Papdi nu Shaak is a simple Gujarati shaak made with hyacinth beans, a little garlic and basic Indian spices. Simple and easy - just what we like from our every day curries!

Note – This recipe has been updated from the archives – first published in March 2015. The recipe remains the same and I’ve added new images.
The papdi used in this recipe different to the papdi in valor papdi ringan nu shaak and surti papdi which is used in surti undhiyu.
The main tip I have for you is to make the shaak pretty quickly after purchasing the vegetables. My family live quite far from Indian grocery shops and we end up buying the vegetables in bulk. I've noticed that shaak made with the freshest vegetables taste best whilst the ones sitting in the fridge for a few days loose flavour.
So, for the best flavour, buy, and make on the same day if possible, or the day after.
Having said that, papdi will store in the fridge for a few days before spoiling - they just loose their freshness. Cooking them whilst green makes all the different, and your shaak will taste much more vibrant.
On to the recipe ...
Recipe Details
The shaak itself takes just 5 minutes to put together. The only bit that takes some time is preparing the papdi.
You need to peel away the stringy parts and then cut or tear into bite sized pieces.
After that, it's a simple vaghar of ajmo (ajwain seeds), toss the papdi in with some minced garlic, add the spice powders and let it all cook. My Mum uses a pressure cooker but it's easy to make on the stove too!
To give it that typical Gujarati flavour, we finish it with lemon juice and a pinch of sugar.
Serve it simply with Gujarati rotli and Gujarati dal or sometimes kadhi. Also great with bajri na rotla and Gujarati lasan ni chutney.

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Papdi Nu Shaak
Ingredients
- 500 gram papdi
- 4 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon ajwain carom seeds
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic optional
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoon dhana jeeru powder coriander and cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- salt
- coriander leaves to garnish
Instructions
- Wash the papdi thoroughly in water.
- Take each papdi, remove the string and separate into two parts.
Pressure Cooker
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
- Add carom seeds, once they crackle, add minced garlic and fry for few seconds.
- Add papdi and all the masala along with salt.
- Mix well and add less than ¼ cup water.
- Close the cooker lid and cook for one whistle.
- Let the pressure cooker cool naturally.
- Add sugar and lemon, mix and garnish with the chopped coriander leaves.
Stovetop
- Heat oil in a kadai or heavy based pan, add carom seeds and garlic and fry for a few seconds.
- Then tip in prepared papdi and all the spice powders with salt.
- Mix well, add ¼ cup of water and cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook the shaak on medium to low heat for 7-8 minutes, check in between and stir. You may need to add a couple of tablespoons water if the shaak is not done.
- Once all the water is evaporated and the papdi cooked until tender, turn off the heat.
- Sprinkle sugar and lemon juice, mix well and add chopped coriander.
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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super delicious and healthy curry recipe.
Thank you Induji !