Neer Nellikkai recipe- Indian gooseberry aka amla in a spicy brine. Full video step by step pictures recipe.
I have been bit lazy that its more than a week, since I posted a recipe here😷. I took pictures when I made this pickle in between the week, but waited for the pickle to get a good look😞. I love neer nellikai very much, this is so easy to make, that's why this is the only pickle i make of my own at home😉. Very very flavorful one, am sure you all going to love it! This tastes best with curd rice,we can eat the nellikkai as such too, just give a wash in water and toss in to your mouth.
I always been excited from my childhood, that after eating Indian gooseberry, if we drink water, the water tastes way too sweet!!! Till now for that sake I never forget to drink water to enjoy that sweet taste😀. No need to say how healthy this nellikkai is, so don't hesitate to pick up from the store when you come across some fresh Indian gooseberry.
I took a pack of 12 or some 15 nellikai from Mustafa when I went for monthly purchase. These gooseberries were lying for a week in my fridge, then when a moment came that after this, the gooseberries will not be good anymore, I made this pickle. I love to mix this water, in which we pickle the gooseberries, than the nellikai😉. My mom-in-law makes thogaiyal too, with fresh gooseberries, which I should try in future and post here too.
With very few ingredients and simple method, you can enjoy this flavorful pickle. This is one of my top favorites of my mom's recipe that I learnt from her.
Recipe card
Neer Nellikkai recipe
Ingredients
- Fresh big variety gooseberries - 15
- Asafetida & turmeric - ⅛ teaspoon each
- Water - 3 cups
To grind to coarse powder
- Salt
- Long variety red chilies - 12 Adjust according to spice level of chillies
- Roasted fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
- Oil 1 tsp
To temper
- Mustard - ½ tsp
- Asafoetida - ⅛ tsp
- Sesame oil - 1 tsp
Instructions
- Take nellikai, wash, pat dry and air dry completely without any moisture in it.
- Transfer to the container in which you are going to keep the pickle. A porcelain/ peengan or glass is best.
- Add 3 cups water.Boiled cooled water is better. I use my water purifier, filter water.
- Grind the chilies and roasted fenugreek seeds, asafoetida to coarse powder.
- Mix in the powder, turmeric, salt, raw asafoetida powder to the gooseberry in water .
- Temper with mustard and Mix well. Keep in room temperature for 2-3 days to ensure even mingling of the spices.
- Each day, keep in direct sunlight for an hour and mix well. Otherwise Fungus will form.
- After three days, the water will become so flavorful with all those spices mixed well (if you taste immediately after mixing, it will be bitter, don't worry will be good after 2 days) and also will have the flavor of gooseberry.
- The nellikai should absorb the salt, become soft.
Video
Notes
- You can roast and add red chillies too. I like raw chilli flavour in this.
- Add salt more to not let it spoil easily.
Neer nellikai method:
- Take nellikai, wash, pat dry and air dry completely without any moisture in it.
- Transfer to the container in which you are going to keep the pickle. A porcelain/ peengan or glass is best. Add 3 cups water.
- Boiled cooled water is better. I use my water purifier, filter water.
- Grind the chilies and roasted fenugreek seeds, asafoetida to coarse powder.
- Mix in the powder, turmeric, salt, raw asafoetida powder to the gooseberry in water .
- Temper with mustard and Mix well.
- Keep in room temperature for 2-3 days to ensure even mingling of the spices. Each day, keep in direct sunlight for an hour and mix well. Otherwise Fungus will form.
- After three days, the water will become so flavorful with all those spices mixed well (if you taste immediately after mixing, it will be bitter, don't worry will be good after 2 days) and also will have the flavor of gooseberry.
- The nellikai should absorb the salt, become soft.
Enjoy with a creamy curd rice!!
So What are you waiting for to try this simplest pickle recipe ever? Try it out, its Damn healthy!
This pickle stays good for at least 15 days without refrigeration. But I don't take the risk after 3 days. Just have to handle it clean and stir everyday. Dont keep in plastic. Use clean ladle. Can keep in refrigerator for a month!
Tina says
So tempting and spicy gooseberry....
jeyashrisuresh says
oops tempting gooseberries.never tried pickle.just going to mustafa now.Will buy and make this tomorrow.
Great click raji
Sailaja Damodaran says
Yummy....my son loves gooseberry.Can we use frozen one,as i don't get fresh?
Pavithra says
Oh raks thats my absolutely fav one ...I am missing this after coming to US. Looks so tempting.
Pavithra says
My mom used to do the same and also another one with butter milk too.. Tastes so so so yummy .. raks really I am mouthwatering seeing this picture. Can you please parcel some to my place ?
DEESHA says
wow, I had never heard of this kinda pickle .. looks beautiful
Priya says
mouth watering pickle..i ever seen..
shanthi says
Mouthwatering pickle. Gooseberry is really fantastic and the clicks are awesome.
Sreelekha Sumesh says
ohh yummyy nellika achar..mouthwatering recipe...
