Sindhi Kadhi

Sindhi Kadhi

Sindhi Kadhi

Veg Vegan

The singular signature of Sindhi cooking — a vegetable-laden curry thickened entirely with besan (chickpea flour) rather than yogurt, making it the only major Indian kadhi that is simultaneously vegan and deeply savoury. Besan is first dry-roasted in oil until golden and nutty, then tamarind water is added slowly while stirring to prevent lumps, the whole brought to a simmer with drumstick, potato, lotus root, cluster beans, tomato, and brinjal. The result is a thick, dark-golden, intensely tangy-savoury gravy with a substantial lentil-flour body; the tamarind's sourness and the toasted chickpea flour's nuttiness create a flavour profile unlike any other Indian curry. Poured generously over rice or eaten with koki at every Sindhi lunch.

Cuisines

Sindhi

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 cup tamarind pulp
2 cups mixed vegetables (okra, potatoes, carrots, drumsticks)
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander

Instructions

  1. 1 In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat.
  2. 2 Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and fenugreek seeds. Allow them to splutter.
  3. 3 Add asafoetida and gram flour. Roast the gram flour until it turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma.
  4. 4 Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Stir well.
  5. 5 Gradually add water while continuously stirring to avoid lumps.
  6. 6 Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
  7. 7 Add the mixed vegetables and salt. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.
  8. 8 Stir in the tamarind pulp and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
  9. 9 Adjust the seasoning if necessary and garnish with chopped fresh coriander before serving.

Tips

To enhance the flavor, you can add a pinch of garam masala towards the end of cooking.