Rishi Panchami Bhaji | Rushichi Bhaji

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Here’s a traditional dish from Maharashtrian cuisine, Rushichi Bhaji, which is festive in nature first, and then everything else. This is because it is one of those must dishes that are prepared during Rishi Panchami that is celebrated on the second day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. For this reason, it is also commonly referred to as Rishi Panchami Bhaji. It is one of those veggie preparations that is my favorite too as it is not just delicious, but super healthy, vegan and gluten-free too. This year Rishi Panchami is celebrated on 20 September 2023.

rushichi bhaji served in a ceramic bowl with text layovers.

About Rushichi Bhaji

As I mentioned in the beginning, the second day of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as Rishi Panchami in Maharashtra, and Malvan and Konkan regions.

On this day, each of the ‘sapta rishi (seven sages)’ are worshipped and remembered. They are Kashyapa, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Atri, Gautam, Bharadwaj and Vashishta. Sage Vashishta’s wife Arundhati is worshipped too.

Rushichi Bhaji is a special delicacy that is cooked on this day. Also referred to as Rishi Panchami Bhaji, named after the sacred day, this dish comprises a mix of seasonal vegetables and tubers.

A unique thing about this sabzi is that it includes all those veggies, leafy greens, and tubers that are farmed without the use of an oxen.

Rishi Panchami Bhaji is also made in a way that can be compared to the way cooking was done during the time of the rishis or sages.

That is simple and wholesome food, great for the body, mind, and soul. I have mentioned the vegetables that go in the recipe of this bhaji, in detail in the below sections. Do give it a read.

The most authentic Rushichi Bhaji is cooked in earthen pots, where each vegetable is cooked separately as the cooking time differs. Cooking each veggie separately takes a lot of time. Moreover, preparing the vegetables is also time-consuming.

Hence, I always cook everything together and at times even use a pressure cooker. However, in this Rishi Panchami Bhaji Recipe, I have demonstrated the veggies being cooked in a large pot.

More time is required in the preparation of the bhaji, rather than the actual cooking. The cooking part is easy and does not take much time. Since Rushichi Bhaji is prepared once a year, it is fine if some time is taken to do the prep work.

In addition to this Rishi Panchami Bhaji, another seasonal and festive recipe popular in Maharashtra one day before Makar Sankranti is this Bhogichi Bhaji. This one is also a tasty preparation with fresh seasonal produce.

This yummy bhaji can be served with rice flour bhakris or rice pooris. You can also serve it with chapatis, phulkas, or steamed rice.

Rishi Panchami Bhaji: A Veggie Heaven

It is only right to talk about the plethora of super nutritious and great for health range of vegetables, tubers, and leafy greens that go in this Rushichi Bhaji, separately.

The list is quite extensive. But it is because of this seasonal bounty by Mother Nature, that this classic bhaji is a fantastic creation. It’s like, being really blessed by the Supreme powers!

For making Rishi Panchami Bhaji, you can use the following:

  • Amaranth leaves – chawli, chaulai (red or green)
  • Colocasia roots – arbi, alu
  • Colocasia leaves – arbi ke patte, alu che paan
  • Sweet potato – shakarkandi
  • Snake gourd – parwal, chichinda
  • Ridge gourd – turai, dodka
  • Elephant foot yam – suran
  • Pumpkin – kaddu, bhopla
  • Raw banana/plantain – kachche kele
  • Potatoes – aloo, batata
  • Tender peanuts – moongphali
  • Corn – makai, makka

I have added colocasia and yam in the bhaji. So, I have also used a souring agent, tamarind pulp. Some fresh curd can be added instead of tamarind.

You can skip tamarind, if not using such veggies that may cause irritation and itchiness in the throat to some people. Then, jaggery can be skipped too.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Rushichi Bhaji

Preparation

1. In a small bowl, take 1 teaspoon tamarind and ¼ cup hot water. Soak tamarind in hot water for 20 minutes.

soaking tamarind in hot water for rishi panchami bhaji.

2. Later, squeeze the pulp from the tamarind and keep aside.

pulp squeezed from tamarind for rishi panchami bhaji.

3. Rinse the leafy vegetables very well and keep aside. For the greens, I have used colocasia leaves (arbi patta) and red amaranth leaves (chaulai).

rinsed colocasia leaves and red amaranth leaves for rishi panchami bhaji.

4. Also, rinse and peel other vegetables. I have here used ridge gourd, yellow pumpkin, elephant foot yam, raw banana and corn.

