackers or include them between the bread slices for a sandwich.
Health Considerations
Popular Regional Variations
Non-veg pickles are celebrated in different regions with unique variations:
- Andhra Pradesh, India: Specialized in spicy prawn pickles and spicy chicken pickles.
- Kerala, India: Renowned for fish butter, it is known for fish pickles that are seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves.
- Bangladesh: Shrimp pickles are a relished small food item, which can be had with steamed rice.
Conclusion
Just started experimenting with non-veg pickles one can discover an entirely different dimension of flavors and spices. Just as happens with chicken pickles jalapeno prawn pickles or even shrimp pickles, every kind of pickle has a different texture that is appealing to the palate. Though lemon and imli pickles still work their magic among the vegetarian pickles, non-vegetarian pickles taste different than any other pickles.
Thus, whether you are a chicken and pickles enthusiast or have ever wanted to lure seafood with a fishing rod only to pick up a pickled morsel on the other end, you won’t run out of choices to taste.
