Lilva Curry (Gujarati Style)

Lilva is a Gujarati word, which means 'fresh pigeon peas' in English. During winters green vegetables like Lilva, Broad Bean seeds, tender garlic, green eggplants, green fenugreek are available in abundance. Using any two or more of these vegetables, you can make the Lilva vegetable. 

The recipe that I have shared is not really authentic. But is primarily a mix-n-match that I have done using the available vegetables. This vegetable tastes almost like an Undhiyu. However, the amount of oil and coconut used is far less. Thus making it a low-fat Undhiyu.

Ingredients :
Vegetables :
3/4 cup fresh pigeon peas (Tuvar dana / Lilva)
3/4 cup fresh Broadbean seeds (Papdi dana)
1 cup chopped fresh fenugreek leaves (Methi)
1 cup chopped Spring onions (Scallion)
2 medium sized potatoes (Peeled and chopped in cubes)
4 small sized green eggplants (Chopped in cubes)

Others :
3 tbspns oil
1 tspn carom seeds (Ajwain)
1/2 tspn fruit salt or soda bi-carb
1 tspn Ginger paste
2 tspns Green chillies paste
1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
1/2 cup fresh chopped corriander leaves
1 tspn turmeric powder
2 tspns corrinader-cumin powder
1 tspn lemon juice
2 tspns Sugar 
Water as required
Salt to taste

For Garnishing :
Chopped corriander
Chopped fresh garlic  

Method :

To start with, heat oil in a large pan. Then add carom seeds and saute it for few seconds. Then add fresh pigeon peas or Lilva and broad bean seeds to it. To help cook the seeds faster, add half teaspoon of soda bi-carb or fruit salt. Pour some water and cover the pan with a lid. Cook till the seeds are semi-cooked. 

Then add green chillies paste, ginger paste, fresh grated coconut, spring onions, potatoes, eggplants and fenugreek. Add some more water and place the lid on the pan to cook the vegetables. After the vegetables are cooked, add turmeric powder, cumin-corriander powder, salt, sugar and lemon juice to the vegetables. Switch off the flame and add chopped corriander and chopped fresh garlic (along with the greens). Fresh corriander and fresh garlic make a major difference to the flavour of this dish. 

Serve this dish with hot rotis or puris.

Notes :

You may add other available vegetables. 
You may also add Garam Masala or Undhiyu masala
A top-up of muthias may further enhance taste of this curry

Stepwise Pictures :

Sending this entry to the event Gimme Green!