Indian Inspired Decadence: Whip up Some Ambrosial Aamras

Feb/17/2023 / by Melanie Fourie
Aamras
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

Aamras is a rich dish prominent in the gastronomy of India, prepared from the purée of mangoes. The puree of a juicy mango is removed, generally by hand, and is eaten combined with chapati or pooris. You may add milk and ghee to improve the taste of this delicacy.

More About Aamras

Aamras was historically prepared at home by the majority of Maharashtrians, and was seldom consumed outside of the house. For producing aamras, mangoes matured on the trees instead of the marketplace. Aamras has just appeared at Maharashtrian-run restaurants like Gypsy and Aaswad in the past decade or two, maybe inspired by the Gujarati restaurateurs who were making a mint selling it. Mumbai’s Gujarati-owned businesses, such as Gangar and Regal, sell pre-packaged aamras, as well. Mangoes destined for aamraas, according to Anjali, were traditionally removed from the tree previously in the day, rubbed to soften the pulp, and placed in a dish of water to chill. This was prior to the widespread use of refrigerators. After all, Aamras is designed to be served cool. 

Finally, the mangoes were dipped into a bowl of water, their skins peeled off, and the pulp extracted with bare hands. Aamraas is still best made by hand, despite the ubiquity of blender grinders in contemporary Maharashtrian families. This is due to the fact that Maharashtrians like their aamras to have a dense and sludgy consistency, whilst Gujaratis prefer a smoother and more liquid-like texture. A little amount of ghee may be added to aamraas to counteract the warming effect of the mango pulp. Ghee, according to Ayurveda, may help counteract this. To enhance the flavour, many add cardamom spice.

The Maharashtrians may have been the first to adopt aamras, considering that hapoos originated in Devgad. Of course, Gujaratis like it, and it is well-known across the area.

Why Consume Aamras?

Your penchant for mangoes will grow exponentially as you come to appreciate all of its many virtues. It’s not only delicious, but it also provides several health advantages. Summer is a great time to consume mangoes for a variety of wellness benefits, so here are some of the best.

It aids in the battle against cancer

Astragalin, astragalin glucosides, and gallic acid are just a few of the antioxidants found in mangoes. All of these qualities help to keep us safe against cancers such as colon. prostate, breast cancer, and leukaemia.

It helps to keep cholesterol levels in check

High levels of vitamin C, fibre, and pectin in mangoes make them an ideal fruit for lowering cholesterol.

It aids in skin cleaning

A third advantage of ingesting mangoes is that they help to remove toxins from the body’s tissues and organs via the skin. Your skin will seem more radiant and clear after using this product, which reduces the appearance of pores. Mangoes are thus an excellent source of vitamin C, which may help you achieve a clear complexion.

Helps to control diabetes

Consuming mango leaves helps control blood sugar levels. As a result, diabetics should prepare a pot of boiling water with 5-6 mango leaves. Drink the strained solution in the morning after soaking it overnight. Even if you consume mangoes moderately, they will not raise your blood glucose.

Alkalising your body is aided by this delicacy

To maintain our body’s alkali reservoir, mangoes include tartaric and malic acids as well as traces of citric acid.

A method for losing weight

Because mangos are high in vitamins and minerals, a single mango will leave you feeling satiated for longer. Also, since it contains a lot of fibre, it aids digestion and burns off extra calories. As a result, you’ll be able to shed pounds.

Aphrodisiac-inducing food

Because of this, mangos are sometimes called “love fruit.” Male fertility is enhanced by its analgesic and vitalizing properties. So, eat mangoes to increase your love and affection for each other.

It can be used to boost vision

Mangoes are a good source of vitamin A, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their vision. It also protects dry eyes and night blindness.

Enhances a healthy digestive system

Mangoes include enzymes that aid in the breakdown of protein in the body. Mangoes are a great source of fibre, which aids in digestion and avoids a number of tummy ailments.

