Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Shadras Subziyan
Shadras Subziyan (Stir-fried Vegetables)

Shadras Subziyan

Stir-fried Vegetables
VegetarianPrep 1½ hoursCook 6 minutes

A vibrant North Indian medley of crisp-tender vegetables tossed with mustard, ginger, and cracked peppercorns in a rich, spiced tomato sauce.

Whole spices for the gravy

2.1 gFried in oil to start the gravy (step 2)
01
2.1 g1 teaspoon
spice
Keep whole: they go into the hot oil.

Cracked spices for the stir-fry

8 gBloomed in the skillet with the garlic (step 3)
01
5 g3 teaspoons
spice
02
2.9 g1 teaspoon
spice
Crush coarsely: they go into the pan together.

Ground spices

14 gStir-fried with the vegetables (step 4)
02
3 g1 teaspoon
spice
03
Cumin seed · Jeeraroasted and crushed
2.1 g1 teaspoon
spice
04
3.3 g1 teaspoon
spice
Stir together to combine.

Finishing spice

2.6 gStirred in at the end (step 5)
01
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice blend
Keep separate to stir in at the end.

Everything else

01
Broccolicut into florets
400 g1 head
vegetable
02
Courgette · Zucchinitrimmed and cut into diamond shapes
200 g1 courgette
vegetable
03
Baby corncut into diamond shapes
50 g
vegetable
04
Asparagus spearcut into diamond shapes
160 g10 spears
vegetable
05
50 g
vegetable
06
Bell pepper · Shimla Mirchcut in half, cored and cut into diamond shapes
120 g1 pepper
vegetable
07
40 g3 tablespoons
oil/fat
08
Onion · Pyazfinely chopped
150 g1 onion
vegetable
09
Tomato · Tamatarfinely chopped
100 g
vegetable
10
62 g4 tablespoons
vegetable
11
Ginger · Adrakpeeled and finely chopped
12 g1 piece
aromatic
12
Green chilli · Hari Mirchde-seeded and finely chopped
30 g5 chillies
vegetable
13
Coriander · Dhaniafinely chopped, plus extra to garnish
15 g
herb
14
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Drop in 1 head of broccoli florets and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then lift out with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into cold running water; drain thoroughly. Blanch 1 trimmed courgette, 50 g baby corn, and 10 asparagus spears for 2 to 3 minutes, then chill in cold water and drain. Blanch 50 g mushrooms for 1 to 2 minutes, cool under running water, and drain. Keep all blanched vegetables together with 1 cored bell pepper.
  2. Warm 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Tip in the whole spices for the gravy and let them sizzle for 1 to 2 minutes until crackling. Add 150 g finely chopped onion and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until pale golden. Stir in 100 g finely chopped tomato with salt to taste and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until soft and pulpy. Mix in 4 tablespoons of tomato purée and simmer until the oil starts separating from the sauce. Remove from the heat and set this red gravy aside.
  3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large wok or frying pan over medium heat. Add 20 g finely chopped garlic and fry until pale golden, then toss in the cracked spices for the stir-fry and cook until toasted and deep brown.
  4. Add the blanched vegetables and bell pepper to the skillet and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons of mustard paste, 12 g finely chopped ginger, 30 g finely chopped green chilli, and the ground spices. Keep stir-frying over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the surface moisture has cooked off.
  5. Tip the reserved red gravy into the pan and raise the heat to high. Toss continuously for 1 to 2 minutes to thoroughly coat the vegetables in the bubbling sauce. Stir through 15 g finely chopped coriander and the finishing spice, then taste and adjust the salt. Transfer to a warm serving dish, scatter over extra fresh coriander, and serve immediately.

Don't have something?

Broccoli
  • Cauliflower

    Use the same weight; break into similar florets and cook 2 minutes longer. It is milder and less green.

  • Cauliflower floret

    Use the same weight; cut to broccoli-floret size and cook until just tender.

