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Sem ki sabzi (flat beans with potato)
Sem aloo ki sabzi (सेम की सब्ज़ी): dry flat broad beans and potato with ajwain, from North Indian winter kitchens
When flat green sem pods fill the sabzi carts in Lucknow and Jaipur in winter, they go into this dry stir-fry with potato and a crackle of ajwain, the classic partner for paratha in an office dabba. The beans stay a little firm and sweet, the potato soaks up the spices, and nothing drips into the roti. The mistake is leaving the stringy edges on the pods; they never soften. Snap the tip and pull the string down each side before chopping. Chef's tip: cook covered for the first half to steam the beans tender, then uncover and turn up the heat so the potatoes catch and brown.
- Total time
- 32 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz flat green beans (sem, papdi or broad flat beans)strings removed, cut into 2 cm pieces
- 1 potatoabout 200 g, peeled and cut into 1.5 cm cubes
- 2 tbsp mustard or sunflower oil
- ½ tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 green chillichopped
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ¾ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp mustard or sunflower oil in a kadai over a medium heat until it shimmers (if using mustard oil, heat until it just smokes, then cool for 30 seconds). Add ½ tsp ajwain (carom seeds) and ½ tsp cumin seeds and let them crackle.
2 minStep 2: Add 1 green chilli and 1 tsp fresh ginger and stir for 20 seconds, then add 1 potato and stir-fry for 3 minutes until the edges look translucent.
3 minStep 3: Add 10 ½ oz flat green beans (sem, papdi or broad flat beans), ¼ tsp ground turmeric, 1 ½ tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp red chilli powder and ¾ tsp salt and toss well. Sprinkle over 2 tablespoons of water.
1 minStep 4: Cover and cook on a low heat for 10–12 minutes, stirring twice, until a knife slides easily through the potato and the beans are tender.
12 minStep 5: Uncover, turn the heat to medium and fry for 3–4 minutes until dry and lightly browned in places. Stir in ½ tsp amchur (dried mango powder). Cool before packing with parathas or rotis.
4 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sem ki sabzi (flat beans with potato) take?
- About 32 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 22 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of cumin seeds?
- Ground cumin, three quarters of the amount (add it with the other ground spices, not to hot oil first).
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