Sem ki phalli ka salan
I am a non-vegetarian, no doubt, but there is some sort of comfort in simple and fresh vegetable preparations. Whenever I visit the grocery market I am always on the lookout of fresh Indian vegetables, and الحمد لله Toronto has many if not all of the regualr Indian vegetables to fulfill South-Asian’s taste buds.
Sem ki phalli ~ Indian broad beans
Sem ki phalli, as these beans are called in Urdu language, (Chikkudu kaya in Telugu) (also called as Valor papdi or Hyacinth Beans or Indian Broad beans) are one of my favorite vegetables. They are also sometimes available frozen in the cold sections of the markets.
characters in play –
clockwise from top: chopped Indian broad beans, onion, stir-fried suya nuggets, dill leaves, and tomatoes
This simple curry that I have made with whatever I had in the refrigerator that day was nourishing and flavorsome. We enjoyed it along with Dahi ki Kadi, Parathas and some plain rice for lunch yesterday.
Sem ki phalli, tamatar aur soya ka salan – Indian broad beans along with soya granules in tomato sauce
Ingredients:
Soya nuggets – 1 cup
Canola oil – 4 tbsp
White/Yellow Onion – 1, large, finely sliced
Tomatoes – 4, large, finely chopped (or) Canned crushed tomatoes – 1/3 cup
Red chilli powder – 1 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Sem ki phalli – around 1 kg, topped and tailed and fibrous side strings removed, each bean slit into two and then chopped into pieces ( as shown in the picture above)
Dill leaves/Suva bhaji – 1/4 cup, finely chopped
Sem ki phalli, tamatar aur soya ka salan
Method:
1. Soak soya nuggets in surplus cool water for 1-2 hours. Later, squeeze them, drain the water and put the squeezed nuggets in a dry bowl. Add fresh cool water to it and again squeeze them, drain the water and put them in a bowl. Repeat this about 5-8 times, until there is no lather in the water when you squeeze them while washing them up. This is important, otherwise the lather in soya will cause severe flatulence. So, be careful there. In a small frying pan, pour 1 1/2 tbsp oil and as soon as it warms up, add the squeezed washed soya nuggets and stir fry them until lightly browned on all sides. Remove in a bowl and keep aside.
2. Pour 2 1/2 tbsp oil in a medium saucepan at medium high heat and as soon as it warms up add the sliced onions. Stir fry until just lightly browned. Add chopped tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes-whatever you are using, and red chilli powder, salt, turmeric powder. Mix well and pour 1 cup warm water. Let cook covered for 3 minutes. Lower heat to medium low and add the chopped beans and stir fried soya nuggets and mix well. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally.
Suva bhaji/Dill leaves
3. Once the beans are tender, add the dill leaves and mix well. Cook uncovered for a few more minutes until the moisture is evaporated. Serve warm with rotis or rice.
This simple veggie preparation goes to Meeta’s ‘Monthly Mingle‘. Sudeshna of ‘Cook like a Bong‘ is the guest host this month for this event with a theme of ‘Winter Fruits and Vegetables‘.
Luv,
Mona
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January 9th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Mona,
I love board beans, subzi looks good. i miss board beans here.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Should try this delicious dish soon..looks yummy!!
January 9th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I love these beans! They taste super even with a simple baghar. I love your preparation. Looks delicious.
January 10th, 2010 at 12:04 am
its ages since i heard that… sem ki phalli!!
January 10th, 2010 at 1:55 am
delicious dish Looks delicious tooooooooooo thx
January 10th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Mona, we can use meat and sem ki phalli. Did you try this.
Jyothi, I often add qimah to this phalli but not meat cubes. ~Mona
January 10th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Hi
Love your site. Could you please give me the location of Allhamdulillah Ontario where I could get the produce.I do recall in one of your episodes you had mentioned how to prevent raw onion paste from turning bitter after cooking. Would be grateful if you could refresh my memory on this.
Thanks and regards
Neville
Neville, mailed you. ~Mona
January 10th, 2010 at 11:30 am
hello mona
$I love the smell of the dill leaves and like very much to cook it
I am pierre a french foodie I have a blog on french inventive cuisine have a visit yoyu are very welcome door is open Cheers from paris Pierre
January 10th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Mona,
Thats a yummy recipe. If you wish please do send this recipe to the Monthly Mingle: Winter Vegetables and Fruits being hosted this month in our blog. Deadline is 11th Jan.
Sudeshna, Sure I will. ~Mona
January 10th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Mona
This is a lovely curry.
I wanted to let you know I have a giveaway on my blog with goodies from Lebanon if interested.
Take care, Joumana
January 10th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
hello mona
nice , healthy, new recipe.
soya is always good for health esp for women.
i usually make sem ki phalli with meat or dil leaves with palak.
also i also tried to make vegetarian chicken 65 recipe with hard tofu available in nondesi grocery stores.
i used tofu instead of chicken for my veg freinds and boy they luv it everytime.
take care
rizruby
Rizruby, Tofu 65 sounds good! ~Mona
January 11th, 2010 at 2:17 am
Hi any substitute for dill leaves. if not, can it be omitted from the recipe? thanks mona.
Zee, omit dill leaves if it is not available. You can however add fresh chopped cilantro instead for a different flavor. ~Mona
January 11th, 2010 at 4:33 am
I love broad beans too; nice recipe to try!!
January 11th, 2010 at 6:02 am
i love sem ki phalli… never tried with meat though.. this looks awesome!.will try soon.
January 11th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Love those flat beans, but I hardly get them here. Dill is available 24/7 here. Dish looks yum.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Delicious broad bean sabzi, i loved the addition of soy granules!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Hi Mona
Did not receive your mail as mentioned by you.
Regards
Neville
Neville, I guess you didn’t receive my earlier mail, mailed you once again just now, please check your inbox. ~Mona
January 13th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Flat beans w/ tomatoes is my fav veg preparation..thanks for the idea of adding soya..
January 15th, 2010 at 3:11 am
hi Mona,
I usually prepare this curry with 2 or 3 brinjals,1 potato,along with some fenugreek leaves ,try this, even this is yummy along with rotis.
Renu, thanks, I will. ~Mona
January 30th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Hi,Mona tried this recipe but i used mutton,it came out superb.Thanks 4 the recipe.tc
March 5th, 2010 at 5:43 am
what is soya nugget??
Atika, you can get Soya nuggets/chunks or ‘Soya Bari’ in most of the grocery stores. They are made from Soya bean flour and taste meat like. The pictures I have posted above show how they look. ~Mona
July 19th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
can i omit soya nuggets?
i want to try this with potatoes only?
Sana, you can lightly shallow fry quartered potatoes and add them instead of soya nuggets in the recipe.