  • Broccoli or cauliflower

    Use the same weight; choose whichever you have and cut into even florets.

Courgette
  • Bottle gourd

    Use the same weight. Peel and deseed if large; cook 5 minutes longer. Similar bland, watery flesh.

  • Snake gourd

    Use the same weight. Peel and deseed; similar texture, slightly firmer.

  • Ridge gourd

    Use the same weight. Peel; firmer and holds shape better in curries.

Baby corn
  • Sweetcorn kernel

    Use the same weight; add 2 minutes later. It is sweeter and softer, with no crunch.

  • Canned sweetcorn kernel

    Use the same weight, drained; add at the end and simmer 2 minutes. Softer and less sweet than fresh.

  • Green bean

    Use the same weight, cut into 4 cm lengths; cook 2 minutes longer. Less sweet but keeps a crunch.

Asparagus spear
  • French green bean

    Use the same weight; top and tail and blanch 1 minute longer. It is less grassy and has no tip, but keeps a similar snap.

  • Green bean

    Use the same weight; top and tail and cook 1–2 minutes longer. It is softer and less sweet.

  • Baby corn

    Use the same weight; halve lengthwise and cook 2 minutes more. It is crunchier and sweeter, not grassy.

Mushroom
  • Button mushroom

    Use the same weight, wipe and slice; cook 5-7 minutes. They release water, so reduce the sauce if needed.

  • Fresh mushroom

    Use the same weight; treat as button mushrooms, slicing thickly so they do not collapse.

  • Dried morel

    Use 20-30 g dried for 100 g fresh; soak 20 minutes, rinse well and use the soaking liquid. The flavour is much earthier.

Bell pepper
  • Red bell pepper

    Use the same weight; sweet and bright. Cook for the same time.

  • Green bell pepper

    Use the same weight; sharper and slightly bitter, so it needs 2–3 minutes more cooking.

  • Yellow bell pepper

    Use the same weight; sweeter and softer, with the same cooking time.

Oil
  • Vegetable oil

    Use the same weight. It is neutral and behaves the same in frying and tempering; no noticeable change in flavour.

  • Corn or vegetable oil

    Use the same weight. Neutral and good for high heat; the dish will taste virtually the same.

  • Groundnut oil

    Use the same weight. It has a mild nutty flavour and is good for Indian cooking; heat until just hot, not smoking, so the nuttiness does not dominate.

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.

Coriander seeds
  • Ground coriander

    Use 75% of the weight; stir in along with wet masala or tomato purée rather than frying in hot oil, as the fine powder burns instantly.

  • Cumin seed

    Use 50% of the weight for tempering in hot oil. Lacks the floral, sweet citrus flavour of coriander, introducing warm, pungent earthiness instead.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 50% of the weight in tempering; provides pleasant aromatic sweetness, though noticeably aniseedy rather than citrusy.

Onion
  • Shallot

    Use equal weight, finely sliced. Shallots soften and brown faster, giving a slightly sweeter and more delicate base to curries.

  • Cabbage

    Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.

Tomato
  • Tomato purée

    Use 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.

  • Plain yogurt

    Use 60% of the weight, whisked smooth and added on low heat. Provides rich body and sourness, though the gravy becomes paler and creamier.

Tomato purée
  • Tomato

    Use 200% to 250% of the weight. Finely grate or blend fresh tomatoes, then cook them down until the moisture evaporates and the oil separates.

Garlic clove
  • Garlic paste

    Use the same weight; about 1 clove weighs 3 g, so 3 g paste per clove.

  • Crushed garlic

    Use the same weight; crush just before adding so the flavour stays fresh.

  • Garlic powder

    Use one-third of the weight, about 1 g powder for 3 g fresh clove; add a little water if the recipe needs moisture.

Black peppercorn
  • Coarsely ground black pepper

    Use 75% of the weight. Add midway through simmering; spreads heat evenly through the dish instead of delivering isolated bursts.

