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A classic Odia dish, this Vegetable Ambila is a delightful sweet and sour stew. A medley of hearty vegetables is simmered in a tangy tamarind and sweet jaggery broth, finished with a fragrant tempering. It's a comforting and wholesome dish, perfect with steamed rice.
Prepare Vegetables and Tamarind Pulp
Boil the Vegetables
Add Sweet and Sour Flavors
A classic Odia dish, this Vegetable Ambila is a delightful sweet and sour stew. A medley of hearty vegetables is simmered in a tangy tamarind and sweet jaggery broth, finished with a fragrant tempering. It's a comforting and wholesome dish, perfect with steamed rice.
This odia recipe takes 40 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 196.26 calories per serving with 2.97g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Thicken the Ambila (Optional)
Prepare the Tempering (Chhunka)
Combine and Serve
Incorporate other traditional vegetables like raw banana (kancha kadali), yam (desi alu), or okra (bhendi). If using okra, lightly sauté it before adding to the stew to reduce sliminess.
For extra texture and protein, add pre-fried sun-dried lentil dumplings (badi) to the ambila during the last 5 minutes of simmering.
Add one or two slit green chilies along with the vegetables for a mild heat that complements the sweet and sour taste.
Packed with a variety of vegetables like pumpkin, sweet potato, and drumstick, this dish is a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, and iron, which are essential for immunity and overall health.
The tamarind used in Ambila is known to have mild laxative properties and can help improve digestion. The high fiber content from the vegetables also promotes a healthy gut and regular bowel movements.
The use of jaggery instead of refined sugar provides essential minerals like iron and magnesium and offers a more complex, earthy sweetness with a lower glycemic index.
With its soupy consistency, Ambila is a hydrating dish, making it especially comforting during both hot and cold weather. It helps replenish fluids and electrolytes.
One serving of Vegetable Ambila contains approximately 180-200 calories, making it a light and healthy dish. The exact count can vary based on the amount of ghee and jaggery used.
Yes, Vegetable Ambila is very healthy. It is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals from the diverse range of vegetables. It's low in fat and uses jaggery, a healthier alternative to refined sugar.
Pancha Phutana is a whole spice blend from Eastern India, containing equal parts of fenugreek, nigella, cumin, black mustard, and fennel seeds. It has a unique flavor that is key to this dish. If you cannot find it, you can use a teaspoon of black mustard seeds and half a teaspoon of cumin seeds as a basic substitute, but the authentic taste will be different.
Yes, you can. A purely sour version of this dish is called 'Kanji' or 'Khatta'. Simply omit the jaggery and you will have a tangy vegetable stew.
Leftover Ambila can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving.
Yes, you can cook the hard vegetables in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle to save time. Release the pressure, add the softer vegetables and other ingredients, and then simmer on the stovetop as per the recipe.
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