Nellikai, amla or Indian gooseberry rice is healthy, delicious as well as easy to prepare rice. Made with the big variety amla. Quick and easy to make rice variety, its most similar to Lemon Rice or Raw Mango Rice. Like Raw mango, we need to grate the gooseberry and cook it and then its matter of time, Nellikai Sadam (Amla rice) will ready! Its a healthy kids Lunch box dish.
Nutritional values of Amla:
Nellikai (Amla / Gooseberry) is so healthy and nutrition rich. Amla is an excellent source of Vitamin C and E. It increases immunity and fights off free radicals. It is beneficial in preventing aging, cancer and cell damage. However, this fruit is slightly sour in taste, but it leaves sweetness in the mouth after eating it raw. It is very healthy and has the power to control many ailments.
What other recipes we can make with Amla?
We can make Rasam, Pachadi, Pickle with gooseberry. Amla Achar (Gooseberry Pickle / Nellikai Oorugai) is so popular. Most of the South Indian household, especially Tamil Brahmin house will surely have Amla Achar. Just like Lemon pickle, Nellikai Oorugai is common and mouth-watering pickle.
Instead of rice ,we can substitute with any cooked millet and make this Nellikai sachem much more healthier. We can also use aval (Flattened rice) or Cooked Semiya too instead of rice. These all are some variations we could make but my personal chance is always Nellikai Sadam with our usual rice. We can serve Nellikai sadam with any stir-fry veggies like Potato Roast, Ladysfinger Fry, seppankizhagu roast etc. I made Beans Paruppu Usili and it was also making a perfect combo with Nellikai Sadam.
Some Nellikai (Gooseberry / Amla) Recipes to Try
Recipe Card for Nellikai Sadam | Amla Rice | Gooseberry Rice | Kids Lunch Box Recipes:
Nellikai Sadam | Amla Rice | Gooseberry Rice
Equipments Needed
- Heavy Bottomed Pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Rice 1 Cup - 250ml
- 4 big Gooseberry
- 3 tablespoon Sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Split Urad Dal
- 1 tablespoon Split Bengal Gram (Channa Dal / Kadalaparuppu)
- 1 tablespoon Cashew
- 4 slit Green Chilli
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Grated
- Curry Leaves Few
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt adjust to your taste
- ¼ teaspoon Fenugreek Powder
Instructions
Preparing Rice & Amla
- Take the cooked rice and spread it in a broad plate. Add 2 teaspoon of oil and give a gentle mix. Set it aside.
- Wash and grate Gooseberry (Amla/Nellikai) and set aside
Tempering
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow it to sputter. Add split urad dal, bengal gram, cashew and give a mix. Then add the green chili, ginger, curry leaves and sauté for few seconds.
Cooking Gooseberry
- Add grated gooseberry to the pan. Also add turmeric powder and salt. Cook the gooseberry in low flame for 5 mins. Since we have grated the gooseberry, it gets cooked faster. Switch off the flame.
Mixing with Rice
- Add the cooked rice which we spread in a plate with oil to the pan. Mix gently everything without breaking rice. Finally add fenugreek powder and give a final mix.
Serving Time
- Serve the healthy and tasty Gooseberry Rice (Amla Rice / Nellikai Rice) with any Stir-fry veggies or papad and enjoy your meal!
Video
Nutritional Info
INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEP BY STEP PICTURES:
PREPARING RICE
- Take the cooked rice and spread it in a broad plate. Add 2 teaspoon of oil and give a gentle mix and set it aside. Wash and grate Gooseberry (Amla/Nellikai) and set aside
TEMPERING PROCESS
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow it to sputter. Add split urad dal, bengal gram, cashew and give a mix.
- Then add the green chili, ginger, curry leaves and sauté for few seconds
COOKING GOOSEBERRY
- Add grated gooseberry to the pan. Also add turmeric powder and salt and cook the gooseberry in low flame for 5 mins.
- Since we have grated the gooseberry, it will cook quickly. Switch off the flame
MIXING WITH RICE
- Add the cooked rice which we spread in a plate with oil to the pan. Mix gently everything without breaking rice.
- Finally add fenugreek powder and give a final mix.
SERVING TIME
- Serve the healthy and tasty Gooseberry Rice (Amla Rice / Nellikai Rice) with any Stir-fry veggies or papad and enjoy your meal!
