This spicy Apple Thokku also called the Grated Apple pickle is the best use of all the excess apple that we pick during the fall season. Apple pickle works great for tart and/or sour apples.
When we miss the sour green mangoes to make mango thokku, apples comes in very handy to ease the craving. Granny Smith or Green apple gives the closest taste and flavor as raw mango. But the best part about this grated apple pickle is that we can make this with any kind of apple.
It is fall in the Northeast and fall here means, Apples. We spent a wonderful afternoon in a local farm picking apples and we came home with around 25 lbs of apples. Now you know what is going to come in the next few days. It is going to be recipes involving apples. Stay tuned to apple recipes.
As soon as we came home, I had this urge to make something right away. I wanted to make Apple pie, apple this and apple that.
Now to make all these I needed a long list of ingredients and I was in no intention to go out. So came out with the Apple pickle idea and here it goes. I treated the apples just like raw mango for this recipe.
I am big time apple lover and make several different dishes with apple. Check out my most popular apple recipes here
- Spice Apple Jam
- Apple Roses
- Baked Apple Chips
- Apple Turnover
- Apple Muffins
- Cinnamon Glazed Apple Bread
- Apple Halwa
- Apple Soup / Apple Rasam
Ingredients needed for Apple Pickle
- Apples (any tart variety) – 3
- Nalla ennai/sesame oil – 5 tablespoon (can be substituted with olive oil)
- Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Fenugreek powder – 1 tsp
- Red chili powder – 1 ½ tbsp
- Asafetida – ½ tsp
- Salt – as needed
Step by step process
- Dry roast the fenugreek seeds and grind it into powder. Keep it aside.
- Clean the apples, core it, peel the skin and grate it using a grater.
- Heat oil in a kadai or a non stick pan. Add the mustard seeds and once the seeds splutter, add the turmeric powder, red chili powder, asafetida and the fenugreek powder. Fry it for about 30 secs and then add the grated apples.
- Mix well and cook it in low flame. Cover the pan to allow the apples to cook. Keep stirring once in a while to prevent the apples from burning.
- After about 10 mins, you would see that the apples are cooked and they are mushy in appearance. Cook it for 10 mins or so with the lid opened. Keep stirring. At this stage the oil will start to float and the thokku / pickle will start leaving the sides of the pan.
- Turn off the flame and let it cool down. Store the apple thokku in an airtight container. Refrigerate for longer shelf life.
Expert tips
- We could make fenugreek powder ahead of time and keep it to use for any instant pickle.
- If you prefer sour pickle, use Granny Smith or green apple for the sourness.
- Increase or decrease the red chili powder based on your spice preference.
- If making a larger quantity, use more oil as it acts as a preserving agent.
- Let the pickle cool down entirely before storing.
Frequently asked questions
Apple pickle stays good in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure to use dry spoon every time when taking the pickle. Also increase the amount of oil for longer shelf life.
I like to use apples that are crunchy and sour. Granny smith works the best but we can use any kind of apple to make Apple thokku.
To make apple thokku we have to grate the apple. We can make instant diced apple pickle as well which is easier and quicker to make.
More Pickle Recipes
- Lemon Pickle – Elumichampazha Urugai – Nimbu Ka Achaar
- Instant Andhra Style Tomato Pickle
- Hari Mirch ke Tipore | Green Chili Pickle
- Instant Green Apple Pickle
- Pudina Thokku | Pudina Thogayal Recipe
- Thakkali Thokku | Tomato Pickle
- Puli Inji | Inji Curry | Sweet and Sour Ginger Pickle
- Bitter gourd Pickle | Pavakkai Urukkai | Karela Achaar
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter/X
Recipe
Apple Thokku | Apple Pickle
Equipment
- Cast Iron Pan
- grater
- Stove
Ingredients
- 3 Apples any tart variety – 3
- 5 tablespoon Nalla ennai/sesame oil can be substituted with olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon Fenugreek powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon Red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon Asafetida
- Salt as needed
Instructions
- Dry roast the fenugreek seeds and grind it into powder. Keep it aside.
- Clean the apples, core it, peel the skin and grate it using a grater.