Chitra says
I love this prepared by aunty..Have asked aunty to prepare some for me ;)Awesome clicks 🙂
Bharathy says
Professional clicks!!!!....
Lovely Lovely Oorgai! 🙂
Sandhya Hariharan says
Very nice Raks... Love the pics...
Guess wot.. I have been very lazy too posting this week,,,
Kanchan says
Wonderful pics Raaji, as usual 🙂
Lovely pickle ! I thin laziness has spread between all of our blogger frnds 😛
Dershana says
Lovely and easy recipe. Gorgeous pics.
Sushma Mallya says
lovely pic raks,and pickle must be really good and tangy too...
my kitchen says
I used enjoy in same Way.But i never heard about this pickle.So simple to make,Must try
Priya says
Lipsmacking pickled gooseberry...yummmy and spicy!!
sowmya.s says
looks yummy..i got some gooseberries today..will try to make this..
Priya Narasimhan says
awesome photos..i see gooseberries in the markets here too..shall try sometime
Rohini says
Excellent clicks Raks!!! I am just drooling the cut-pickled gooseberry pic.. You are simply a superb fotographer!! 😉
Love this pickle, just like the vadumanga water, this one tastes great too...Missing it... 🙁
Cilantro says
Amma makes Vadu Mangai like this. Looks good but we do not get fresh ones here, I can only drool looking at your pics.
Mahimaa's kitchen says
wow...looks so tempting. wonderful click.
Preeti Kashyap says
yummy! I love the pics and the best part is how simple it is to make. Thanks for sharing!
Cool Lassi(e) says
Looks delish. Mouthwatering for sure.
Uma says
looks absolutely delicious. Never saw this recipe before.
kothiyavunu says
Nice click!!!Very tempting gooseberry pickle & healthy too..as always nice presentation..:)
Supriya says
My mom also makes this pickle. we don't get fresh amlas here, so will try this when i visit india next time
A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine says
Lovely pickle, a special WOW for the photos.
LG says
Amazing clicks..and since you told me that it tastes awesome I am going to make it soon. We get good gooseberries in Singapore ya..
Nags says
its 10 in the morning and my mouth is watering looking at this! you are evil!! 😀
Sarah Naveen says
excellent picture...Nellikka looks soo yummy !!!
jayasree says
Excellent clicks.. Oorgai sounds delicious too.
Geetha Achal says
சூப்பர்ப்...மிகவும் அருமை...படங்களை பார்ததவுடன் சாப்பிட வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசை...ஆனால் எனக்கு இங்கு நெல்லிக்காய் கிடைக்காது...
நீங்கள் சொல்வது போல அனைவரும் கண்டிப்பாக நெல்லிகாய் சாப்பிட்டவுடன் தண்ணீர் குடிப்பாங்க என்று நினைக்கிறேன்...(தண்ணீர் இனிப்பாக இருக்கும் என்பதால்...)
Valarmathi says
Mouthwatering gooseberry pickle, looks so tempting and spicy.
Chocolaty Lifestyle says
I have never thought that gooseberries can be used this way, what a great recipe! Too bad that they are not in a season here, I'd love to try this!
Suparna says
wow raji, that was a quick fix pickle 🙂 looks good and my mouth's watering thinking of the taste 🙂
lata raja says
You are forgiven for having been lazy because that has given the neelikkai enough beauty to show off.Lovely picture of the cracked piece of the oorugai.Hmm..sigh....Serangon street treats!
Happy cook says
My mouth is wattering, this is something we had it too.
Drool drool here.
Prathibha says
hmmm..such a tempting pickle dear..I love gooseberry avakai.
Even I like drinking water after eating gooseberries for d same reason..
Gita says
Wow...I am drooling over that picture 🙂
Cham says
OMG u just make me drool, I love this nellikai but i don't get fresh here!
Anupama says
That cut piece is so very tempting... perfect to go with thayir saadham na??!!!
Akal's Saappadu says
oh girl, I just can't take my eyes off the pictures, they make me mouthwater!! I love to eat nellikkais as they are and I think I wouldn't resist to keep them until pickled or for the thuvayal :):)
we don't get here very often!!! your pictures are so perfect!!
Suma Rajesh says
wooo soo tempting and delicious dear..
Malar Gandhi says
Looks very different and kind of unique style of pickling gooseberries:) Looks absolutely delish:)
Laavanya says
That looks so good... so true about nellikai being a powerhouse of nutrients.
n33ma says
I absolutely love gooseberries!!!!!!and pickled is even better.Gorgeous photo.
Mona says
Looks deelish!
I am curious- which spice grinder do you use?
Thanks.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Mona,
Panasoniv MX AC 300
Sharmilee! :) says
Healthy and tempting!!! Bright clicks!!
Kitchen Flavours says
Looks extremely mouth watering....
Yasmeen says
Those gooseberries look huge and the spices must be so warming for the winters 😀
Kavitha Bhargav says
Is it ok if we reduce the water level?