Bimbla Raita also known as Bimbla Sasav in Goa is a very simple sweet and sour condiment goes well with Indian Vegetarian lunch. This can be enjoyed as an Indian dip too.

Bimbla also called as Bilimbi is one of the well know fruit found in Goa. About 4-5 inches in length, Greenish in color, sour in taste bimbla can be used in daily cooking or you can make god lonche(Sweet Pickle) , tikhat lonche(hot Pickle). If you are a Goan then you don’t need special introduction of this fruit and its tree. Many of us ‘Goykars'(Goan People) got these trees in our backyards. My mom got just one tree and she keeps distributing these fruits in neighbours. She says ” Itlya bimlanche hanv karu kite? Sakail padtat ani magir kustat. Tya pekshya vatlyar bari”(What will I do with so many of these Bimbla. Tree is loaded with them. They just fall off and get decayed. So better to distribute them.) And its true. Any time in the year you will see this tree loaded with Bimbla.

This time for diwali , mom taught me few recipes of this wonder fruit. So, while returning back, carried lots of them with me. Oh that reminds me. Have to make pickle tomorrow. I better use them real quick before they ripen up. 🙂

I will be posting another recipe of my mom soon here , but till then lets see how to make this lovely sweet and sour Bimblanche sasav or Raita.

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time : 5 Minutes

Serves :4

Ingredients : 

• 5-6 Bimbla/Bilimbi
• 1/2 Cup freshly grated coconut
• 2 Green Chilies
• 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 20 Grams Jaggery(Panela)
• 1 Cup water
• 1 Tablespoon oil
• Salt as per taste

Method:

Take Washed Bimbla in a medium saucepan and add about a cup of water. Boil on high heat till they soften up. Do not throw away water. Use it for grinding later.

Fry coconut using 1/2 tablspoon oil on low heat till it is slightly browned. Remove out .

In the sam pan, add remaining oil and fry green chilis for few seconds.

Remove out and roast mustard seeds in the same pan .

Take roasted coconut , green chilies and mustard seeds in the mixer grinder jar along with jaggery and salt. Add little water we used for boiling bimbla in the grinder and grind everything for about a minute.

Now add in boiled bimbla and grind for few seconds till it is nicely mixed . The consistency of raita should be thick , same like coconut chutney. So , while adding water , add as much required.

And our Bimbla raita is done. Enjoy it with rice as sides or with Roti(Indian bread).

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