  • Ground black pepper

    Use 50% of the weight. Stir in near the end of cooking; significantly darkens light gravies and provides an immediate, sharp bite.

Mustard paste
  • Mustard powder

    Use half the weight and mix with an equal weight of water; let stand 5 minutes. 1 g powder plus 1 g water makes about 2 g paste.

  • Mustard seed

    Use half the weight; soak in water 30 minutes and grind to a paste, adding water as needed. 1 g seed makes about 2 g paste.

  • Wholegrain mustard

    Use the same weight; it contains vinegar and sugar, so reduce other vinegar or lemon and salt slightly. Milder and chunkier.

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.

Ground fenugreek
  • Fenugreek seeds

    Grind whole seeds finely in a spice grinder; use equal weight (1:1). Ensure it cooks through gently, as undercooked or burnt ground seeds become intensely bitter.

  • Dried fenugreek leaves

    Crush dried leaves between your palms and add towards the end; use 50% of the weight. Gives the unmistakable maple-herb aroma without the sharp bitterness of the seeds.

  • Yellow mustard seeds

    Grind finely; use 50% of the weight. Adds an earthy, sharp bite, though it lacks the distinctive sweet-curry smell.

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.

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.

Coriander
  • Coriander leaf

    Use equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.

  • Mint

    Use 40% to 50% of the weight; chop finely and add at the very end. Adds fresh herbal brightness, but shifts the aroma toward cool menthol.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Similar dishes

Subzi Panchmel
Mixed Vegetables (II)
Subzi Panchmel has a sharper, more pungent garlic-and-mustard flavor with mild pepper heat, lacking the intense chilli bite and complex, earthy warm spices of this dish.
  • Same: Subzi Panchmel is also a North Indian vegetable stir-fry built on an onion and tomato base spiced with fresh ginger, coriander seeds, and black pepper.
  • Different: Subzi Panchmel cooks in mustard oil with garlic and double the onions, but omits this dish's cumin, green chillies, chilli powder, turmeric, fenugreek, and garam masala.
Amritsari Tawa Murg
Pan-fried Amritsari Chicken
Amritsari Tawa Murg is savory, peppery and lemon-bright with ghee-rich chicken, while this dish is crisp-tender and vegetal with mustard, ginger and cracked pepper in tomato sauce.
  • Same: Amritsari Tawa Murg and this dish both use tomato, ginger, garlic, green chilli, coriander, garam masala, black pepper, cumin and fenugreek in a North Indian masala base.
  • Different: Amritsari Tawa Murg uses boneless chicken leg, ghee, lemon, chicken stock and fresh red chilli, while this dish uses broccoli, courgette, baby corn, asparagus, mushroom, bell pepper, oil, mustard paste and turmeric and lacks meat, ghee, lemon and stock.
Keema Matar
Minced (Ground) Lamb with Peas
Keema Matar tastes richer, meatier, and tangier from the lamb fat and yogurt gravy, whereas this dish is more pungent, peppery, and tomato-forward.
  • Same: Keema Matar shares a base of onion, ginger, green chillies, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, and garam masala with this dish.
  • Different: Instead of stir-frying mixed vegetables with tomatoes, black peppercorn, and fenugreek, Keema Matar simmers minced lamb and green peas in ghee, yogurt, and lime juice.
Yerra Varuval
Prawn (Shrimp) Fry
Yerra Varuval tastes peppery and tangy from tamarind and lemon with a cool herb chatni, while this dish tastes tomato-rich and vegetable-heavy with mustard, cumin, and fenugreek notes.
  • Same: Yerra Varuval shares with this dish a quick stir-fried cooking style and the use of oil, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander seeds, black peppercorn, ginger, and garlic.
  • Different: Yerra Varuval uses prawns as the main ingredient, is marinated and stir-fried without a tomato sauce, and is served with a mint-coriander-yogurt chatni, while this dish is a mixed-vegetable stir-fry in a spiced tomato sauce with mustard, cumin, and fenugreek.