Amla Pickle

Gooseberry (Amla / Nellikai) is a very old fruit in India. It is usually eaten raw or pickled. The fruit has been tested and proven to reduce the blood sugar and cholesterol.

Amla has a thick flesh when eaten raw. When you first take a bite into the fruit, it tastes kind of bitter and sour. However after you swallow the fruit it gives a very sweet after taste. Kids often enjoy drinking a cup of water after eating the fruit. You can actually taste the sweetness of the fruit for quite some time when you swallow the water.

Here I've giving you a traditional pickle recipe of gooseberry. This amla achar is easy to prepare and tastes very good.

Ingredients

Indian gooseberry (Amla / Nellikai) - 1/2 kg

Salt - 4-5 tbsp

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Sesame oil - 4 tbsp

Red Chilly Powder - 5 tbsp

Asafoetida - 1 tsp

Mustard Seeds - 1 tbsp

Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Method

Wash the whole gooseberries and dry it completely.

Take the gooseberries in a clay jar or glass bottle. Add the salt and turmeric powder to it. Keep it covered for 2-3 days. Toss the bottle once or twice a day. The gooseberries will absorb all the salt and become soft.

If you want to skip the above step and make instant Gooseberry Pickle, then boil the gooseberries with 1/2 cup of water with salt. Boil until the gooseberries become soft and then proceed.

Heat oil in a pan. Splutter the mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Switch off and then add the asafoetida and red chilly powder.  

Add this to the soft salted gooseberries. Let the pickle absorb all the flavors for at least 3 days before enjoying.