Sem Ki Sabji | Surti Papdi Recipe | Valor Papdi Shaak (2024)

Here’s a Gujarati style Sem Ki Sabji that will surely reiterate your love for this special varieties of flat beans, locally known as valor papdi and surti papdi. This is a dry preparation that can be made as a side dish with Indian flatbreads like chapatis or phulkas and made into a wholesome and balanced meal. This Sem Sabji is a popular dish from the vibrant cuisine of Gujarat in the western part of the Indian subcontinent. Since all ingredients in this recipe are plant-based, it also vegan friendly, is easy to make, yet comforting and delicious.

About Sem Ki Sabji

Before anything else, the name of this Gujarati style shaak or sabji literally means a dry veggie preparation made with potatoes (aloo), a type of flat beans (sem or valor papdi), spices and seasonings. Thus, when in the state of Gujarat, this dish is also referred to as Papdi nu Shaak.

Surti papdi and valor papdi are flat bean varieties that are a specialty of the Indian winter season. It is also known as field beans, broad beans in English and val papdi, sem ki phalli in other Indian languages.

In Maharashtra, Gujarat and South India there are many recipes that are made with this variety of flat beans.

Although in this post, I have shared a typical Gujarati way of making the Sem Sabji, but this recipe has different variations in North India as well, especially in Uttar Pradesh.

At home, I make this delish recipe with both valor papdi and surti papdi. In this particular post, I have used valor papdi.

So, besides the flat beans and potatoes, other ingredients that go in this Gujarati style papdi sabji recipe are carom seeds (ajwain), green chili, ginger, garlic and asafoetida (hing).

I also add spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, sugar coupled with white sesame seeds, fresh grated coconut, coriander leaves and lemon juice.

Thus, you can feel a slight tang in the dish, which is due to the use of lemon juice in it. There’s also a next level texture that can be felt in this preparation that comes from the crunchy sesame and earthy coconut added in it.

About My Recipe

This Sem Ki Sabji is an easy and simple recipe, and you don’t have to worry reading the tad long ingredient list. Also, because most of the ingredients are the ones that are usually available at any Indian home kitchen across the country.

To make this Gujarati style Papdi nu Shaak with valor papdi, I use the same masala that is used in another classic Gujarati dish called Undhiyu.

I also add some potatoes or brinjals in it, though you might not find brinjal in this specific recipe on the blog as I didn’t have it then.

Either potatoes or brinjals alone can be added or both together can also be added. You can even skip these vegetables, if you want. Onion is not added in the recipe, but you can add, if you want.

Like I mentioned earlier, thisshaak recipe has a sweet and sour taste.To make this shaak, you can even use surti papdi. This dish is best served with phulka, bajra roti or jowar roti. You can also serve it as a side dish with Gujarati dal and rice.

Flat beans are a favorite at my home and I make quite a few recipes with them, on a daily basis, as per the availability.

In addition to this Gujarati shaak recipe, other recipes made with flat beans include this simple Papdi Bhaji recipe and the South Indian style Avarakkai Poriyal.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Sem Ki Sabji

Preparation

1. Firstly, rinse 150 grams flat beans very well. Then, string each flat bean and pull the pods apart.

You have to open the pods to see if there are worms or mould in them. Discard the beans, if they have a mould or worms.

2. Chop or break each pod in 2.

3. This way string, open and break each flat bean. You will need 2 cups chopped valor papdi. Keep aside.

4. In a mortar, take3 to 4 medium garlic cloves,1 inch ginger and 1 chopped green chili.

5. Crush to a paste with a pestle. Keep aside.

Sauté

6. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan. You can use peanut oil or sunflower oil. Add ¼ teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain) and let it splutter on a low heat.

7. Then, add the prepared ginger-garlic-green chili paste.

8. Sauté on low heat for a few seconds or till raw aroma of ginger and garlic goes away.

9. Now, add 2 medium peeled and chopped potatoes.

10. Add 1 pinch asafoetida (hing).

11. Mix and sauté potatoes for about two minutes on low to medium-low heat.

Make Aloo Sem Ki Sabji

12. Add chopped flat beans.

13. Then, add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder,¼ teaspoon red chili powder,½ teaspoon cumin powder and½ teaspoon coriander powder.

14. Mix well.

15. Now, add½ cup water and mix again.

16. Simmer onmedium-low heat till the water comes to a boil.

17. Then, add3 tablespoons fresh grated coconut.

18. Next, add2 teaspoons white sesame seeds.

19. Then, add2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves.

20. Season with1 teaspoon salt or add as required. Also, add1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or as per taste.

21. Mix very well.

22. Cover the pan and simmer the vegetables on low to medium-low heat.

23. In between, check the vegetables and stir.

24. If the water dries up and potatoes are not cooked, thenadd 2 to 3 tablespoons more water or as required.

25. Cover the pan and simmer till the potatoes are tender and cooked.Once the potatoes are done, if there is any water left, cook without the lid till all the water evaporates.

26. Once done, addadd 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

27. Stir and check taste. Add some more lemon juice, if required.

28. Lastly, add1 to 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves and mix.

29. Serve Sem ki Sabji with roti, phulka or bhakri.

Expert Tips

1. This recipe can be made with any variety of flat beans.
2. Make sure to string the flat beans, pull the pods apart and check for the presence of any mould or worms in them. If present, discard.
3. You can even add potatoes and brinjals in this recipe, or add both or make this recipe without any of these veggies.
4. The choice of fat to cook this dish can be sunflower oil or peanut oil.
5. You can make this dish without adding the coconut and lemon juice as well.
6. The quantity of sugar can also be adjusted according to your palate preferences.

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

This Sem Ki Sabji recipe from the archives, originally published in January 2018 has been updated and republished on February 2023.