Kaddu ki sabji recipe with step by step photos. Easy and delicious vegan pumpkin recipe that can be made on regular days and also during Navratri or Ekadashi fasting. This kaddu or pumpkin sabzi is a favorite at home. It is also known as petha sabzi or kaddu ki sabzi.
Kaddu is the Hindi word for Pumpkin. and this recipe only has pumpkin, pumpkin and pumpkin in it 🙂 so a must-try for all pumpkin lovers. Apart from this recipe, you can also make Khatta metha kaddu for fasting.
This petha sabzi is another delicious recipe from my mother in law’s collection. Best to have the kaddu sabzi with pooris. It also goes well with plain parathas or phulkas. During the fast, we have it with singhare ki pooris or rajgire ki poori or kuttu ki poori.
The kaddu ki sabzi is easy and simple. Only cutting and peeling the kaddu takes some effort and time. But I found an easy method to peel the kaddu… But this method only works with smaller pumpkins not bigger ones 🙁
Place the whole small pumpkin on a large plate or thali or on the table top. Firmly keep your hand on top of the pumpkin. With the peeler in your other hand start to peel the pumpkin from sideways. Keep on rotating the pumpkin with the other hand which is on top of it. Work with both your hands in this manner till the pumpkin is peeled from all sides.
Once the kaddu is peeled, you start to chop the kaddu and you see the pith and the seeds. So what you do with the seeds? don’t throw them away.
If you have a garden, then plant the seeds… And if you have a garden or if you don’t have a garden then dry the seeds in the sun. When they are dried, roast them with some salt and have it in your food. Pumpkin seeds are very nutritious and healthy. You can also roast or toast the pumpkin seeds in the oven.
The recipe of kaddu sabzi is easy and does not use more ingredients. The flavoring comes from the addition of methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) and jeera (cumin seeds). Of course we add our usual Indian spice powders to this recipe like turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala powder. Some sugar (or jaggery) is added for that sweetness which fuses subtly with the sweetness of the pumpkin.
I paired the Kaddu sabzi with Vrat ke jeera aloo and the combo was nice. We all loved it and I plan to make this combo again and again. The tangy jeera aloo with the sweet kaddu sabzi… Goes great with pooris, parathas or rotis.
Note: if making this kaddu sabzi for fasting or vrat then skip the fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder and garam masala. You can refer to this compiled list of Ingredients allowed during Navratri fast.
How to make kaddu ki sabzi
1. Wash 1 small sized pumpkin. Peel the pumpkin.
2. Chop the pumpkin into small pieces.
3. In a pressure cooker or pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil. add ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana) and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds.
Remember, if you are making this dish for Navratri or Ekadasi fasting then you have to skip adding fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder and garam masala in the recipe.
4. Fry for a minute on a low flame.
5. Now add 1 to 2 dry red chilies. Addition of dry red chillies is optional.
6. Fry for some 15 seconds.
7. Add the chopped pumpkin.
8. Stir and mix well.
9. Next add ½ teaspoon red chili powder and ½ teaspoon turmeric powder. Add 1 teaspoon sugar (or 2 teaspoons crushed jaggery).
10. Mix the pumpkin with the rest of the spices and sugar (or jaggery).
Cooking kaddu sabji
11. Add ¾ cup or 1 cup of water and rock salt (sendha namak) as required. If you are making the recipe on regular days (non- fasting days) then you can use regular salt also instead of rock salt.
12. Mix well.
13. Cover the pressure cooker with a lid and pressure cook for 7-8 minutes. if you do not have a pressure cooker then cover the pan with a lid and cook the pumpkin for some 15-20 minutes.
14. Pressure cook till the pumpkin becomes soft and mushy. Below is the pic of pressured cooked pumpkin.
15. Now mash the cooked and soft pumpkin with a spoon.
16. Now add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder).
17. Stir the mashed pumpkin well and cook for minute or two. If the sabzi still looks watery to you, then evaporate the water from the sabzi by cooking it without the lid. this kaddu ki sabzi should not be dry nor watery, just in between.
Garnish with few coriander leaves and Serve kaddu ki sabzi hot Singhare ki poori or Kuttu ki poori or Rajgire ki poori or Rajgira paratha or Kuttu paratha.
If you are looking for more fasting recipes then do check:
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kaddu ki sabji
By Dassana Amit
Ingredients
- 1 small pumpkin (kaddu)
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 or 2 dry red chilies (optional)
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
- 1 teaspoon sugar or 2 teaspoon crushed jaggery
- 2 tablespoon oil
- ¾ cup water or 1 cup water
- a few chopped coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
- rock salt (edible and food grade) or sendha namak (or you can use common salt if not making during religious fasting)
Instructions
- Wash the pumpkin. Peel and chop the pumpkin.
- In a pressure cooker or pan heat oil.
- Add the fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds and fry for a minute on a low flame.
- Now add the red chilies and fry for some 15 seconds.
- Add the chopped pumpkin and all the dry spice powders except garam masala and dry mango powder.
- Add the sugar or jaggery.
- Mix the pumpkin with the rest of the spices and sugar/jaggery. Add water and salt.
- Cover the cooker with a lid and pressure cook for 7-8 minutes.
- If you do not have a pressure cooker then cover the pan with a lid and cook the pumpkin for some 15-20 minutes till they become soft and mushy.
- Now mash the cooked and soft pumpkin with a spoon and add the garam masala and dry mango powder.
- Stir the mashed pumpkin well and cook for minute or two.
- If the sabzi still looks watery to you, then evaporate the water from the sabzi by cooking it without the lid.
- This kaddu ki sabzi should not be dry nor watery, just in between.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve kaddu ki sabzi hot.
Notes
Nutrition Info Approximate values
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I never thought kadu curry could taste so good and preparation also very simple…
Thanks for sharing this feedback and rating. Kaddu (Pumpkin) tastes good with the addition of spices and herbs. Some spices really go well with pumpkin.
Tried this today. Outstanding! I usually turn to your blog for any new-to-me Indian recipes. Always get great results, so clearly explained.
One idea for peeling kaddu: those who have microwave, prick a few holes in the kaddu, then put it whole just as it is in the m/w. Zap for 3-5 mins. Take out and let cool. The kaddu will have softened just a little, and be very easy to peel. If don’t have m/w maybe can steam it covered over boiling water for about 5 mins then try to peel.
thanks the review and rating on kaddu sabji. also thanks for sharing the tips on removing the peels. i always use a potato peeler and peel raw. tips like these do help.