Instant nellikka achar

Ingredients:
Gooseberries - 250 gms
Garlic - 1/2 pods
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Gingelly oil - 4 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Red chillies - 3/4, broken into pieces
Red chilli power - 2 tbsps
Fenugreek powder - 1 tsp
Asafoetida powder - 1 tsp
Vinegar - 2/3 tbsps
Curry leaves - some
Salt to taste
Sugar to taste

Method:

Steam the gooseberries with some salt for 5-10 minutes. When they turn golden, take off the stove, deseed and cut into small pieces. Cut the garlic and ginger into small pieces.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the red chillies. Add the ginger, garlic and curry leaves. Add chilli, fenugreek and asafoetida powders and saute well. Add the gooseberry pieces and mix well.

After a few minutes, add vinegar, stir well and take off the stove.

When the achar cools, transfer to an airtight bottle.

Postscript:
1. As we always say, sugar is optional.
2. If you use raw gooseberries, add warm water after you add the pieces to cook them.
3. We have not added green chillies in this recipe. If you want to make the achar spicier, you can add them along with the ginger and garlic pieces.