Muthia Ringan Tuvar Nu Shaak is a delicious Gujarati dish that is approved by my daughter. In fact, we ran out of vegetable because I made very little not expecting it would be liked so much.
The vegetables used are Methi leaves, brinjal/eggplant and tuvar grains. Yes, the green pigeon chickpeas. Tuvar is also called toori che dane, lilva.
How I met Methi Muthia Ringan Tuvar Nu Shaak?
It was the FoodieBloghop Monday when we all cooked with Methi leaves. Among all the delicious dishes we saw on that day one remained etched in my mind.
It was Methi Muthia Tuvar Nu Shaak made by Mayuri.
Mind you I am a lazy person I manage to get out of the kitchen in record time. Anything long intricate and involving multiple cooking methods bore me up, I get tired and irritable.
But I just could not get it out of my head.
It was then I decided to break the method up.
So my workflow was to be muthia on the day then the rest on the other day.
I hit a major roadblock … the most important ingredient fresh tuvar seeds?? How was I going to manage that? So I decided to let it go.
The fact I can substitute the lilva with peas, corn or other beans did not register.
But I know when I want something hard enough The Universe conspires and gives me my hearts desire. Yes, I read "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and try to implement it in my life.
So we were in Pune in the month of January and got the last of the tuvar dana. I had to sit and peel them, yes I hate that but then since I had the coveted tuvar I was willing to do anything.
Like I said on day one made the muthia, and pressure cooked the tuvar. In the evening I roasted the brinjal and got it peeled and smashed.
I have made muthia in the past but since I love trying newer recipes I tried making it exactly like what Mayuri made. I think I like Mayuri's muthia better than what I made.
Muthias are very common in Gujarati cooking they are often made on special occasions.
Muthia is made by adding different veggies like bottle gourd, amaranth, cabbage and of course, methi leaves like I have used. The amount of greens that go in the dough depends on availability and preference.
The binding agent is chickpea flour also called besan, whole wheat flour or like this recipe with just sooji or cream of wheat, the dough so made is steamed or fried after you make small lemon-sized balls.
This curry uses eggplant/aubergine, ( this is a joke in our family we were out for dinner in Little Italy and there was aubergine on the menu. The girls enthusiastically ordered. Their faces when they saw the aubergine was priceless) anyway kiddo has said if you make aubergine like this I do not mind eating!
Let us get down to making Muthia Ringan Tuvar Nu Shaak.
Muthia Ringan Tuvar Nu Shaak
Ingredients
For the methi muthia :
- 1 cup besan/ chana/ chickpea flour
- 2 cups fresh methi/fenugreek leaves chopped fine
- 4 tablespoon rava/suji/ semolina
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon haldi/turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon dhania-jeera powder
- ¼ teaspoon ajwain/ carom seeds
- ½ teaspoon dhania/coriander seeds coarsely crushed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon plain curd/yogurt
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon green chilli paste
- oil to deep fry
For the curry (shaak, sabji):
- 1 eggplant/baigan/ringan/aubergine)
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon green chilli paste
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon hing/asafoetida
- 1 cup boiled fresh tuvar/ pigeon peas
- ¼ teaspoon methi seeds
- ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1-1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dhania-jeera powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoon jaggery
- ½ cup water
- 2-3 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped
Instructions
To Make The Muthia:
- Mix besan, fresh methi, rava, baking soda, sugar, salt, 3 tablespoon oil, haldi, red chilli powder, dhania-jeera powder, ajwain, dhania, lemon juice, yoghurt, ginger paste, green chilli paste in a bowl. Use very little water and keep the dough stiff.
- Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.
- Towards the end of 30 minutes heat the oil for deep frying in a Kadhai/wok.
- Meanwhile, grease your palm with oil and make small balls of the dough. You can make oval balls or make clump it like ball with your fist. Repeat with all the dough.
- Test the heat of the oil by adding a small ball of the dough. Your dough should sizzle and come up immediately.
- On low flame slip a few dough balls in. Take care, as the oil is hot.
- Fry them till golden brown on all sides on medium flame.
- Fry all the muthia balls and set aside.
To make the shaak:
- To the eggplant/brinjal make deep slits and roast it over the open flame. You can also roast it in the oven for that cut the brinjal in 2 pieces, brush oil over the surface exposed and bake in the oven @180 C/350F for 20-30 minutes. While at it please note that baking/roasting time will depend on the size of the eggplant. Bigger the eggplant longer it will take.
