Nimbu Achar: Grandma-Style Recipe To Make A Sweet And Sour Pickle

By Garima Johar

June 30, 2026

Summer vacation always reminds everyone of the pickles and chutneys grandmothers used to serve. To make a batch of khatta meetha nimbu achar, try this Punjabi grandma-verified recipe.

Ingredients

8-10 lemons 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon black salt ½ tablespoon red chilli powder 1 teaspoon garam masala ½ teaspoon ginger powder ½ teaspoon ajwain Pinch of salt

Step 1

Rinse and pat dry the lemons. Cut the lemon into pieces and remove the seeds.

Step 2

Mix sugar, black salt, red chilli powder, garam masala, ginger powder, ajwain, and salt for the masala.

Step 3

Mix the lemon pieces with the masala and transfer to an air-tight container. Place it in the sunlight.

Step 4

Add a little more sugar or jaggery after a week and let the pickle sit in the sunlight.

Step 5

Enjoy the nimbu achar after a few weeks.