Curry ingredient question

[ChrisnChris]

I'm trying to identify an ingredient, it's got me stumped.

When we go to the local curry house I quite often have Achari, I really like the spicy pickled taste.

One of the ingredients has me foxed though. I have asked what it is & am always met with a shrug, off they go & return with "it's a kind of pickle" and I'm still none the wiser.

I'll do my best to describe it.

About the size of a large garden pea (round 7-8mm) and the colour of one that has been cooked for several hours.
Still has some crunch......At this point I will say it's not a cardamon.....
Has some small seeds? inside the outer casing.
It is sour, I would say it has been pickled, but has an "external" sweetness
The closest I can come up with from a taste point is, maybe an immature lime, the stage when it's still a berry that has been harvested & pickled.
Try as I may, I can't find anything that comes close.

Any ideas

[David A]

Mini/baby aubergine

[Rollin]

Caperberry

[ChrisnChris]

Rollin said:

Caperberry

That's a good shout

[johnnywgk]

David A said:

Mini/baby aubergine

I'd say that

[ChrisnChris]

johnnywgk said:

David A said:

Mini/baby aubergine

I'd say that

Why?

[Murph7355]

ChrisnChris said:

johnnywgk said:

David A said:

Mini/baby aubergine

I'd say that

Why?

Because you often get them in curries (Thai ones often)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mini+aubergine+t...

[barleyskillet]

My first guess was green chana until you mention the soury limey - gunda berry but due to the seeds it could be amla gooseberry (indian) or star gooseberry (thai). Any chance for a picture the next time you're there? Amla's supposedly great for the hair too.

Edited by barleyskillet on Saturday 7th October 01:14

[craigjm]

turkey berry

[ChrisnChris]

Thanks all, now I get the baby aubergine suggestion.
I hadn't come across them before, or noticed them in the Asian supermarket I use. I'll look out for them.

Those of you who do use them, how do you buy them, are they pickled or fresh.

The collective knowledge in this place is great, cheers

[Jer_1974]

I've had them in mixed pickle which is like lime pickle but with other things in it like mango etc. Some curry's have a spoon of pickle added to them to give them a kick.