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Suran nu shaak
Yam with cumin and peanuts
સૂરણ નું શાક: elephant-foot yam with cumin, peanuts and lemon for the Shivratri fast
Suran, the knobbly elephant-foot yam, is a favourite of the Gujarati farali table on Mahashivratri and Ekadashi: boiled until tender, then stir-fried with cumin, green chilli and crushed peanuts and sharpened with lemon. It is filling and earthy, a little like a dense potato, and goes well with rajgira thepla or farali kadhi. Because suran is a root vegetable it is not eaten by Jains, so this is a Hindu fasting dish only; some families also skip cumin on a fast. Raw suran contains crystals that make the hands and throat itch, so wear gloves when peeling and always boil it with something sour. Common mistake: under-boiling to keep the cubes firm; undercooked suran scratches the throat. Boil until a cube is soft right through when pierced. Chef's tip: a few pieces of kokum in the boiling water work as well as lemon and give a pleasant blush to the yam.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
To boil the suran
- 1 ⅛ lb elephant-foot yam (suran)peeled with gloves on, in 2 cm cubes
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 2 tbsp lemon juiceor 4 pieces of kokum
- 1 ½ tsp rock salt (sendha namak)
For the shaak
- 2 tbsp peanut oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 green chilliesfinely chopped
- 1 ⅜ oz roasted peanutscoarsely crushed
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
To serve
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves (optional)chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Wearing gloves, rinse the 1 ⅛ lb elephant-foot yam (suran) cubes well.
2 minStep 2: Bring 4 ¼ cups water to the boil with 2 tbsp lemon juice and half the ¾ tsp rock salt (sendha namak). Add the suran and simmer for 15–18 minutes until a cube is soft right through when pierced with a knife. Drain.
18 minStep 3: Heat 2 tbsp peanut oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and, once it crackles, 2 green chillies.
1 minStep 4: Add the suran and the rest of the rock salt and stir-fry for 6–8 minutes, turning, until the edges are lightly golden.
8 minStep 5: Add 1 ⅜ oz roasted peanuts, 1 tsp sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice, toss well, scatter over 2 tbsp coriander leaves and serve hot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does suran nu shaak 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 lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of cumin seeds?
- Ground cumin, three quarters of the amount (add it with the other ground spices, not to hot oil first).
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