Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Jaipuri Subz Seekh
Jaipuri Subz Seekh (Rajasthani Vegetarian Skewers)

Jaipuri Subz Seekh

Rajasthani Vegetarian Skewers
Vegetarian●●●Origin RajasthanPrep 1½ hours, plus cooling timeCook 3–4 minutes

Rich vegetarian skewers made from mashed colocasia root, paneer, and khoya, seasoned with aromatic spices and grilled until lightly charred.

Potli whole spices

6 gTied into muslin and boiled with the colocasia (step 1)
01
0.6 g8 cloves
spice
04
1.2 g¼ nutmeg
spice
Keep whole and tie securely into a small cloth bundle.

Ground masala

19 gMixed into the mashed skewer base (step 3)
01
13 g5 teaspoons
souring agent
04
0.4 g¼ teaspoon
spice
05
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice
Stir together until evenly blended.

Everything else

01
500 g
vegetable
02
150 g
dairy
03
Milk solids · Khoyagrated or 125g / 4¼oz (¾ cup) milk powder (dry milk)Make it: Khoya →
125 g
dairy
04
Ginger · Adrakpeeled and chopped
12 g1 piece
aromatic
05
4.8 g2 tablespoons
herb
06
7 g2 teaspoons
vegetable
07
to taste
salt
08
4.5 g1 teaspoon
salt

Method

  1. Wrap the potli whole spices in a piece of muslin and tie it tightly with kitchen twine. Bring a pan of water to a boil, drop in 500 g colocasia and the spice pouch, and simmer until the colocasia is thoroughly tender.
  2. Drain the contents of the pan, throw away the spice pouch, and let the colocasia cool. Peel the skin away and mash the flesh until smooth.
  3. Transfer the mashed colocasia to a mixing bowl along with 150 g paneer, 125 g khoya, 12 g ginger, 6.6 g green chilli, 0.3 g fenugreek, 1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds, 2 tablespoon mint, 1 teaspoon black rock salt, the ground masala, and salt to taste. Mash everything together using a potato masher into a cohesive mixture.
  4. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and shape them into round balls.
  5. Fire up a charcoal grill or preheat an oven grill (broiler) to medium heat. Wet your hands slightly, press the balls onto metal skewers, and mould each into a smooth cylinder roughly 10 cm (4 inches) long.
  6. Grill the skewers for 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally until nicely browned on all sides.

Don't have something?

Colocasia
  • Potato

    Use the same weight. Peel, cut into similar pieces and parboil for 5 minutes before adding; it cooks faster than colocasia, so add later and simmer 10–15 minutes. The dish will be less sticky and nutty.

  • Sweet potato

    Use the same weight. Peel and cut into chunks; it softens faster and turns sweeter, so reduce cooking time by about 5 minutes and adjust sugar or tamarind if the recipe has any.

  • Indian yam

    Use the same weight. Peel, cut into pieces and cook 5–10 minutes longer than colocasia; it holds its shape well but is less slippery.

Ground dried pomegranate seed
Paneer
  • Extra-firm tofu

    Use equal weight, pressed well to remove excess moisture and cut into cubes. Pan-fry lightly before adding; absorbs sauces similarly, though it lacks dairy sweetness.

  • Halloumi

    Use equal weight, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes to leach out excess salt. Holds shape during frying, but has a denser, saltier chew.

Khoya
  • Whole milk

    Use 4 times the weight of milk; simmer and stir continuously in a wide heavy pan until reduced to a dense, fudgy paste.

  • Paneer

    Use equal weight of finely crumbled or grated paneer mixed with 15% single cream; gives similar body but a less caramelised, milk-solid flavour.

  • Single cream

    Simmer gently until heavily reduced, or stir in directly at 70% weight; produces rich gravies without the granular bite of khoya.

Ground dried fenugreek leaf
Ginger
  • Fresh ginger

    Use equal weight; scrape off the skin and grate or finely julienne according to the recipe.

  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight; stir straight into the sizzling aromatics, taking care as the extra moisture may spit.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 15 to 20% of the weight; add alongside ground spices, noting it imparts warm, dry heat rather than zesty freshness.

Mint leaf
  • Mint leaves

    Use the same weight; identical herb, just the plural listing.

  • Dried mint

    Use 25% of the fresh weight, about 1 g dried for 4 g fresh; crush between fingers. Flavour is stronger and slightly hay-like.

  • Coriander leaf

    Use the same weight; it gives a fresh green note but not true mint flavour.

Green chilli
  • Chilli powder

    Use 10 to 15% of the weight (about 1/4 teaspoon per chilli); imparts dry pungent heat and reddens the dish without the grassy crunch.

  • Dried red chilli

    Use 1 dried pod per fresh green chilli; snap in half and temper in hot oil for a deeper, toastier heat.

Clove
  • Ground cloves

    Use 1 g ground for 4 g whole (or 1 small pinch per 2 to 3 whole cloves). Add with spice powders; disperses intense warmth quickly, so use with restraint.

  • Allspice berries

    Use 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

  • Black cardamom pod

    Use 1 pod for 3 to 4 cloves in whole tempering. Shares a camphor-like warmth and medicinal depth, though it introduces a distinct smoky undertone.

Black cardamom pod
  • Ground black cardamom

    Use 0.5 g of ground seeds for each whole pod. Stir directly into the curry base; delivers identical smoky flavour without woody husks.

