
Shadras Subziyan
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)Cracked spices for the stir-fry
8 gBloomed in the skillet with the garlic (step 3)Ground spices
14 gStir-fried with the vegetables (step 4)Finishing spice
2.6 gStirred in at the end (step 5)Everything else
Method
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Broccoli

CauliflowerUse the same weight; break into similar florets and cook 2 minutes longer. It is milder and less green.
Cauliflower floretUse the same weight; cut to broccoli-floret size and cook until just tender.
Broccoli or cauliflowerUse the same weight; choose whichever you have and cut into even florets.

Courgette

Bottle gourdUse the same weight. Peel and deseed if large; cook 5 minutes longer. Similar bland, watery flesh.
Snake gourdUse the same weight. Peel and deseed; similar texture, slightly firmer.
Ridge gourdUse the same weight. Peel; firmer and holds shape better in curries.

Baby corn
Sweetcorn kernelUse the same weight; add 2 minutes later. It is sweeter and softer, with no crunch.
Canned sweetcorn kernelUse the same weight, drained; add at the end and simmer 2 minutes. Softer and less sweet than fresh.
Green beanUse the same weight, cut into 4 cm lengths; cook 2 minutes longer. Less sweet but keeps a crunch.

Asparagus spear

French green beanUse 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 beanUse the same weight; top and tail and cook 1–2 minutes longer. It is softer and less sweet.
Baby cornUse the same weight; halve lengthwise and cook 2 minutes more. It is crunchier and sweeter, not grassy.

Mushroom

Button mushroomUse the same weight, wipe and slice; cook 5-7 minutes. They release water, so reduce the sauce if needed.
Fresh mushroomUse the same weight; treat as button mushrooms, slicing thickly so they do not collapse.
Dried morelUse 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 pepperUse the same weight; sweet and bright. Cook for the same time.
Green bell pepperUse the same weight; sharper and slightly bitter, so it needs 2–3 minutes more cooking.
Yellow bell pepperUse the same weight; sweeter and softer, with the same cooking time.

Oil

Vegetable oilUse the same weight. It is neutral and behaves the same in frying and tempering; no noticeable change in flavour.
Corn or vegetable oilUse the same weight. Neutral and good for high heat; the dish will taste virtually the same.
Groundnut oilUse 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 cuminUse 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 seedsUse equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.
Fennel seedUse 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Coriander seeds

Ground corianderUse 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 seedUse 50% of the weight for tempering in hot oil. Lacks the floral, sweet citrus flavour of coriander, introducing warm, pungent earthiness instead.
Fennel seedUse 50% of the weight in tempering; provides pleasant aromatic sweetness, though noticeably aniseedy rather than citrusy.

Onion


Tomato

Tomato puréeUse 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 yogurtUse 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

TomatoUse 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 pasteUse the same weight; about 1 clove weighs 3 g, so 3 g paste per clove.
Crushed garlicUse the same weight; crush just before adding so the flavour stays fresh.
Garlic powderUse 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 pepperUse 75% of the weight. Add midway through simmering; spreads heat evenly through the dish instead of delivering isolated bursts.
Ground black pepperUse 50% of the weight. Stir in near the end of cooking; significantly darkens light gravies and provides an immediate, sharp bite.

Mustard paste

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

Chilli powder

Red chilli powderUse 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.
Kashmiri chilli powderUse 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 pepperUse 75% to 100% of the weight. Offers a sharp, clean heat with slightly less earthy depth and less crimson colour.

Ground turmeric

Ground gingerUse 50% of the weight. Mimics turmeric's warm, earthy, rhizome background, but provides none of the golden-yellow colour.
SaffronSteep 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 seedsGrind 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 leavesCrush 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 seedsGrind finely; use 50% of the weight. Adds an earthy, sharp bite, though it lacks the distinctive sweet-curry smell.

Ginger

Fresh gingerUse equal weight; scrape off the skin and grate or finely julienne according to the recipe.
Ginger pasteUse equal weight; stir straight into the sizzling aromatics, taking care as the extra moisture may spit.
Ground gingerUse 15 to 20% of the weight; add alongside ground spices, noting it imparts warm, dry heat rather than zesty freshness.

Green chilli

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

Coriander

Coriander leafUse equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.
MintUse 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 cuminUse 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 mixUse 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

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

















































