Nellikai Gojju: A Bowl Of Awesomeness And Good Health
Image Credit: chitra-ammas-kitchen.blogspot.com

A dish full of flavours and wellness, a dish that is South Indian cuisine's ancient legacy, a dish really simple, delicious, and nutritious, a dish that is the most comforting. This Nellikai Gojju is a sweet and sour legendary dish traditional , popular and unique to the state of Karnataka especially Udupi – Mangalore & Malnad region. Nillekai Gojju  are not spicy, greasy or heavy. Instead, they are lite, mild, medicinal and soothing.  Nillekai Gojju  is also cooling and detoxing food. It’s a perfect summer food as it helps in keeping your body cool and aids digestion.

All the goodness in this entree comes from the Indian Gooseberries aka Amla. Amla or Indian gooseberry has an intense tangy-taste which has to be balanced with other spices when we cook it. In this recipe, the crisp gooseberries have to be steam or pressure cooked in order to turn them soft and pulpy.

We all know how beneficial Amla is since it is high in Vitamin C and Vitamin E and is an excellent remedy for diarrhea, indigestion, and is an immune booster. Amla is also excellent for hair. There are two types of Amla. The huge one has a tangy aftertaste with a hint of bitterness. 

The smaller version, however, is quite sour. There are several ways to incorporate amla into your diet, including  amla rice, amla thokku, amla murabba, and amla chutney.

The Chronicle Of Super Berry

Yes, it is indigenous to India, which explains why it has an Indian first name. Well, the amla is connected to a lot of historical events.  It is a tenet of Indian tradition. According to one narrative, tears started to come out of Vishnu's eyes when Brahma became immersed in his meditation. When Vishnu's tears fell to the ground, it is believed that the amla tree sprouted.

Ingredients:

  • 5 to 7 gooseberries
  • Tamarind – med tomato sized
  • Salt – rock salt
  • Turmeric powder
  • Jaggery size of a small gooseberry
  • Sesame oil – 2 tbsp

For gojju powder dry roast and grind the following:

  • 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds 
  • 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds 
  • 5 to 8 red chillies 
  • 1 teaspoon of urad dal 
  • 1/2 teaspoon channa dal 
  • 2 teaspoons of dry coconut ( optional) 
  • 1/4 teaspoon black sesame

Method:

  1. Pressure cook or steam cook the whole gooseberries with little turmeric and do not remove the seeds
  2. On other side, heat sesame oil and temper with mustard, methi seeds and asafoetida
  3. Add the cooked whole gooseberries and sauté 
  4. Add tamarind water, salt and boil till raw smell fades
  5. Add the gojju powder that you made (the powder can be mixed in little hot water to avoid lumps)
  6. Add jaggery, fresh curry leaves and serve hot

Enjoy the flavoursome Nellikkai Gojju with  steaming hot rice as a main course or relish it as a side dish with your meal. As it is said- A  Amla a day keeps the whole hospital away. So, indulge in the richness of this dish without worrying about health. These are one of the easiest rice accompaniments that can be prepared in a jiffy.