Chatpata Amlaki (Indian Gooseberry amla candy)
This sweet-tangy amla candy is prepared with only four ingredients, and hardly any prep time. Upgrade your snacking game with Chatpata Amlaki!
Servings: 24 (Yield: 1 cup)
Calories: 29kcal
Cost: $6.50
Equipment
- Steamer or pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 250 grams amla about 11 amla fruits frozen or fresh
- ⅔ cup sugar (125 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon kala namak (black salt)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Start by gently steaming the gooseberries in a steamer for 10-15 minutes, or if you’re using a pressure cooker, cook them until you hear a single whistle. You are looking for the amla to just be cracking open slightly at the seams.
- Once the steamed gooseberries have cooled down, take your time to de-seed them and separate them into sections. If you want to speed up the process, you can cool them rapidly by shocking them for a minute in ice water and then drying them well.
- In a bowl, combine the dry gooseberry sections with sugar and black salt.
- Spread the sugared amla sections onto a plate or a baking pan. Let them sit at room temperature for 2 days, turning them with a dry spoon once a day.
- As an optional final touch, toss the dried amla sections in powdered sugar. This adds an extra layer of sweetness and helps absorb any remaining moisture, keeping your Chatpata Amlaki perfectly textured and preventing them from sticking to one another.
Notes
🌬️ Steaming Savvy: Aim for a tender texture through precise steaming (10-15 mins) or one pressure cooker whistle. It makes de-seeding a breeze without compromising on flavor or making the amla fall apart.
⏳ Patient Air-Drying: Let your sugared amla air-dry for the suggested two days at room temperature. In high humidity, give it a little bit more time.
🍬 Sugar-Coating Secrets: When adding a powdered sugar finish, ensure your amla sections are dry to the touch. The powdered sugar will then prevent the candies from sticking to one another, without being absorbed immediately by remaining moisture.
Nutrition
Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 24mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg