Undhiyu

Undhiyu is a Gujarati vegetarian preparation made especially in the winter season due to the seasonal availability of one of the main ingredient, "paapadi". This dish is from Surat in South Gujarat, India.

Undhiyun is made from a variety of ingredients like paapadi, ravaiya (small brinjals), banana (with skin), purple yam "kand/rataru", sweet potato and, optionally, muthias. (When not used in Undhiyun, muthias are a good snack item since they are like kababs). It is cooked using a number of herbs and spices including fresh grated coconut and ginger. Finely chopped green garlic is a very important ingredient.

Traditionally, all ingredients were placed in an earthen pot which was sealed and then buried upside down in the ground and fired from above. "Undhu" means upside down in the Gujarati language and hence the name of the dish "Undhiyu". Today it is typically cooked using modern techniques without following the traditional upside down method.

This is a very tasty vegetarian dish which is eaten with puri or roti. It can even be eaten without these Indian breads and form a complete meal in itself.

Considering the fact that it is virtually impossible to find surati green vegetables required to make the dish, retailers have started selling frozen undhiyun mixed vegetables. This is certainly the fact in London and other cosmos around the world.

References

* [http://www.hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com/curry/undhiyun.html UNDHIYU (mix vegetables curry Gujarati Style) ] at hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com