Avoids dehydration and heat exhaustion

Preventing heat stroke is another benefit of this fruit in the hotter months. It rapidly cools you off and refreshes you, so you can eat it. Stay cool this summer by including this ‘super fruit’ into your diet.

Helps boost the body’s natural defences

Vitamin C, A, and other carotenoids are also found in mangoes. All of these vital nutrients help to support a stronger immune system.

Use it to cleanse your body

Using mango scrub on your body will leave you with softer and suppler skin. It is possible to produce a paste out of mashed mangoes by adding honey and milk to the mix. Take a few minutes to gently massage the product into your skin and then rinse it off.

Concentration and memory is boosted

Mangoes are a great snack if you have trouble focusing or remembering things. Concentration and recollection are both boosted by using these products.

Nutritional information for mango

In a single mango, you’ll find 60 calories. You’ll find 24.7 grams of carbs and 22.5 grams of sugar in this nutrient-dense fruit. Mango contains more than 60% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. There’s also a good quantity of copper and folate, as well as vitamins B6, B12, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12.

Copper, folate, and vitamin C are all abundant in mangos, making them a healthy snack option for many people. These components aid in the developing foetus, which is beneficial throughout gestation. Mango’s substantial iron concentration makes it an effective treatment for anaemia. Also, mangoes are a great source of calcium and iron for females.

How to Make Aamras

What You’ll Need    

  •     1/2 cardamom     
  •    Some saffron        
  •     3 medium-sized mangoes     
  •     2 tsp sugar              

Method Used to Make Aamras at Home 

  • Senthooram mangoes may be used. Aamras may be made using ripe mangoes of the smaller type.
  • Remove the skin and coarsely slice the chunks.
  • Add mangoes, cardamom, and saffron into a blender container.
  • Create a unified paste by adding sugar and mixing it thoroughly.
  • If desired, 2 tablespoons of milk may be added.
  • Present your aamras.

A Few Tips When Making Aamras

  • It’s entirely up to you whether or not to add milk during mixing.
  • Sugar thins the purée, so there’s no need to add any more.
  • Traditional Aamras is nut-free, but if you wish, you may add whatever nuts of your choosing.
  • Mangoes that are luscious and free of brittle pits are the best.
  • Mangoes vary in taste, so change the level of sugar accordingly. If the mangoes have a strong taste, you may need to mix in extra sugar.
  • Cashews, almonds, and saffron threads are all acceptable garnishes with aamras.
  • While dried ginger powder may also be added, this dish is often enhanced by sprinkling on extra dried ginger powder.
  • Payari Mango pulp and Alphonso mango pulp may be blended in a two to one ratio.
  • If you choose, you may sweeten to your heart’s content using jaggery or canned sugar.
  • Adding dried ginger to the meal, which is enticing, can help your body process it better, since it aids in digestion.
  • Adding yoghurt or hanging curd or even more to the milk cream increases the number of possible variations. However, it is entirely up to you and your preferences.
  • You have the option of adding milk or water to the mixture if you so choose. Your dish’s consistency may suffer as a result.
  • Saffron milk may also be added to the mango puree for another variation. It’s also the best-tasting option.
  • You should eat it with poori most of the time. Even so, you may serve it with Bajari ki roti, chapati, or mixed grain roti as a side dish as an alternative.
  • Using a muslin cloth, you may remove the mango pulp’s threads, which may cause a baby to be irritated. If you’re using Kesar Mango or Payari, Alphonso Mango contains just a few or no fibres, so be careful.
  • A dollop of delicious ice cream may be added if you want to make it more American.
  • The sweetness of the mango will determine how much sugar you need to add. Make sure to evaluate the sweetness before adding sugar or jaggery to the Alphonso Mango and Payari combination.
  • Adding almond, rice or cashew nut milk as an alternative to dairy milk is an alternative for vegans.

FAQs

For how long can we store aamras?

Aamras keeps for up to six months in the freezer. Always store these in a sealed dish though.