Rajasthani Gatte Ki Sabzi Recipe for a Traditional Vegetarian Meal

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Rajasthani cuisine includes several dishes built around pantry ingredients and carefully balanced spices. Gatte ki sabzi is one of the best-known examples. It consists of dumplings made from gram flour, cooked and then simmered in a seasoned yoghurt-based gravy.
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The dish is particularly useful when you want to prepare a substantial vegetarian curry using ingredients commonly available in Indian kitchens. It can be served with roti, bajra roti or rice.

This version does not use onion or garlic, allowing the flavours of gram flour, yoghurt and whole spices to remain prominent.


Ingredients for the gatte

For three to four servings, you will need:

  • One cup gram flour or besan
  • Half a teaspoon ajwain
  • Half a teaspoon turmeric powder
  • Half a teaspoon coriander powder
  • A pinch of red chilli powder
  • Salt to taste
  • One tablespoon oil or ghee
  • Water as required
For the gravy, keep ready:


  • One cup plain yoghurt
  • One teaspoon cumin seeds
  • A pinch of asafoetida
  • One teaspoon coriander powder
  • Half a teaspoon turmeric
  • Red chilli powder to taste
  • One tablespoon ghee or oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
You may adjust the spice quantities according to your preference.

Prepare the gram flour dumplings

Place the besan in a bowl and add ajwain, turmeric, coriander powder, chilli powder, salt and oil or ghee.

Mix the ingredients, then add water gradually until a firm, workable dough forms. Avoid adding too much water at once, as the dough can become difficult to shape.

Divide it into portions and roll each portion into a long cylinder of reasonably even thickness.


Bring a pot of water to the boil and carefully add the rolled dough. Cook until the pieces are firm and cooked through. The cooking time will depend on their thickness, so check a piece before removing the entire batch.

Reserve a little of the cooking water. Once the rolls have cooled enough to handle, cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Prepare the yoghurt gravy

Whisk the yoghurt until smooth. Add the powdered spices and mix well. A small quantity of besan can be whisked into the yoghurt if you prefer a slightly thicker gravy.

Heat the ghee or oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and allow them to release their aroma. Stir in the asafoetida, followed by the yoghurt mixture.

Keep the heat low and stir continuously as the mixture warms. Avoid adding very cold yoghurt directly to a very hot pan, as sudden temperature changes can make the gravy separate.

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Add water or the reserved dumpling-cooking liquid gradually until the gravy reaches your preferred consistency.

Combine the gatte and gravy

Add the cut dumplings to the simmering gravy. Cook gently for several minutes so they can absorb some of the seasoning.

Taste and adjust the salt and spices. If the gravy becomes too thick, add a little water and simmer briefly.

Finish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serving suggestions

Gatte ki sabzi pairs well with plain roti, bajra roti or steamed rice. A simple vegetable side dish can round out the meal.


For the best texture, make sure the gram flour rolls are properly cooked before adding them to the gravy. Keep the final simmer gentle so that the yoghurt mixture remains smooth.

This traditional curry demonstrates how a handful of ordinary ingredients can create a distinctive vegetarian dish. Once you are comfortable with the basic method, you can adjust the consistency and seasoning to suit your family's preferences.

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