Amba ✦

Amba

What it is

Iraqi Jewish traders settled in Bombay from the seventeenth century met the Indian mango there and shipped it home to Basra in brine; the story goes that the Sassoon family sent the first barrels. The name is simply the Marathi word for mango, and the sauce it became — brined green fruit soured further with fenugreek and turmeric — is poured over grilled Tigris carp and shawarma alike.

In the kitchen

Fenugreek is the whole point and it needs soaking, not dry grinding: steep the seeds overnight until they swell and gel, or the sauce turns flatly bitter. Serve it at room temperature — cold amba tastes of nothing but salt.

Goes with

Mango Fenugreek Turmeric Mustard seed Lamb Egg Chickpeas Cilantro / Coriander

Same species

Amchur Mango Green mango

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