amla chutney | mashed Indian gooseberry with mustard and turmeric

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is in season and I have started making fresh chutneys with it. Amla chutney is my way to supplement my winter meals with more oomph and some Vitamin C. This amla chutney was something my grandmother used to make almost twice every week and we used to have it on every possible bread or cracker we could lay our hands on.

Full of Vitamins C, Carotenoids, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron and many more health benefits, amla is supposed to be a great antioxidant food good for kaya kalpa (rejuvenation), it helps cleansing the system and tones the GI tract as per Naturopathy practitioners. No wonder this is an essential ingredient in many kitchens all over India including mine, in some or the other form. I used to add an amla to my daughters khichdi every day. Adding an amla to your daals (or lentil soups) is a great idea to incorporate some seasonal goodness to your meals...

I make this chutney every year and use it as a side subzi in fact (like a bharta). This is my grandmother's recipe and she used to make large quantities of this, although it used to last only a couple of days sometimes. Recipe is simple but the end product is very versatile in it's use.
Read on...

ingredients...
amla (Indian gooseberries) 250 gm
yellow mustard seeds 1.5 tbsp
ginger chopped 2 tbsp
garlic cloves 15 or more
green chillies 10 or more
salt to taste
turmeric powder 1.5 tbsp (preferably organic)
mustard oil 2 tsp

procedure ....

Boil the amla using a cup of water till they are soft and yield to touch. The segments of amla should get disintegrated when pressed. Reserve the water.

Make a powder of mustard seeds, add all the other ingredients except mustard oil into the mixie jar and make a fine paste, adding the amla water.

Add the boiled amla segments and make a paste with it, add the mustard oil and the mash/chutney is ready.

It tastes better the next day but it can be consumed right away, we like the chutney with any meal that we have planned for the day. The day I photographed it we had Bathua parathas with it. Just smear the mash over the parathas like you spread butter on bread, roll up and enjoy.

Or have with methi paratha and some stir fry vegetables like this..

Or if you are like me, wrap the chutney smeared parathas around a slaw salad. Here I have used slivers of radish and spring onions dressed in English mustard as a filling .... yummy...

I get many requests for lunch box ideas and this combo can be a great option for that. This wrap can be assembled at the time of consumption and the chutney and salad can be packed separately if packing for a lunch box.

This amla chutney has survived all the dips, ketchups and sauces that have invaded the markets and we love it till the amla season lasts here in the north of India. The true amla chutney that has passed the test of time as well as competition from the modern convenient packaged stuff. It is useful for cleansing the body, improving immunity, toning up the GI tract and is packed with antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties. Please let me know whenever you try this one.

Cheers.