Amba (condiment)
Encyclopedia
Amba (Origin from Sanskrit
for Mango) is a tangy mango
pickle
condiment popular in middle eastern cuisine
particularly Iraqi
and Israeli
cuisines. It is also popular in India
, where it originates, and is widely manufactured and bottled for the world market. The main differences between amba and achar
is that amba has large pieces of mango rather than small cubes and that it uses more vinegar and no oil, and the pickle for the amba tends to be denser. Other than that, the two types of pickles are about the same. The ingredients in amba typically include mangoes, vinegar
, salt, mustard, turmeric
, and chili. Another important ingredient in amba is fenugreek
, which gives it a distinct flavour and scent. It is the fenugreek in the amba which alters body odour following sufficient consumption. It is commonly used as a side dish, or consumed with bread, particularly by Iraqis, and is sometimes used, particularly in Israel, as a shawarma
sandwich topping.
Amba enjoys much popularity in Israel
, where it was brought by Iraqi Jews. Amba was very popular among Iraqi Jews particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when they first arrived to Israel. However, mangoes and some of the seasonings are very expensive, so stores that sell amba tend to dilute it with a lot of water, and sometimes flour. Amba is often used as a dressing on sabikh and is usually available wherever falafel
and shawarma are sold.
Amba enjoys a loved stature in Iraqi cuisine, especially as a spicy sauce to be added to falafel
, kubbah
, kebabs, and eggs. See some of the dishes in Iraqi cuisine
for further details.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
for Mango) is a tangy mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
pickle
Pickled cucumber
A pickled cucumber is a cucumber that has been pickled in a brine, vinegar, or other solution and left to ferment for a period of time, by either immersing the cucumbers in an acidic solution or through souring by lacto-fermentation.-Gherkin:A gherkin is not only...
condiment popular in middle eastern cuisine
Middle Eastern cuisine
Middle-Eastern cuisine, West Asian cuisine, or in some place in the United States, Persian-Mediterranean cuisine is the cuisine of the various countries and peoples of the Middle East . The cuisine of the region is diverse while having a degree of homogeneity...
particularly Iraqi
Iraqi cuisine
Iraqi cuisine or Mesopotamian cuisine has a long history going back some 10,000 years - to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. Tablets found in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals - the first cookbooks in the world...
and Israeli
Israeli cuisine
Israeli cuisine comprises local dishes by Jews native to Israel and dishes brought to Israel by Jews from the Diaspora. Since before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and particularly since the late 1970s, an Israeli Jewish fusion cuisine has developed.Israeli cuisine has adopted,...
cuisines. It is also popular in India
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
, where it originates, and is widely manufactured and bottled for the world market. The main differences between amba and achar
Indian pickle
Indian pickles are made from certain individual varieties of vegetables and fruits that are chopped into small pieces and cooked in edible oils like sesame oil or brine with many different Indian spices like asafetida, red chili powder, turmeric, fenugreek and plenty of salt. Some regions also...
is that amba has large pieces of mango rather than small cubes and that it uses more vinegar and no oil, and the pickle for the amba tends to be denser. Other than that, the two types of pickles are about the same. The ingredients in amba typically include mangoes, vinegar
Vinegar
Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, the acetic acid being produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. Slow methods generally are used with traditional...
, salt, mustard, turmeric
Turmeric
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive...
, and chili. Another important ingredient in amba is fenugreek
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a plant in the family Fabaceae. Fenugreek is used both as a herb and as a spice . The leaves and sprouts are also eaten as vegetables...
, which gives it a distinct flavour and scent. It is the fenugreek in the amba which alters body odour following sufficient consumption. It is commonly used as a side dish, or consumed with bread, particularly by Iraqis, and is sometimes used, particularly in Israel, as a shawarma
Shawarma
Shawarma is a Levantine Arab sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or mixed meats. The meat is placed on a spit, and may be grilled for as long as a day. It is eaten with pita bread, tabbouleh, fattoush, taboon bread, tomato and cucumber. Toppings include tahini, hummus,...
sandwich topping.
Amba enjoys much popularity in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where it was brought by Iraqi Jews. Amba was very popular among Iraqi Jews particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when they first arrived to Israel. However, mangoes and some of the seasonings are very expensive, so stores that sell amba tend to dilute it with a lot of water, and sometimes flour. Amba is often used as a dressing on sabikh and is usually available wherever falafel
Falafel
Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas and/or fava beans. Falafel is usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces...
and shawarma are sold.
Amba enjoys a loved stature in Iraqi cuisine, especially as a spicy sauce to be added to falafel
Falafel
Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas and/or fava beans. Falafel is usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces...
, kubbah
Kibbeh
Kibbeh or kibbe is an Arab dish made of bulgur or rice and chopped meat. The best-known variety is a torpedo-shaped fried croquette stuffed with minced beef or lamb. Other types of kibbeh may be shaped into balls or patties, and baked or cooked in broth.Kibbeh is a popular dish in Levantine...
, kebabs, and eggs. See some of the dishes in Iraqi cuisine
Iraqi cuisine
Iraqi cuisine or Mesopotamian cuisine has a long history going back some 10,000 years - to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. Tablets found in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals - the first cookbooks in the world...
for further details.