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Gavarchi Bhaji (Cluster Beans Curry)

Gavar Bhaji
Growing up in Mumbai, Gavar used to be one of the vegetables readily available. In Konkani, we call it as Chitmitki. My Mom used to cook either a Konkani Upkari with coconut or a Maharashtrian Bhaji with peanuts. My favorite has always been this peanut curry.

Ingredients:
Cluster Beans/Gavar/Chitmitki (fresh or frozen) - 350 gms
Peanuts/Groundnuts - 1/2 cup
Coriander/Cilantro Leaves - few sprigs
Turmeric/Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Red Chili Powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala or any spice mix - 1/4 tsp (optional)
Aamchur or Tamarind Paste - 1/4 tsp
Asafetida/Hing - 1/8 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil

How to cook Gavarchi Bhaji:
  • Dry roast the peanuts until they turn slightly dark and aromatic. After cooling, grind the peanuts to a coarse powder. I use the peanut skin, as the skin provides nutrients too.Medium chop the washed cluster beans.
  • Heat about 1 tbsp oil in a kadhai/wok and add mustard seeds, asafetida. When mustard seeds pop, add cluster beans and about 1/2 cup water. Cook it covered till cluster beans turn soft, about 8 - 10 minutes. Cooking time varies depending on the tenderness of the cluster beans. Add more water if required.
  • After cluster beans turn soft, add chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, aamchur powder, ground peanuts, chopped cilantro and salt. Mix all the ingredients well and cook it covered for about 5 - 10 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. Add more water if required.
gavar or chitmitki or cluster beans
Serve hot Gavar chi Bhaaji with chapati or rice.
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Comments

  1. arthiMay 26, 2010 at 3:53 PM

    Hey Uma, I ve never tried with gavar. looks so tempting. thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sanyukta Gour(Bayes)May 26, 2010 at 4:12 PM

    looks delicious and yum

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  3. KrishnaveniMay 26, 2010 at 5:34 PM

    delicious cluster beans curry looks excellent with thoes rotis

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  4. UmaMay 26, 2010 at 5:49 PM

    lovely curry. looks so delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Suman SinghMay 26, 2010 at 7:32 PM

    my mom make gavar ki sabzi alot...my dad's fav...infact today morning when i spoke to her she told me she is going to cook gavar for dinner...yours sounds different with peanut gravy and tamarind pulp....de-lish!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sushma MallyaMay 27, 2010 at 12:04 AM

    Looks nice & delicious uma

    ReplyDelete
  7. PranisKitchenMay 27, 2010 at 1:23 AM

    we have different varieties of dishes from this delicious vegettable.stir fry is one of them .this one sounds interesting..best with chapati .peanut will give more taste.Uma if u don't mind add some large sized pics..anyway delicious curry

    ReplyDelete
  8. Priya SureshMay 27, 2010 at 1:36 AM

    Fantastic curry looks prefect along with those rotis..yumm!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pavithra SrihariMay 27, 2010 at 2:37 AM

    This is one of my favourites. Have had it once when my collegue had brought it .. but never tried it on my own , this one tempts me to make ..

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  10. SathyaSridharMay 27, 2010 at 4:00 AM

    Uma,, avarakkai poriyal looks perfect dear i like this one with hot rasam rice or with sambar rice.Well presented with rotis.

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  11. kshipraMay 27, 2010 at 5:39 AM

    Interesting recipe uma. quite diff. from how we make cluster beans but nice one.

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  12. JiboombaaMay 27, 2010 at 2:22 PM

    Adding peanuts will make the curry rich...I like the recipe.

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  13. UmaMay 27, 2010 at 5:04 PM

    Thanks Krishnaveni, Uma, Suman, Sushma, Prani, Priya, Pavithra, Sathya, Kshipra, Jiboomba for making my day with such lovely comments.

    what a coincidence Suman! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. UmaMay 27, 2010 at 5:05 PM

    Prani, I'll definitely increase the photo size in my future posts. Thanks for the suggestion!

    ReplyDelete
  15. GayathriRajMay 27, 2010 at 9:20 PM

    Cluster beans curry is too good...and i feel very nice combo too...

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  16. Aps KitchenMay 27, 2010 at 11:36 PM

    Uma my mom nd mamama make god upkari... i have never tried bhaji must give a try :)

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  17. lathaMay 28, 2010 at 6:06 AM

    This looks simply delicious.Having with roti tastes good.thanks for this currry.

    ReplyDelete
  18. kshipraMay 28, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    hey uma, loved ur blog's new look. Even pics look much better now.

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  19. UmaMay 28, 2010 at 8:12 AM

    Thanks Gayathri, Aps, Latha for the lovely words.

    Thanks Kshipra for stopping by! I am glad the pics look better.

    ReplyDelete
  20. PSMay 28, 2010 at 2:18 PM

    uma, wonderful curry, i also prepare this curry same way..

    ReplyDelete
  21. hamaarethoughts.comMay 28, 2010 at 6:06 PM

    Nice....good one !

    ReplyDelete
  22. UmaMay 30, 2010 at 3:30 PM

    PS, peanuts taste good with cluster beans :)

    Thanks Harman for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  23. anushkaJune 28, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Hi Uma,
    I tried your gavarchi bhaji today and it turned out very nice. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. UmaJune 28, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Hey Anushka! Thanks for the feedback!
    You made my day -:)

    ReplyDelete
  25. kanchan varadkarMarch 19, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    chan recipe ahe...amchur ne taste vadhel bhajichi...me nakki try karen..thanx!

    ReplyDelete

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