I have used 700 grams of mixed vegetables, including the greens.

raw banana, yellow pumpkin, ridge gourd, elephant foot yam and corn for rishi panchami bhaji.

5. Shell fresh peanuts and rinse them too. You will need ½ cup fresh peanuts.

If not using fresh peanuts, soak ½ cup raw peanuts overnight in water. Drain the water and keep aside.

rinsed fresh peanuts for rishi panchami bhaji.

6. Chop each vegetable in squares or cubes. You can keep medium-sized cubes. I have also chopped the stems of amaranth and colocasia leaves.

You can chop the corn cob in roundels or you can even scrape the corn kernels from the cob.

chopped vegetables and leafy greens for rishi panchami bhaji.

Make Rushichi Bhaji

7. Heat 3 tablespoons peanut oil in a large pot or pan. Add 2 chopped green chilies. You can also use ghee, instead of oil.

chopped green chilies added to hot peanut oil in a large pan for rishi panchami bhaji.

8. Sauté green chilies for some seconds.

sautéing green chilies in peanut oil in pan for rishi panchami bhaji.

9. Then, add the chopped amaranth and colocasia leaves along with the stems.

chopped leafy greens along with stems added to pan for rishi panchami bhaji. .

10. Sauté for a minute.

sautéing leafy greens for rishi panchami bhaji. .

11. Then, add the remaining chopped vegetables.

chopped vegetables added to pan for rishi panchami bhaji. .

12. Mix very well and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.

sautéing mixed vegetables.

13. Add ½ cup peanuts.

peanuts added to the pan.

14. Add 2 cups water. For a semi dry or dry bhaji, you can add less water.

adding water to the pan for rushichi bhaji.

15. Season with salt as per taste.

adding salt to the pan.

16. Mix very well.

salt mixed well with the vegetables and greens.

17. Cover and simmer the vegetables on low to medium heat.

cooking rushichi bhaji in the covered pan.

18. Check at intervals and give a stir.

cooking rushichi bhaji.

19. Simmer till the vegetables are cooked and tender. Cooking the vegetables takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

cooking rushichi bhaji.

20. Then, add the tamarind pulp (which was made in steps 1 and 2).

adding tamarind pulp to the bhaji.

21. Add 1 cup finely grated fresh coconut. You can grind coconut a bit coarsely, if you want, and then add.

grated fresh coconut added to the bhaji.

22. Mix very well.

coconut mixed well with the vegetables and greens.

23. Cook Rishi Panchami Bhaji without a lid on low heat till the raw aroma of tamarind goes away. This takes about 6 to 7 minutes.

cooking rushichi bhaji.

24. Lastly, add 1 tablespoon of jaggery powder or as required.

adding jaggery powder to the bhaji.

25. Mix very well and simmer Rushichi Bhaji for a minute.

cooking rushichi bhaji.

26. Serve Rushichi Bhaji hot or warm with rice bhakris (rice rotis) or rice pooris.

You can also have this bhaji with steamed rice or chapatis. The bhaji is so good that you can even have it plain.

rushichi bhaji served in a ceramic bowl with text layovers.

Expert Tips

  1. If you are not adding vegetables like yam and colocasia, that may cause irritation/itchiness in throat to some people, then you can skip adding the souring ingredient.
  2. When you are not adding any sour ingredients like curd or tamarind pulp in this recipe, then you can skip adding the jaggery too. This is only to balance the sourness.
  3. If you don’t have fresh peanuts, then you can use raw peanuts by soaking them in water overnight. Drain and use.
  4. You can chop the corn cob in roundels or even scrape off the kernels from the cob. Ensure chopping the veggies in medium sized cubes or squares.
  5. This recipe can also be cooked in ghee (clarified butter), instead of oil.
  6. If you want the bhaji to be dry or semi-dry, then add less water.
  7. The coconut can be freshly grated or ground coarsely, before adding in the recipe.

