Gooseberry (Nellikka) Juice
Ever since a youngster, I was always cajoled by my parents to have a nellikka everyday, either in its original form which you know is rather tough or in a comparatively much edible version like Brahmi or Chavanaprasham…or as a juice (easy to toss down your throats with closed eyes) or as pickled ones as a last resort…tempting sweet or spicy and ones…. But ney ney, like any other normal kid, I never listened to them and eventually was inured to see all the above versions ending up either in the garbage bin or stacked away somewhere in the store room (to be thrown away later on the cleaning day). ;-p But with the passage of time, I began to realize the significance of consumption of nellikkas. So now when I take a look back, I strongly feel maybe I shud have opened my ears to them and shud have eaten all those stuff. How healthy they are?? Maybe I’d have been much more healthier now…. If only…if only I had those nellikkas…. :( Well, who knows, maybe I’d also have had a towering IQ and rite now maybe wud have been busy cracking some dim-witted mathematical or scientific formulas and probably standing on the threshold of a new invention or discovery. :D Maybe wud have been titled the next Einstein, Raman, Gates (??), or who next…. Sigh… All lost just coz I dint have those “tasty” nellikkas…. ;-D But I can’t help wonder if they too had really listened to their parents and used to have gooseberries everyday.;-p C’mon on, I guess there’s no point in mourning over spilt milk. Anyways, can’t go back to the past and have all those nellikkas. :( But can atleast try compelling my little one to have all those nellikkas…and probably make him an Einstein of the future. Too much to ask for I guess…. Maybe my folks were woolgathering too about the same episode as I am now…. ;-p Assume all parents are like that…. And am no different at all. ;-)Well, now I’m no Einstein or Raman for that matter…. But I’ve developed enough head through experiences, mine’s as well as others that there are certain things in life which should be definitely given ears to, especially if they come from elders. And among all those myriad instances is one such kind…a rather simple one…which is to have maximum possible consumption of nellikka or gooseberries in whatever form possible. If you are unaware of the importance of nellikka, check out the editorials in Wiki, Hindu and Indianfoodforever for a more authentic emphasis on the significance of Nellikkas in our daily diet. Too long (aka lazy) to reproduce the whole thing. ;-p
And here’s a simple juice version; perhaps concocted considering time and convenience factors by a very good cook, I guess. I stumbled upon this recipe in this site itself (thx to Arathy, the original mastermind behind this version). And ever since, I make it a point to have it everyday or every other day…trying to persuade my little one to have it too. Remember the upcoming little Einstein tale…. :) But like mom…like son. Am still trying my best though…. ;-)
So, here’s how the simple recipe for a gooseberry juice goes….You’d require
10 Gooseberries (Nellikka/Amla)
A small ginger piece
Salt – As required
Water – As required for grinding
Method:-
1) Deseed the gooseberries. Cut them into small pieces for better grinding.
2) Blend all the ingredients in a blender.
3) Strain the whole thing.
4) Dilute it further accdg to servings and serve.
:- You can also add a couple of mint leaves for a better flavour.
Pls note that this quantity would suffice for approximately 5 – 6 persons. And a huge warning for those who’d want to amplify their IQs within quick time by gulping down the above pitcher alone especially before diluting, pls don’t do it as you’d be earning your one way ticket to the loo…. Apparently, nellikka is an excellent laxative and forms one of the main parts of the ayurvedic medicine Triphala. Hope you got the point. ;-pBefore wrapping up, a succinct note on an old Malayalam aphorism which goes like this. Moothavar chollum mudhunellikka adhyam kaikkum, pinneedu madhurikkum…. So true in our contemporary lives too…something that our rebellious minds do not even bother to acknowledge…the minds that want to believe that what it’s doing is right, even if it’s wrong. Maybe it’s not voguish to heed to others’ versions and comments, even if they are priceless ones. But knowledge is what counts and experience along with circumstances are the best teachers in life…to teach you that always listen to others too…so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes they made earlier. Listen and act wisely...which is the key to success in life…. Good luck!!!
So, on that note, happy cooking!!!
Labels: Beverages
posted by Viji at
9:37 AM
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