Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak is a cluster bean and dumpling curry enjoyed in most Gujarati homes. This easy version can be made in the Instant Pot for a speedy weeknight dinner alongside Rotli and Kachumber.

The delicate beans pair beautifully with bouncy dumplings (“Dhokli”) made from chickpea flour, turmeric and ajwain (carom seeds). Each little Dhokli has an indentation in the middle to catch the sauce, just as Orecchiette (the ear-shaped pasta) does.

Video: How to make Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

What is Guvar in English?

Cluster beans. These long, flat beans are also called “guar”, “gavar” and “gawar” depending on regional language and dialect.

It’s a legume from which which “guar gum”, a commercial thickener (similar in application to xanthan gum) is extracted. You will find guar gum in anything from ice cream and baked goods, to salad dressings and soups. These beans are big business.

India produces around 80% of the world’s guvar and it’s especially popular in northern and western parts of the country.

How do you clean cluster beans?

It’s extremely simple! Once I bring a bumper crop of Guvar home I follow these steps:

1. Wash the cluster beans in plenty of cold water.
2. Dry them thoroughly in a clean tea towel.
3. Top and tail the beans.
4. Cut very long beans in half.

It’s important to note that young beans make preparation very simple as they don’t contain many fibrous strands.

What if you have mature beans?

If your cluster beans are more mature (large and wide), you can boil them until tender and then peel off the fibrous strands that run down the long edge of the beans.

In this recipe, I choose young beans and cook them from their raw state. If your beans are large and mature, you will need to add the pre-boiled and cooled Guvar towards the end of the cooking time.

How to cook Guvar

Cluster beans require a longer cooking time in comparison to other green beans. They can be slightly tough so be sure to cook them for an ample amount of time.

Guvar and Digestion

Important! Guvar can sometimes be difficult to digest so Ayurvedic teachings almost always advocate the addition of ajwain (carom seeds) and hing (asafoetida) alongside.

Don’t forget these two Guvar partners. They’re like the Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward of Gujarati curry!

What is Dhokli?

Lightly-spiced wheat and sometimes gram flour dumplings. To put it simply, they’re thicker than most pasta shapes but not as robust as gnocchi.

Dhokli can be rolled in many shapes. From long strips, squares and diamonds, to discs, buttons and logs.

How you roll your Dhokli is down to personal preference and the type of dish you happen to be cooking at the time.

How to serve Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

My preference is to eat this Gujarati curry with Rotli (chapati) and salad or simply with plain rice. I often eat Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak with a dollop of yoghurt and nothing more. Since the carbs are already there in the form of Dhokli, you really can just eat this one-pot wonder with a spoon.

The thickness of this curry depends on personal preference. for example, if you’re eating it with rice, ensure it has a little more sauce. If you serve it with Rotli, you can get away with evaporating some of the water off at the end.

How to make Gujarati Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

Guvar Dhokli is a cluster bean and dumpling curry enjoyed in most Gujarati homes. This quick and easy version can be made in the Instant Pot for a speedy weeknight dinner alongside rotli and kachumber.

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Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: beans, curry, dumplings, gujarati, guvar, vegan

Servings: 6

Author: Sanjana

Ingredients

• 100 g chickpea flour (gram flour/besan)
• 50 g plain flour (all-purpose flour/maida)
• 15 g coarse semolina
• 1/2 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp fine salt
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp oil (any cooking oil)
• 60 ml warm water

For the shaak:

• 400 g guvar (cluster beans)
• 2 tbsp oil (any cooking oil)
• 1/2 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
• 1 1/2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 500 ml water
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves to serve

Instructions

To make the Dhokli (Dumplings):

• In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (including garlic). Make a well in the centre and add 1 tbsp oil. Pour in the water and mix to form a shaggy dough. Use your hands to knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. It should be slightly stiff. Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil and knead it in to the dough. Cover and allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes.
• Once rested, divide the dough into two equal parts. Cover the portion you're not going to work on again so it doesn't dry out.
• Roll the dough into a long sausage shape. It should be around 2cm/0.7-inches in diameter.
• Cut the ends of the dough off and set aside. Now cut the trimmed log of dough into rounds, about 1/2cm thick. Roll the dough portions into rounds between your palms and use your thumb to make an indentation in the centre of the dough. They should look like little buttons. Set the aside and repeat this process until all the dough has been used up.

For the curry:

• Top and tail the guvar, cutting any very large beans in half.
• Put the Instant Pot on sauté/browning mode and place the in the pot. Add ajwain and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds and then quickly add the tomato purée. Cook the paste out for 1 minute. Next, add the chilli powder, turmeric, asafoetida, salt and sugar. Stir well to combine.
• Add water and bring to the boil.
• Throw in the trimmed guvar and stir to coat. It might seem watery but remember the dhokli will need water to cook properly.
• Once the guvar has been stirred, add the dhokli and give them a very gently fold. Don't stir too much or they will break.
• Place the lid on the pot and cook on high pressure for 17 minutes exactly.
• Carefully release the steam after the cooking time is up. Open the lid and stir well. The dhokli should be cooked through and the guvar tender. Place back on sauté mode to evaporate some excess water but not too much as the dhokli will continue to absorb the water as it sits. If you remove too much, the curry will become dry.
• Garnish with fresh coriander and serve.

Recipe Video

Sanjana’s Notes

Alternative cooking methods

Cooking instructions for other conventional pressure cookers remain the same.

To cook this curry in a regular pot/pan, follow the same instructions as above but instead of pressure cooking, the curry will need to be simmered over a low heat for 35-40 minutes. Stir often to avoid sticking. Top up with water if necessary.

Freezing

This Guvar Dhokli is suitable for home freezing. Pack the cooled curry into an airtight container and freeze for 3 months.

I like to double the Dhokli recipe and freeze the raw dhoklis on a tray. Once solid, they can be packed into a container or freezer-safe bag to add to curries from frozen.

 

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Pin it for later! Guvar Dhokli nu Shaak

If you love this, you might also enjoy my Gujarati Daal Dhokli recipe

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