AI-generated image
Ambadyachi udda methi
Hog plum coconut gravy
आंबाड्याची उडद मेथी: hog plums in a coconut gravy with roasted urad dal and fenugreek
Udda methi is a Goan Saraswat curry named for its two roasted seasonings, urad dal and fenugreek seeds, and in the monsoon months the best version is made with tart green hog plums, ambade. The plums simmer whole in a coconut gravy that is sour, a little bitter, hot and faintly sweet from jaggery, and it is eaten with plain rice on rainy days or at a Shravan meal. The common mistake is burning the fenugreek: it should be roasted only until reddish, because dark seeds make the whole pot bitter. Raw mango works in place of ambade outside the season. Chef's tip: crush each hog plum lightly with a pestle before cooking so the gravy can soak into the flesh around the stone.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the curry
- 9 oz hog plums (ambade), or 1 small raw mangolightly crushed or cut in chunks
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 1 oz jaggerygrated
- 1 tsp salt
For the masala
- 1 tbsp urad dal (split black gram)
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 3 ½ oz grated fresh coconut
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For the tempering
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp black mustard seeds
- 10 curry leaves
- 1 pinch gluten-free asafoetida (hing)
Shop this recipe on Amazon
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (1)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Simmer 9 oz hog plums (ambade), or 1 small raw mango with 1 ¾ cups water and half the 1 tsp salt for 10–12 minutes until the skins soften and a knife slides into the flesh.
12 minStep 2: Warm 1 tsp coconut oil in a small pan over low heat. Roast 1 tbsp urad dal (split black gram) until golden, add ½ tsp fenugreek seeds and 5 dried red chillies and roast 1 minute more, just until the fenugreek turns reddish. Do not let it darken.
4 minStep 3: Grind the roasted spices with 3 ½ oz grated fresh coconut, ¼ tsp ground turmeric and about 120 ml water to a fine paste.
3 minStep 5: Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil, add ½ tsp black mustard seeds; when it pops add 10 curry leaves and 1 pinch gluten-free asafoetida (hing), then pour over the curry. Serve with hot rice.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ambadyachi udda methi take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of jaggery?
- Dark brown or muscovado sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of fenugreek seeds?
- Leave them out, or add a little extra mustard seed (you lose the slightly bitter, maple-like note).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Sayur lodehVegetables in coconut milk
Sayur lodeh is everyday cooking in Central Java, made in big pots in Solo and Semarang kitchens and ladled over rice, with lontong rice cakes at Lebaran, or alongside opor and sambal goreng on festive tables. It's soupy rather than thick: a fragrant broth of coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass and lime leaf that carries chunks of aubergine, long beans, chayote and sweetcorn, plus tempeh and tofu to make it a meal. The flavour is mellow and slightly sweet, so the heat comes from sambal on the side. Chef's tip: keep the pot at a gentle simmer once the coconut milk goes in and stir now and then — a rolling boil splits the coconut milk into oily curds.
SakarpadaSweet fried dough diamonds
Sakarpada (shakarpara) are little sweet diamonds of a rich dough made with ghee, milk and sugar, fried until golden and crunchy. They are a Diwali favourite with tea, and the cubes go into bhusu too. They keep for weeks in an air-tight tin.
Paneer biryaniRice and moong dal in coconut milk
A mild, creamy biryani: rice and husked green gram roasted in ghee, then cooked in coconut milk with peas, carrots, potatoes, peanuts and cashews, and finished with soft fried paneer and a fresh coriander yogurt. Serve hot, garnished with more fried cashews and paneer.




