Amla or Indian gooseberry is also known as amlaki. It can be used as a powder or as a candy. It is a superb digestive to eat , post a heavy meal. This is another variation of amla ka murabba for children to eat.
Indian gooseberries are a great source of Vitamin C. It also helps you avoid the grays, and enriches hair growth. It has diuretic properties. Also, helps stimulate metabolism. If you cannot find fresh ones, frozen works great for this recipe. Tangy Amla candy is a great way to end your meal.
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What are the benefits of amla candy?
- It helps you digest a heavy meal.
- It is rich in anti-oxidants.
- Helps fight free radicals.
- Helps delay the ageing process.
- Works great for improving health and hair.
- Great even as a remedy to motion sickness.
- Vitamin C helps you fight cold and cough. It also helps absorb iron.For cold and cough,you can also try our kadha recipe.
Commercial vs homemade?
Yes, we get many commercial packets. It is great occasionally. However, you cannot control the sugar in it.
Making it at home looks tough but is simple.You can make homemade version within 15 minutes and let it dry. It can have lesser amount of sugar too. When you make it at home, you can adjust the sugar content. You can customize it according to your taste. Hence, you can avoid hidden calories.
Plus there are no preservatives. Preservatives are for long commercial shelf life. When we make it at home, we can make in small batches. Even frozen amla packets can make a big batch. In cold countries you do not get this so easily raw. However, frozen ones work just fine. I make my batch with frozen ones every month and it tastes just great.
Ingredients
- amla or Indian gooseberries frozen or fresh
- sugar
- kala namak/black salt
- Powdered sugar optional
Equipment
- Steamer
- Sieve
- Baking tray
- Oven
How to make amla candy?
- Steam the gooseberry for 15-20 minutes. You may boil them in a pressure cooker until 1 whistle if you do not have a steamer. Do not overcook.
2. Remove the seed from them. Break them into their natural flakes. If they are hard, they need to be steamed or boiled further. Add sugar and salt, let it sit for 1 day.
3. Drain the excess sugar syrup. Use it to make an amla cooler. Just add few spoons to plain soda. It tastes amazing.
4. Arrange on a cooking baking tray covered with baking sheet. Let it dry in the sun for 2-3 days (preferably in shade).
5. After day 1, the amla candy will start getting dry
6. You will need 2-3 days.You may keep them in a warm oven(not hot/not running but warm oven) for few hours, this will allow it to dry the quickly for the last part. Store in air tight bottles once ready.
Amla candy in air fryer
I have recently experimented to make this amla candy in the airfryer. The important thing to note here that my airfryer allowed me to cook at very low tempretures i.e. around 60 degree C / 70 degree C and this temperature is similar to the dehydrator temperatures.
- After following the steps above i.e. steaming and soaking in sugar etc,place the amla in the air fryer instead of letting it to dry.
- Cook for 3 hours at 70 degree C,shake in between.
- I like them soft and chewable and store them in the refrigerator if I want to store for long term.
Substitution
You may use frozen gooseberries if you cannot find fresh ones.
Variations
You can add some spices to give it a different flavour.Salt or cane sugar powder can be increased as per your taste.
Storage
Always store in a clean dry jar. It is can be stored at room temperature.
Top tip: Serve the excess sugar syrup which you strain in step 3 with some plain soda to make your amla soda. It tastes awesome!
Related links
Amla Candy recipe
Ingredients
- ½ kg amla or gooseberries frozen or fresh
- 250 g sugar you may add more upto ½ kg
- ½ teaspoon kala namak/black salt
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- Steam the gooseberries in a steamer for 15 minutes or cook in a pressure cooker until 1 whistle.
- Let the gooseberries cool; de-seed and separate into flakes.
- Mix the gooseberry flakes with sugar and black salt in a deep bowl.
- Cover the bowl and keep outside in the shade for 1-2 days. Turn with a dry spoon 2-3 times a day.
- Spread the amla flakes on a plate lined with baking paper.
- Drain the excess sugar from the amla and arrange them on a baking sheet on a tray
- Allow to dry in the shade for a further 2-3 days.
- Optionally toss them in powdered sugar once they have dried, this allows any extra moisture to be absorbed by the sugar.
Amla candy in air fryer
- After following the steps above i.e. steaming and soaking in sugar etc,place the amla in the air fryer instead of letting it to dry.
- Cook for 3 hours at 70 degree C, shake in between.
- I like them soft and chewable and store them in the refrigerator if I want to store for long term.
Notes
Storage
Store this in an air tight jar, at room temperature.
FAQs
2-3 cloves of candy can be eaten.
Best time to eat is early morning in winters.
Yes amla oil can reverse it.
Yes it is good for eye sight and also aids weight loss. It helps improve your metabolism too.
Yes, this is one of the easiest frozen amla recipes that you can make. As we been out of India for quite some time, we have made the above recipe with frozen amla as well.
Please share your inputs..