Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Amrud ki Subzi
Amrud ki Subzi (Guava Curry)

Amrud ki Subzi

Guava Curry
Vegetarian●●●Origin RajasthanPrep 20 minutesCook 10–15 minutes

A quick, tangy, and spiced fruit curry of fresh guava simmered in an aromatic sauce seasoned with cumin and lime.

Tempering spices

2.1 gFried in the hot oil (step 1)
01
2.1 g1 teaspoon
spice
Keep whole: they go into the hot oil together.

Ground spice paste

10 gStir-fried after tempering (step 2)
Mix with 4 tablespoons of water to form a loose paste.

Everything else

01
27 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
02
to taste
sweetener
03
31 g2 tablespoons
souring agent
04
Guava · Amroodde-seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces
500 g
fruit
05
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Warm 27 g vegetable oil in a medium pan over medium heat, tip in the tempering spices, and fry for about 1 minute until crackling.
  2. Lower the heat to low, stir in the ground spice paste, and fry gently for approximately 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in granulated sugar to taste alongside 30.6 g lime juice, then simmer for 1 minute.
  4. Tumble in 500 g guava (de-seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces) and cook for roughly 5 minutes until thoroughly coated in the spiced gravy, then season with salt to taste.

Don't have something?

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Chilli powder
  • Red chilli powder

    Use 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.

  • Kashmiri chilli powder

    Use 150% to 200% of the weight if matching colour, but add a pinch of black pepper or hot chilli if you need equivalent fiery heat.

  • Cayenne pepper

    Use 75% to 100% of the weight. Offers a sharp, clean heat with slightly less earthy depth and less crimson colour.

Ground turmeric
  • Ground ginger

    Use 50% of the weight. Mimics turmeric's warm, earthy, rhizome background, but provides none of the golden-yellow colour.

  • Saffron

    Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Cumin seed
  • Ground cumin

    Use 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.

  • Black cumin seeds

    Use equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Garlic paste
  • Garlic

    Use equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 20 to 25% of the weight; mix with a teaspoon of water before adding to oil so it does not burn, noting it lacks the fresh bite.

Granulated sugar
  • Jaggery

    Use equal weight; grate or shave finely so it dissolves rapidly, giving a warm, caramel-like sweetness and slightly darker sauce.

Lime juice
  • Lemon juice

    Use equal volume or weight; slightly sweeter and less pungent, but otherwise an imperceptible swap.

  • Dried mango powder

    Use 25% of the weight; imparts dry, fruity sourness, best stirred in right at the end of cooking.

  • Tamarind extract

    Use 50% of the weight; delivers pleasant fruity tang but turns pale sauces considerably darker.

Guava
  • Pear

    Use the same weight; peel and core. Firmer and milder, so cook a few minutes longer and add lime juice for tartness.

  • Green apple

    Use the same weight; peel and core. More tart and holds shape; add a little sugar if needed.

  • Apple

    Use the same weight; peel and core. Sweeter and softer, so reduce cooking time slightly.

Similar dishes

Tikha Maslyatil Tali Macchi
Piquant Fish Fry
Tikha Maslyatil Tali Macchi is significantly more fiery, savory, and pungent, lacking the sweet undertones of this dish.
  • Same: Tikha Maslyatil Tali Macchi shares vegetable oil, lime juice as the souring agent, garlic paste, turmeric, chilli powder, and coriander with this dish.
  • Different: Instead of simmering fruit in a sweetened gravy with cumin seeds, it marinates fish in ginger paste, ground cumin, and fresh green chillies before frying.
Kumhare ki Subzi
Dry Spicy Pumpkin
Kumhare ki Subzi tastes earthier, drier, and gently bitter from fenugreek, offering the concentrated tartness of amchoor rather than the juicy, garlicky citrus tang of this dish.
  • Same: Kumhare ki Subzi also balances sweet and sour flavors using cumin seeds, chilli powder, turmeric, ground coriander, and sugar.
  • Different: Instead of simmering guava in a saucy garlic and lime base, Kumhare ki Subzi is a dry mashed pumpkin preparation seasoned with fenugreek seeds, fresh green chillies, and amchoor.
Kande ki Subzi
Spicy Onions in Sauce
Kande ki Subzi is richer, more pungent, and earthy-sour from amchoor and tomatoes, lacking the light, sweet citrus tang of this dish.
  • Same: Both curries use vegetable oil and share a spice base of cumin seeds, garlic, turmeric, ground coriander, and chilli powder.
  • Different: Kande ki Subzi braises spice-stuffed whole onions in a tomato sauce with ginger, green chillies, and amchoor, whereas this dish simmers fresh guava with lime juice and sugar.
Khatte Meethe Baigan
Sweet & Sour Minty Aubergine (Eggplant)
Khatte Meethe Baigan tastes earthier and herbal with deep tamarind tang, whereas this dish is lighter and more sharply citrusy from lime juice.
  • Same: Khatte Meethe Baigan uses vegetable oil and shares cumin seed, ground coriander, chilli powder, turmeric, and garlic paste with this dish.
  • Different: Instead of quick-simmered guava, it braises whole mint-stuffed aubergine in an onion gravy seasoned with tamarind extract, jaggery, ginger paste, and garam masala.