- Heat oil in a kadai or a non stick pan. Add the mustard seeds and once the seeds splutter, add the turmeric powder, red chili powder, asafetida and the fenugreek powder. Fry it for about 30 secs and then add the grated apples.
- Mix well and cook it in low flame. Cover the pan to allow the apples to cook. Keep stirring once in a while to prevent the apples from burning.
- After about 30 mins, you would see that the apples are cooked and they are mushy in appearance. Cook it for 10 mins or so with the lid opened. Keep stirring. At this stage the oil will start to float and the thokku will start leaving the sides of the pan.
- Turn off the flame and let it cool down. Store the apple thokku in an airtight container. Refrigerate for longer shelf life.
Rhama says
Hi Sandhya! Do you make cranberry thokku the same way as this thokku?
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Hi Rhama, almost similar. I have a recipe for that - https://mycookingjourney.com/cranberry-pickle-kuruthi-nelli-oorukkai/
Rhama Manohar says
Made this thokku today. It was super simple and delicious! Thank you Sandhya for this recipe.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks so much Rhama for trying the recipe. It is one of our favorite pickle and I am so glad you liked it!
Ritika Agarwalla says
This is by far the most delicious pickle I have ever made. Such a simple recipe for a foodie like me. Thanks a lot Sandhyaji for this recipe.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thank you so much Ritika for trying the recipe and letting me know. Glad you liked it 🙂
YtheWait says
This is really a delicious recipe.......
Leslie says
I need to try this version of apple pickle. The flavors in this really have me intrigued to try!
Lathiya says
Apple thokku is osmething new to me. This one looks great and lipsmacking. Lovely idea to use apples.
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
I have only tried a sweeter version of apple pickle, not spicy. This looks so tempting, I might make as I have lots of apple in fruit basket.
Mayuri Patel says
Sandhya, Love this quick and lip smacking apple thokku. I'm like you when I have loads of apples at home I want to use them in every way possible. My aunt went to the UK in the early 70s and at that time mangoes were not available there. She would use green apples to make pickles and chutneys.
amrita says
How beautiful those fresh produce apples...apple pickle sounds interesting and how quickly you can prepare it and serve it with varieties of meals
Jolly says
I used to make apple chutney most of the times, but now I’m going to make this apple pickle. It sounds so lipsmacking 😋and it would make a great option for me as a side accompaniment with all my meals.
Jayashree T.Rao says
Never tried making thokku with apple, but it's a similar kind we make with gooseberry. Nice idea Sandhya.
Uma Srinivas says
It like a mango thokku. What a great idea, I love the spices and aroma of thokku! next time I am going to make apple thokku. Thanks for the idea sandhya!
Pavani says
That is such a delicious and tempting pickle with apple. It sounds tart, spicy and yummy. Will have to try it out real soon.
Usha says
Granny Smith apple pieces pickle tastes really good but have not tasted the grated apple pickle. I am sure this tastes equally good.
Vandana says
I love apple thokku and yours looks delicious. Didn't try it in years. Your post has reminded me to try it soon.
Lata Lala says
The apple pickle looks super tempting. Yes true the way to utilise apples in fall season.
Though I have never tried making pickle from apples this is tempting me to do it soon.
Krishna says
I'm eager to try this recipe. Actually I'm looking for some way to pickle apples (in this style or with another blend of Indian spices) to last 2-3 months at least. Does this method have a shelf life of a couple of months like other Indian pickled recipes? If not, then what changes would allow such a shelf life? Thanks in advance!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Hi Krishna, Apple pickle will not have a very long shelf life because of the moisture in it. It usually stays good for two to three weeks. To increase the shelf life, you could use a little more oil than I have used and also cook the apples longer to get rid of moisture.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
I love the slight heat from the chili in these apples. This is an excellent want to use apples and try a little something that was new to me!
Choclette says
I make apple chutney every year, but now I'm going to have to make apple pickle. It sounds fabulous and it would make a great addition to a nice pulse curry.
Byron Thomas says
This apple pickle was absolutely delicious and a great addition to my roasted pork loin dinner. Thank you for sharing. We will make this again and again!
My Cooking Journey says
Thank you Sowmya! It was very delicious 🙂 Planning to make another batch for later use 🙂
Sandhya