Nellikai Sadam- Easy Amla Rice with Millet

Nellikai Sadam is a delightful Kalandha Sadam recipe that uses Amla. In this variety rice recipe, I have used foxtail millet instead of regular rice.

Follow us on Pinterest for delicious pins. Join our Facebook group for more recipes, quick tips and hacks.

Jump to:

• What is Amla?
• Recipe Notes
• More Millet Recipes
• Recipe for Nellikai Sadam with Thinai
• Thinai Arisi Nellikai Sadam Recipe- Foxtail Millet Gooseberry Rice
• How to make Nellikai Sadam?

What is Amla?

Amla aka Indian Gooseberry is a nutritent dense fruit that is particularly well known for its skin and hair benefits. Apart from helping with good hair health, this tiny beautiful pale green fruit is packed with Vitamin C.

Balancing Amla s astringence 

Nellikai, as it is called in Tamil, is slightly astringent. To balance this, we use lemons in this recipe. The result is a beautiful mixture of Amla, tangy lemons, nutty foxtail millet and crunchy peanuts.

Recipe Notes

 

1. 1. You can also use regular Sona Masoori or even brown Sona Masoori to make this Amla rice.
   2. For making any Kalandha Sadam recipe, I recommend cooking the rice over the stove top just until the rice or millet is fluffy.
   3. If you are using the pressure cooker to prep millet or rice, use 1 cup rice or millet and 2 cups of water along with 1 tsp salt. Cook on medium heat for 2 whistles.
   4. Wait for pressure to release on its own. When pressure drops, transfer the cooked millet/ rice into a wide plate. Let it cool fully.
   5. Lemon juice is what makes this rice stellar. Do not skip adding lemon juice.

 

More Millet Recipes

If you are looking for more millet recipes, please check varagu arisi dosai, ragi chapati and millet flakes parfait .

Recipe for Nellikai Sadam with Thinai

How to make Nellikai Sadam?

Place the millet in a colander. Wash under running water until water runs clear.

Add millet, salt and 3 cups of water to a wide pan. 

Cook on medium heat for 15 mins, stirring occassionally.

After 15 mins, drain the millet into a colander to get rid of any excess water. Let it stand covered for 10 minutes. 

After 10 minutes, allow it to cool down by spreading it on a plate.

When cool, begin to prep the other ingredients for the Nellikai rice.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the peanuts and roast till golden. Drain.

Now, pop the mustard seeds and add urad dal, green chilies, curry leaves, hing and turmeric powder.

Turn the flame down and add grated amla. Mix well. Add salt. Mix again.

Next add the peanuts and mix well

Once done, add the cooked millet and mix well. Add cilantro for garnish.

Switch off flame and add lemon juice and mix gently.

Thinai Nellikai Sadam is now done and ready to be served.