Monday, August 1, 2011

Amla pickle

Amla is a medicinal fruit used on daily basis by Indians. Our elders would suggest it for many health issues like diabetes, improving hemoglobin content etc. So its a habit to prepare some pickle or jam or amla gulabjamun with this amla whenever we get it abundant. Fresh amla can be made into juice or made into amla buttermilk as a health drink. It is also proved that the medicinal value of the amla fruit will not diminish with preservative methods. Here is my version of Amla pickle, that can last long in room temperature.

Other names: Gooseberry pickles , Nellikkai urugai, Periya nellikkai oorukai.



Ingredients:
Amla - 25 (I used frozen)
gingelly oil - 1/2 cup
Vinegar (white) - 1/2 cup
red chilly powder - 1/2 cup
salt - 1/2 cup (per taste)
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
asafoetida (kayam / hing) - 1/4 tsp
To dry roast and grind:
mustard seed (kadugu)- 1 tbsp
fenugreek (venthayam) - 1 tsp

Method:
Wash the amla, pat dry with a clean kitchen towel and let dry in shade for an hour.
If using frozen ones, then just de-freeze them by keeping in room temperature.
Dry roast the items given and make a fine powder.

In a wok, pour the oil and let a tsp of mustard to crackle.
Then slide in the amla along with hing, turmeric and fry till it starts turning pale. Then add the red chilly powder , powdered masala, salt and fry well to get rid of the raw smell.

Let it cool completely. Then add the vinegar and mix well. Store it in a dry glass bottle / porcelain pickle jar.

Note:
*We can add lemon juice also , but I am not sure of the shelf-life.
*I have seen my mom preparing this pickle without vinegar or lemon. But it will need a good sun-drying process, lesser oil, great hygiene and little more salt. By prolonged sun-drying, that pickle can stay for an year or more in the cupboard.

Updated on Jan 24, 2013:
I made this bottle of amla pickle (approximately) on Oct 31 2012. All those 6 days till we get power back, We both entertained ourselves with cooking , eating and talking and talking.

17 comments:

Saucy Siciliana said...

So delicious! I didn't know about amla yet I lived in New Delhi for 5 years. Your food always makes me nostalgic for India! A big hug from Rome!

aipi said...

That looks sooooo MOUTHWATERING :)
US Masala

Santosh Bangar said...

I LIKE THIS PICKLE AND ALSO MAKE IT BUT UR RECIPE IS DIFFERENT TRY THIS

Indian Khana said...

Looks yum ...love this

Prema said...

Delicious pickle...

divya said...

wow mouthwatering here....n ur clicks r awesome

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Very tasty and tangy looking amla pickle. Looks extremely tempting.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Unknown said...

OMG! love this pickle recipe...but we don't get amla here :(

http://anuzhealthykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/07/event-berries-strawberry-desserts.html

priya said...

mouth watering pickle....yummy

Tina said...

Spicy and tempting pickle...

Rachana said...

Wow!!! This looks so mouthwatering. A great recipe.

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

we mostly make amla murabba but your amla pickle looks so good that I want to give it a try. awesome.

Suja Manoj said...

Mouthwatering pickle..love it

Reshmi Mahesh said...

Mouth watering pickle...

Lena Jayadev said...

wowwww.. im drooling here..what a tempting snap Viks :)

Ambreen (Simply Sweet n Savory) said...

Oh Viki, very impressive! looks so tempting.

Hillside said...

nice post. My mom prepares it in the same way.but she uses amla cut into quarters minus vinegar.

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