- Once you have roasted the eggplant cool it and peel the skin off and mash it.
- This is a kadhai/wok this is what I generally prefer to use.
- So heat the oil in the pan and once the oil is hot add the methi seeds. Let the methi seeds sizzle but do not let them blacken as you dish will become bitter and nothing can fix it.
- Immediately, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. These will splutter.
- Add garlic paste and sauté for the raw smell to go away then add the ginger and chili paste and stir.
- Next, Add hing, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, dhania-jeera powder and mix well.
- In this delicious aromatic mix add the mashed eggplant, boiled tuvar, salt, jaggery. Mix well and add some water, say about ½ cup.
- Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
- When ready to serve heat the gravy add 12-14 muthias and garam masala.
- Mix well gently, cover and let the curry rest for 10 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander and serve with rotis or rice.
Notes
- The remaining muthia store in the freezer to make the same recipe yet again.
- In case you run out of tuvar dana use other seeds like fresh corn, peas, black-eyed peas.
- Make muthia tomato curry.
- None of the above? Enjoy muthia with some chutney.
- To make the gravy gluten free use maize flour or Makkai ka atta,
- To make a vegan version use water and more lemon juice. This is assuming like me you cannot get vegan curds.
You can also make the delicious curry with or without any of the veggies. Substitute with other veggies yesterday I tried with lobia and as I did not have eggplant did not use it. Used onion and tomato instead. The curry was yummy.
This Monday the FoodieMondayBlogHop want you to join us on the #201 JamvaChaloJi. Yes, take a virtual tour of food in Gujrat. This theme has been suggested by Mayuri. Mayuri has an amazing collection of recipes. I now have my eye on the no Bake Chocolate Swiss Rolls that she made last blog hop. (I told you no cook, no bake, easy food I love.) This Muthia Muthia Tuvar Nu Shaak is also from Mayuri's place.
I somehow have moved on to making so many Gujarati dishes, mine are generally low on jaggery and higher on chillis.
- Vegetable Spiced Cake Handvo
- Methi Thepla
- Protein Rich Sprouts Dhokla
- Steamed Moong Dal Dhokla
- Steamed Sooji na Dhokla, Safed Dhokla, Edada| Gujarati Cuisine
- Chunda- A Tribute to Tarla Dalalji
- Corn and Coriander Panki n Methia Keri ~Indian State Gujarat
Do you like this recipe? Have you tried it? In case you do and whenever you do please tag me on Facebook. My Instagram handle is #themadscientistskitchen. You can also use my Twitter handle, Then you are always welcome at my Pinterest page too. I will love to see you there.
Please also subscribe to my mailing list and join me in my journey of Food! Will enjoy seeing what you make so that I too can learn from you!!!
Swati says
Loved reading the post..Secert is what intoo believe in!!muthia is something I still have to try.this looks so inviting. .. thanks for listing out the substitutes for tivar beans..think I should give it a try now..
ArchanaPotdar says
So glad to connect to a secret fan! Do try Swati it tastes great.
The Girl Next Door says
I have been in love with the sound of this dish ever since I read about it on Mayuri's blog some time back. This sounds right up my alley, and I should try it out soon.
You've done full justice to the original recipe. The sabzi looks so, so good I want a bite of it right away! 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Priya it was tasty and being teen-approved goes in a long way to say about the dish.
Renu says
I lvoe muthia and a muthia with a curry sounds absolutely irrestible to me. Delicious and yummy.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Renu.
Mayuri Patel says
Archana you finally managed to make the shaak... thank you so much for trying out my recipe. Yes you can substitute any veggie with Lilva. We sometimes add it to guvar, peas, corn, a mixture or even the famous hyacinth beans which we get in winter in India.I've even made it with fresh rajma beans.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mayuri! I was waiting to read your comment after all you are the expert.
Poonam Bachhav says
The curry with muthia and my favourite veggies methi and eggplant looks absolutely delish. Will try out this recipe when I get hold of fresh tuvar .
Sujata Roy says
I love muthia but never tried with roasted brinjal. Curry sounds superbly delicious. You are right its a perfect dish to make for sudden guests. Loved it. Bookmaking it to try sometime.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sujata.
Poonam Bachhav says
The curry with muthia and my favourite veggies methi and eggplant looks absolutely delish. Will try out this recipe when I get hold of fresh tuvar .
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Poonam.
sasmita sahoo says
curry using muthiya looks super tempting !! lovely share di. I love to have with some hot phulka 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sasmita.