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rishi panchami sabzi recipe

Rishi Panchami Bhaji | Rushichi Bhaji

Rushichi Bhaji is a unique mix vegetable preparation that is made during Rishi Panchami which is celebrated on the second day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. For this reason, it is also commonly referred to as Rishi Panchami Bhaji. It is one of those delicious veggie recipe that is super healthy, vegan and gluten-free too. Usually seasonal veggies and tubers are used to make this one.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Cuisine Konkani & Malvani, Maharashtrian
Course Main Course
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 6
Units

Ingredients

Tamarind Pulp

  • 1 teaspoon tamarind (imli)
  • ¼ cup hot water

Veggies

  • 700 grams mix vegetables – chopped

OR

  • ¾ cup ridge gourd (turai, dodka), chopped
  • ¾ cup yellow pumpkin (kaddu), chopped
  • ½ cup elephant foot yam (suran), chopped
  • ½ cup plantain – unripe banana (kachche kele), chopped
  • ½ cup colocasia (arbi), chopped
  • 1 cup colocasia leaves (arbi ke patte), chopped
  • ¼ cup colocasia leaf stems (arbi ke danthal), chopped
  • 1 cup red amaranth (chaulai), chopped
  • ¼ cup amaranth stems (chaulai ke danthal), chopped
  • 1 corn cob (makai), medium-sized

More Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons peanut oil – ghee also can be used
  • 2 green chilies – chopped
  • ½ cup fresh peanuts (moongphalli)
  • 1 cup coconut – finely grated and fresh
  • 1 tablespoon jaggery powder or add as required
  • 2 cups water or as needed
  • salt as required

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • In a small bowl, take 1 teaspoon tamarind and ¼ cup hot water. Soak tamarind in hot water for 20 minutes.
  • Later squeeze the pulp from the tamarind and keep aside.
  • Meanwhile when the tamarind is soaking, rinse the leafy vegetables very well and keep aside.
    For the greens I have used colocasia leaves (arbi patta) and red amaranth leaves (chaulai).
  • Also rinse and peel the other veggies. I have here used ridge gourd, yellow pumpkin, elephant foot yam, unripe banana and corn. I have used 700 grams of mix veggies including the greens.
  • Shell fresh peanuts and rinse them too. You will need ½ cup fresh peanuts.
    If not using fresh peanuts, then soak ½ cup raw peanuts overnight in water. Drain the water and keep aside.
  • Chop each veggie in squares or cubes. You can keep medium sized cubes. I have also chopped the steams of amaranth and colocasia leaves.
    You can chop the corn cob in roundels or you can even scrape of the corn kernels from the cob.

Making rushichi bhaji

  • Heat 3 tablespoons peanut oil in a large pot or pan. Add 2 green chilies (chopped). You can also use ghee instead of oil.
  • Sauté green chilies for some seconds.
  • Next add the chopped amaranth and colocasia leaves along with the colocasia stems. Sauté for a minute.
  • Then add the remaining chopped veggies and tubers.
  • Mix very well and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add the ½ cup peanuts.
  • Add 2 cups water.
  • Season with salt as per taste. Mix very well.
  • Cover and simmer the veggies on a low to medium heat.
  • Check at intervals and give a stir.
  • Simmer till the veggies are cooked and tender.
  • Then add the tamarind pulp (which was made in step 1 and 2).
  • Add 1 cup grated fresh coconut. You can grind coconut a bit coarsely if you want and then add. Mix very well.
  • Cook rishi panchami bhaji without a lid on a low heat till the raw aroma of tamarind goes away. This takes about 6 to 7 minutes.
  • Lastly add 1 tablespoon jaggery powder or add as required.
  • Mix very well and simmer rishi panchami bhaji for a minute.
  • Serve Rishi Panchami Bhaji hot or warm with rice bhakris (rice rotis) or rice pooris. You can also serve Rushichi Bhaji with steamed rice or chapati.

Notes

  • In case you are not adding yam and colocasia, then you can skip adding the souring ingredients like tamarind pulp.
  • If you are not adding any sour ingredients like curd or tamarind pulp in this recipe, then you can skip adding the jaggery too.
  • If out of fresh peanuts, then you can use raw peanuts by soaking them in water overnight. Drain the water and use the peanuts.
  • You can chop the corn cobs in roundels or even scrape off the kernels from the cob.
  • Make sure to chop the veggies in medium-sized cubes or squares.
  • You can use ghee instead of oil. 
  • If you want the bhaji to be dry or semi-dry, then add less water. 
  • The coconut can be freshly grated or ground coarsely, before adding in the recipe.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Rishi Panchami Bhaji | Rushichi Bhaji
Amount Per Serving
Calories 258 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Sodium 451mg20%
Potassium 484mg14%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 1700IU34%
Vitamin C 13.9mg17%
Calcium 30mg3%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Rushichi Bhaji recipe from the archives first published in August 2017 has been republished and updated on September 2023.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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