Vaal papdi, fenugreek and aubergine curry – (vaal papdi, ringna methi nu shak)

This mixed vegetable curry with aubergines, vaal papdi or valor and fenugreek used to be a favourite of my parents.  These three vegetables are considered healthy as they are low in carbohydrates.  My dad was a diabetic so this curry was made regularly in our home.  When I was young, I wasn’t too keen on this curry as the taste of fenugreek takes a bit of getting used to.  Now I really enjoy this curry.

What is Vaal Papdi?

Vaal Papdi beans are botanically classified as Dolichos lablab.   I love these beans but don’t often get them as they require quite a lot of topping and tailing and removing the stringy  fibre from each bean – very similar to fresh peas or  valor.  More information about the vaal papdi and the various names it’s called can be found here. This vaal papdi is a lot different from Vaal which are actually from the valor plant. Vaal beans too make a great curry but it’s more like a lentil curry compared to this green vegetable curry.

How do you  prepare fresh Vaal Papdi ready to wash and cook?

To clean and prepare the Vaal papdi, you cut the top and bottom stalks and the stringy part holding the two stalks. Once the stringy part is removed, divide  the Vaal papdi into two or three small pieces just by breaking them by hand. Both the green outer cover and the seeds are used in the curry. Fresh vaal papdi doesn’t  take long to cook and is often cooked on it’s own, with aubergine and fenugreek like I have done in this recipe or added to the mixed vegetable Gujarati curry called undhiyu.

Once you have cleaned and washed the vaal papdi, you can even freeze it if you have bought extra.

What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek is a herb and it’s seeds are often used by mums as home remedies.  The fenugreek seeds are ground and added to special sweets made for nursing mums as its helps with breast milk production.  New mums are also fed this curry with extra fresh fenugreek as it’s got lots of herbal goodness.   They are also added to oil during the tempering of curries. More information about the goodness of fenugreek is here.

What sort of fenugreek should I use?

In this curry, I have used the fresh green fenugreek but you can also use frozen fenugreek for this recipe. When using fresh fenugreek, use all the leaves and part of the fresh stems too as they are full of flavour and goodness.  If you have not used fresh fenugreek then watch this video to see how to prepare it ready to wash and use.

What type of Aubergines should I use?

You can use any aubergines.  The big aubergines sold in the supermarkets cook fast so I like to use them.

 

 

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients for 4 servings:

  • 2 cups Vaal papdi (tinned or frozen is fine too)
  • 2 medium aubergines – cut into cubes
  • 1 cup of fresh fenugreek (methi) ( can also use frozen)
  • 1 cup tomatoes (fresh, tinned, passata all fine)
  • 1 tbls oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • salt (to taste)
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp dhana jiru (a mixture of coriander and cumin powder)
  • chili powder to taste
  • 3-4 cloves garlic which should be really crushed finely
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil

Method:

  1. Heat the 1 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan with a lid and add the mustard  seeds to the hot oil and cover until the popping stops.
  2. Lower the heat and add the vaal papdi.   Add the garlic, chili powder, turmeric and the dhana jiru and stir.   Add half a cup of water and allow this to cook for 3-4 minutes. 

3. Add the fenugreek and aubergines to the curry and allow it to cook for five minutes with the lid on. If the curry looks too dry, add half a cup of water to it.

4.  Once the aubergines and vaal papdi have softened add the tomatoes to it and allow to cook for a further 2-3 minutes.  Don’t worry if your curry does not have the traditional red colour as it is difficult to get that red sauce with the kind of vegetables we have used.  Taste and adjust any spices to your preference.

5.  Serve with any Indian bread such as chappatis or parathas

Vaal papdi are also added to Undhiyu – A Gujarati curry which has vegetable dumplings in it.  The recipe for undhiyu is here

You may wish to try the following recipes from my blog:

Vaal papdi, fenugreek and aubergine curry (vaal papdi, ringna methi nu shak)

Vaal Papdi beans are botanically classified as Dolichos lablab.   I love these beans but don’t often get them as they require quite a lot of topping and tailing and removing the stringy  fibre from each bean – very similar to fresh peas or  valor.  More information about the vaal papdi and the various names it’s called can be found here.
To clean and prepare the Vaal papdi, you cut the top and bottom stalks and the stringy part holding the two stalks. Once the stringy part is removed, divide  the Vaal papdi into two or three small pieces just by breaking them by hand. Both the green outer cover and the seeds are used in the curry. Fresh vaal papdi doesn’t  take long to cook and is often cooked on it’s own, with aubergine and fenugreek like I have done in this recipe or added to the mixed vegetable Gujarati curry called undhiyu.
Once you have cleaned and washed the vaal papdi, you can even freeze it if you have bought extra.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time29 minutes
Course: curry, dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: vaal papadi methi ringa nu shak
Servings: -4
Author: Mina Joshi

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh Vaal papdi ( can also use tinned or frozen)
  • 2 medium aubergines - cut into cubes
  • 1 cup of fresh fenugreek (methi)- Can also use frozen
  • 1 cup tomatoes (fresh, tinned, passata all fine)
  • 1 tbls oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • salt (to taste)
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp dhana jiru (a mixture of coriander and cumin powder)
  • chili powder to taste
  • 3-4 cloves garlic which should be really crushed finely
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil

Instructions

  • Heat the 1 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan with a lid and add the mustard  seeds to the hot oil and cover until the popping stops.
  • Lower the heat and add the vaal papdi.   Add the garlic, chili powder, turmeric and the dhana jiru and stir.   Add half a cup of water and allow this to cook for 3-4 minutes. 
  • Add the fenugreek and aubergines to the curry and allow it to cook for five minutes with the lid on. If the curry looks too dry, add half a cup of water to it. 
  • Once the aubergines and vaal papdi have softened add the tomatoes to it and allow to cook for a further 2-3 minutes.  Don’t worry if your curry does not have the traditional red colour as it is difficult to get that red sauce with the kind of vegetables we have used.  Taste and adjust any spices to your preference.
  • Serve with any Indian bread such as chappatis or parathas

If  you have a hunger for Authentic Vegetarian Food then subscribe to my blog and receive delectable recipes and new Innovative foodie updates! Hungry for more Vegetarian Tips ? LIKE us on facebook,  Follow us on Twitter,  Pinterest and Instagram.  All the recipes are with step by step instructions and photographs and all of them have been tried, tested, easy to cook and delicious.

If you are interested in one to one or group cookery lessons, or any corporate team building events  – email me on givemesomespice@gmail.com for more information.