  • Green cardamom pod

    Use equal pod count or weight. Crack slightly and fry whole; tastes sweet, menthol-fresh, and floral rather than dark and smoky.

Green cardamom pod
  • Green cardamom seed

    Use 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.

  • Ground green cardamom

    Use 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.

  • White cardamom pod

    Use 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Nutmeg
  • Ground nutmeg

    Use equal weight, or roughly 1/2 teaspoon for half a whole nutmeg. Stir in near the end of cooking as pre-ground loses aroma quickly.

  • Mace blade

    Use about 70% of the weight, finely ground. Mace comes from the same fruit and provides a very similar but slightly lighter, more floral warmth.

  • Ground mace

    Use equal weight. Delivers a slightly sharper, more delicate sweetness to rich kormas and biryanis.

Amchoor
  • Lemon juice

    Use 15 g (1 tbsp) for every 5 g of amchoor. Stir in at the very end off the heat; adds liquid and fresh citrus aroma rather than dry fruity tang.

  • Tamarind extract

    Use 75% of the weight, dissolved in a splash of warm water. Simmer briefly; darkens the gravy and provides a deeper, caramelised sourness.

Ground green cardamom
  • Green cardamom seed

    Grind freshly extracted inner black seeds finely; use equal weight (1:1). Greatly superior aroma with potent eucalyptus and citrus notes.

  • Green cardamom pod

    Lightly crack whole pods and simmer them in the gravy; use 150% of the weight of ground cardamom. Fish out the pods before serving.

  • Ground nutmeg

    Use 50% of the weight. Delivers warm, sweet aroma, but lacks cardamom's cooling, citrusy top notes.

Ground black pepper
  • Black peppercorn

    Use 1:1 by weight; pulverise in a spice mill or mortar to a fine powder for immediate, punchy heat.

  • Coarsely ground black pepper

    Use equal weight; offers the same bite, though it gives a visibly speckled finish and firmer crunch.

Ground mace
  • Mace blade

    Grind dried blades finely in a spice mill; use equal weight (1:1). Provides an identical, freshly aromatic, sweet-musky profile.

  • Ground nutmeg

    Use 75% to 80% of the weight. Derived from the seed of the same tree, it shares the flavour profile but is heavier, sweeter, and more pungent.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use 50% of the weight. Adds warming sweetness, but lacks mace's savoury, elegant floral notes.

Ground cumin
  • Cumin seed

    Dry-roast briefly and grind finely; use equal weight (1:1). Imparts an even punchier, nuttier, toasty aroma than pre-ground cumin.

  • Ground coriander

    Use equal weight (1:1). Adds mild, lemony sweetness rather than cumin's smoky, earthy bite; curries will taste lighter and less savoury.

  • Black cumin seeds

    Grind finely; use 60% to 75% of the weight. Produces a darker, more complex, smoky-herbal flavour suited to rich gravies.

Similar dishes

Subz ke Kakori
Vegetarian Skewers
Subz ke Kakori is distinctly sweeter and fruitier, with a much sharper chilli heat balancing the richness.
  • Same: Both skewers share a rich base of mashed colocasia, paneer, and khoya seasoned with amchoor, ginger, cumin, cloves, and cardamoms.
  • Different: Subz ke Kakori adds almonds and dried plums, uses significantly more green chillies, and omits black rock salt.
Subz Seekh
Vegetarian Seekh Kebabs
Subz Seekh tastes sweeter, fruitier, and significantly spicier from the dried plums and heavy measure of green chillies, whereas this dish is richer and milkier.
  • Same: Subz Seekh shares a paneer base, seekh-style grilling, and seasonings like amchoor, ginger, green cardamom, black pepper, and mace.
  • Different: Subz Seekh relies on potatoes, dried plums, and almonds roasted with vegetable oil, lacking the khoya, colocasia, clove, nutmeg, and cumin used in this dish.
Malai Kofta
Stuffed Paneer Dumplings
Malai Kofta tastes creamy, mild, nutty-sweet, and tomato-tangy, while this dish tastes earthy from colocasia with a sharper amchoor sourness, mint-green chilli heat, and a light grilled char.
  • Same: Malai Kofta shares paneer, khoya, and warm spices such as green cardamom, black cardamom, clove, and mace with this dish.
  • Different: Malai Kofta adds clotted cream, cashews, raisins, chickpea flour, tomato, cashew paste, and vegetable stock, and it is fried and simmered in gravy, while this dish uses colocasia, amchoor, pomegranate seed, mint, fenugreek leaf, and black rock salt and is grilled as skewers.
Paneer Jaipuri
Rajasthani Curried Paneer
Paneer Jaipuri tastes creamy, tangy, and saffron-sweet-spiced, while this dish tastes smoky and charred with earthy colocasia and sour amchoor and pomegranate notes.
  • Same: Paneer Jaipuri and this dish both use paneer and warm aromatic spices such as green cardamom, clove, and mace.
  • Different: Paneer Jaipuri is a yogurt-and-cashew curry with onion, saffron, vegetable stock, cream, and ghee or oil, while this dish is a grilled skewer mix of mashed colocasia, paneer, and khoya with amchoor, pomegranate seed, mint, fenugreek leaf, and black rock salt.