Usirikaya, known as Amla in most Indian Languages, and Gooseberry in English. The fruit has an extremely sour and pungent taste. Amla is popularly known as Usirikaya in Telugu, these fruits have been a part of Indian cuisines since ages especially pickles. Usirikaya being seasonal are harvested during autumn. There are numerous health benefits of Indian Gooseberry that are recognized by Ayurveda and other scientific communities. There are numerous ways in which Amla or Usirikaya is pickled in India, but the way it is pickled in the states of Andhra and Telangana gives it a distinct taste and flavor of traditional Andhra. Usirikaya pickle is made by collecting fresh gooseberries, washing and drying them to get rid of any moisture. There are two kinds of gooseberries that can be identified by their size the smaller ones and the bigger ones which are almost the size of a golf ball. Usually, the bigger variety is pickled though even the smaller varieties can also be pickled. Once the gooseberries are dry either they can be cut into pieces or pickled as a whole. Pickling them as whole increases the shelf life and retains the nutrients. Andhra style Usirikaya pickle is made by frying the whole gooseberries and then a combination of dried spices such as fenugreek seeds, rock salt, garlic, mustard seeds, lemon juice and red chili powder is added to the gooseberries with some warm vegetable or sesame oil. Then the pickle is stored in porcelain or glass jars and allowed to rest for a week or two for the ingredients to mix well and the gooseberries to absorb all the spices. The pickle has a shelf life of six months to one year. The pickle tastes heavenly with steaming hot rice and a spoonful of ghee, hot chapattis, dosa, and roti, side dish with almost any meal or one can just pick up a gooseberry and dig into it and enjoy the tangy spicy taste of the Usirikaya pickle. The entire process of pickling has to be executed with utmost care to prevent the pickle from getting spoilt and extending its shelf life. We at Sitara foods maintain high standards in the manufacturing of our pickles. At every stage, we ensure that the finest product reaches you by carefully handpicking each and every ingredient of the best quality. Usirikaya is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, which is essential for preventing Scurvy a condition resulting in an extreme deficiency of Vitamin C. This vitamin is also essential for the overall health of the entire body including skin, hair, and tooth. Along with Usirikaya (Amla), the other ingredients also add to the health and nutritional profile of the pickle. Such as garlic that helps lower cholesterol, fenugreek and mustard seeds considered good for diabetic health. It is a bottle of goodness loaded with taste and health available throughout the year in your kitchen shelf.
