The Unmissable Winter Food of Gujarat- Umbadiyu
As you cruise along the smooth roads of NH 48 towards Valsad, stalls
emitting smoke beckon you. Like us, if you have started early from
Mumbai towards Ahmedabad, your rumbling belly will make you stop &
take a look. Probability is you will sit down at one of these humble
stalls & relish this delicacy called Umbadiyu or Ubadiyu with a
chilled glass of Chaas (buttermilk) & some mint green chutney on the
side.
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Umbadiyu Dish Images In Earthen Pot |
What’s so special?
A humble dish
made by farm laborers of villages near South Gujarat, Umbadiyu is
smokier & made with limited spices & masalas compared to
Undhiyu. The vegetables used in Undhiyu & Umbadiyu may look same but
the difference lies in the beans (papdi) used & manner of cooking.
Difference between ubadiyu and undhiyu:
Wild beans are procured from villages as compared to Surati beans used
in Undhiyu. Undhiyu is made on gas, sometimes in pressure cookers to
save time or an earthen pot by a patient gastronome but Umbadiyu is
always made in an Earthen pot, buried in ground.
An
earthen pot is filled with seasonal vegetables- wild beans, brinjal,
potatoes, sweet potatoes & purple yam marinated in a simple paste of
green garlic & green chili. Some stall owners stuff the potatoes
with the paste for added flavor. The vegetables are introduced to the
pot in layers & sealed with leaves of an aromatic plant on top.
The pot is then buried in ground & covered with hay/sugarcane waste & cow dung cakes that are then set on fire. A small amount of vegetables are placed in a small earthen dish at the mouth of the earthen pot to indicate if the Umbadiyu is ready.

The
hot earthen pot is then expertly turned & the Umbadiyu is emptied
into a container insulated with foil to keep it hot. Sold by weight,
Umbadiyu is relished hot with buttermilk & chutney on the side.
Are there more versions?
Farmers
of Coastal Maharashtra near Alibaug celebrate their harvest season with
a dish prepared in a similar manner known as Popti. Made around the
harvest season of Val (another type of beans) during which they are most
tender, Popti is a non vegetarian delicacy. Popti is also made in an
earthen pot with minimal masalas (spices) & ingredients- beans,
onions, potatoes, eggs & chicken.
The pot is lined
with leaves & a layer of beans is introduced followed by sprinkling
of salt. Potatoes & onions stuffed with chili powder are placed
followed with chicken pieces marinated in ginger garlic paste &
chili powder. Eggs are placed slowly in the earthen pot. Some versions
of Popti wrap the marinated chicken pieces in smoked banana leaves
before placing them in a pot. Same leaves are used to stuff the pot so
as to seal it & placed in a wood fire & cooked for approximately
30 minutes.
The earthy, smokey flavors of Umbadiyu
& Popti attract many foodies & gastronomes. Easy on oil &
masalas, these earthen dishes are a great way to enjoy natures seasonal
bounty. Have you tried any of these dishes? Do tell us in the comments section.
It really looks yummy
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeletegood
ReplyDeletePopti s main ingredient is leaves of medicinal plant of bhamburde {भांबुर्डे}
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information Rupesh.
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ReplyDeleteIt really looks ymy
ReplyDelete