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Bowl of vaal nu shaak
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5 from 2 votes

Vaal nu Shaak | Lima Beans Curry

Creamy butter beans in a tomato gravy enhanced with sweet jaggery and sour tamarind, this Gujarati specialty is a favorite. It is so much loved that it is served at almost all Gujarati weddings.
Prep Time8 hours
Cook Time27 minutes
Total Time8 hours 27 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: butter beans, lima beans, shaak, subzi, vaal
Servings: 6
Calories: 166kcal
Author: Puja

Ingredients

  • 1 cup vaal lima beans
  • 3 cups water

Tomato Paste

  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp dhana jeeru
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 ½ tsp kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala

Tamarind Paste

  • 2 Tbsp tamarind pulp
  • ½ cup hot water

Vaghar

  • ¼ cup oil + 1 Tbsp
  • 1 ½ tsp ajmo carom seed
  • ¼ tsp hing asafoetida
  • 2 pieces cinnamon (1 inch)
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 dry red chili
  • 1 Tbsp besan gram flour
  • 8 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp ginger grated
  • Salt to taste

Finishing

  • 1 ½ Tbsp jaggery
  • Cilantro garnish

Instructions

  • Soak the val (lima beans) overnight (or at least 6 hours). Remove soaking water.
  • Add 3 cups water, the val and 1/2 tsp of salt to the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 20 minute. Follow with natural pressure release. Preserve cooking water.
  • Make the tomato paste. In a bowl, mix together tomato sauce, dhana jeeru (1/2 Tbsp cumin powder + 1/2 Tbsp coriander powder), turmeric, red chili powder, and half of the garam masala (about 1/2 tsp). Mix well and set aside.
  • Soak the tamarind pulp in 1/2 cup of hot water. Use a fork to mix the water with the tamarind.
  • On saute mode of the Instant Pot, heat 1/4 cup of oil. Add ajmo, hing, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and red chili.
  • When fragrant, add ginger, garlic and besan. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until besan starts to brown. Stir constantly.
  • Add tomato paste mixture and deglaze. Cook until oil rises to the top, 1-3 minutes.
  • Add val along with its cooking water. Boil 10 minutes.
  • Add tamarind water, jaggery and the other half of the garam masala.
  • Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Video

Notes

Any size of lima beans will work for this recipe, traditionally larger beans are preferred.

Nutrition

Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg