Sweet Amla Pickle

How to make Sweet Indian Gooseberry Pickle, Amla Ka khatta Meetha Achaar, Recipe of Sweet Amla Pickle, Sweet & Spicy Gooseberry Pickle, Awla ka Meetha achaar, 

Hello Friends, 

I'm back with one more pickle recipe. Today's pickle is made with Indian Gooseberry. Sharing step by step recipe of Indian Gooseberry Sweet Pickle with images of each step..

Amla has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years. Amla is also known as Indian Gooseberry is regarded as supremely holy and very dear to Lord Vishnu. As per the Skand Puran, the Indian Gooseberry tree is scared by Hindus as Lord Vishnu is believed to dwell there and this tree is worshiped on the Amalaka Ekadashi day. Did you know that Amla tree was the first tree to manifest itself on the earth and the tree was germinated from the tears of Lord Bharma, the creator of the universe.

Amla is considered as a wonder fruit and has excellent anti aging properties. It is one of the richest sources of vitamin C which helps to boost immunity and also help us to keep our body young and healthy. It also has rejuvenating, and anti inflammatory properties, useful in diabetes, hyper acidity, peptic ulcers, strengthens our lungs and our entire respiratory system. It is very good for our digestive system, have a laxative effect and very beneficial for hair strengthening and have energy boosting properties. It contains tannic acid, Gallic acid, nicotinic acid, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, protein, phosphorus and many more.

The common names of this fruit are Phyllanthus emblica (Scientific name) amla (hindi), amalika (Sanskrit), yuganzi (chinese), awla (marathi), amla or awla (urdu), aula (punjabi), Nellikaai (Tamil), Rasi usiri or rasi usirikai (Telugu), Avalo (Konani), Bettadda Nellikaai (Kannada), Amloki (Bengali), Anmole (Chinese), Ma kham pom (Thai)

The action plan for today's recipe is to soak amla in slaked lime (paan chuna) for 10- 12 hours, then rinse very nicely under running tap water and cook in sugar syrup. 

Let's get started 

☑ Recipe details 

⚫Preparation time 10-15 min

⚫Soaking time 10-12 hours

⚫Cooking time 25-35 min

⚫Recipe type accompaniment

☑ Ingredients required 

⚫250 grams Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

⚫¼ tsp edible slaked lime (paan chuna)

⚫2tsp Nigella seeds (Kalonji)

⚫1tsp fennel seeds (Saunf)

⚫1tsp cloves (lavang)

⚫1tsp salt

⚫3tsp red chilly powder

⚫250 grams of sugar

⚫1tbsp lemon juice

Method

♨ Step 1 - Mise en place

◾Wash, chop or stab each amla fruit with the help of fork in a few places. 

◾ Dissolve ¼ tsp paan chuna in 2 cups water in a plastic container. Soak amla in this water for 10 - 12 hours. After 12 hours, drain the water from amla fruit and rinse thoroughly under running tap water and make sure that all the traces of chuna are completely removed..

♨ Step 2 Cooking time

◾Boil 3 cups water in a pan, add soaked and rinsed amla slices and cook until soft and translucent. Drain the water, take out the seeds from amla fruit and keep aside.This process will take 12-15 minutes  or another option is to pressure cook and allow 3-4 whistles.

◾Prepare sugar syrup by adding sugar and 100 ml water in a deep non stick pan. Add amla slices, lemon juice, red chilly powder, fennel seeds, Nigella seeds and pinch of salt. Cook on slow flame for 7-10 minutes until sugar syrup thickens. 

⚫Remove from the gas stove. Allow it to cool down completely and then transfer in a sterilized air tight glass jar and store in a cool and dry place. Serve it as an accompaniment with paratha or chappati.

Notes:- 

◾What is Paan Chuna? 

Paan Chuna is popularly consumed as an additive to chewing tobacco in India. The edible lime used in paan is called as Paan chuna. Paan Chuna also means calcium hydroxide, limestone, slaked lime, pickling lime and Sunnambu.

◾Why to soak amla in the paan chuna solution?

When amla is soaked in paan chuna, the calcium available in slaked lime improves the firmness and reinforces the pectin available in the amla fruit. As you all know Pan chuna is extremely alkaline and will neutralize the acid. 

◾How to get this paan chuna?

Paan chuna is easily available in paan shops in india. Now paanwala have started selling them in easy-to-carry pouches, which are available for as little as 1 Rupee

◾How much paan chuna is needed for soaking?

You need ¼ tsp of paan chuna in 2 cups of water and then soak the amla in this solution for 10-12 hours to improve the firmness. 

◾After 12 hours what process one need to follow?

After 12 hours, drain the water and rinse very nicely under tap water and see it all the traces of chuna are completely removed.