Drumstick Curry/ Saragva Nu Shaak

Drumstick Curry/ Saragva Nu Shaak
Drumstick Curry/ Saragva Nu Shaak is a gluten free, delicious, side dish prepared using drumstick pods in a yogurt curry. Notably, this Gujarati style curry or shaak is commonly enjoyed with hot plain parathas. In fact, drumstick curry is a delicious way to enjoy the superfood.
What is Drumstick?
In general, drumstick is a long slender and triangular pod that grows from the branches of a tree whose biological name is Moringa Oleifera. Also known as moringa tree, drumstick tree, horseradish tree (the roots taste like horseradish) or benzolive tree (named so because of the oil from the seeds). Generally, these trees are commonly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia, Middle East and some parts of Africa.
Miracle Tree – health benefits of Moringa
As a matter of fact, drumstick tree is known as the miracle tree in Africa. And rightly so as it has so many health benefits right from the roots, bark, the pods (fruits, yes it is a fruit and not a vegetable),seeds, leaves to the flowers.
- Moringa is a superfood for diabetics as it helps to regulate the blood sugar levels.
- An excellent source of B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B12, which play a vital role in improving your digestive health. B vitamins help to break down the foods and make it easier to digest.
- It is high in dietary fibre which aids digestion.
- Rich in calcium and iron, it helps to build strong bones, prevents loss of bone density and increases stamina and overall health.
- As a matter of fact, drumsticks have blood purifying properties and act like antibiotic agent.
- Rich in Vitamin C and anti inflammatory properties, drumsticks relieve respiratory disorders as it prevents the growth of allergies in the respiratory tract.
- Anti – bacterial properties in drumstick help to ward off colds and coughs during the cold season.
- Helps to reduce bad cholesterol.
Moringa Powder:
Increasingly, the best way to conserve the nutritional value of moringa is by drying the fresh leaves and grinding them into a powder. The nutritional value in the powder form remains high.
- Chlorophyll and anti-aging compound levels are higher in dried leaves than in fresh ones.
- The dried leaves contain more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk and more protein than yogurt, more vitamin C than oranges, more iron than spinach and more potassium than bananas.
- It’s one of the few plants that contains what is known as the complete protein. It easily can compete with animal based protein. It contains all the essential amino acids.
Drumstick as Food:
- Commonly, the pods are cooked to make a vegetable side dish or sabji(shaak) or is added in soups, lentil curries like sambhar, or vegetable curries like Santula etc.
- Tender leaves are cooked like other leafy greens. Whenever I manage to get the tender leaves of moringa, I’m definitely going try Sasmita’s Sajana Saga Munga .
- Flowers too are used, like the way Shobha uses them to make a cooling and healthy Drumstick Flowers Raita or yogurt salad.
- Moringa powder can be sprinkled in your cereal, oats, soups, mixed with smoothies or enjoy it as a herbal tea. I love to drink Moringa and Mint Tea.
Fresh pods and seeds are a rich source of oleic acid. Pods are commonly used in the Indian Cuisine as they rich in minerals like copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium. Best to choose pods that are not dry. If they begin to split at the ends or the middle then they have reached the ripening stage and the seeds will taste bitter.
Drumstick Curry/ Saragva Nu Shaak:
My all time favorite sabji or side dish, I remember every weekend a huge bundle of drumsticks would be brought home by my Grandfather. His best friend owned a farm so Sunday visits would mean he would come back home with a huge basket of fresh produce, drumsticks being one of them.
The family’s favorite was Saragva Nu Shaak made in a chickpea flour and yogurt curry with hot bhakri (parathas). My siblings and I would sit with my grandfather to enjoy the curry and we would see who could make the highest pile of the pod skins after eating the inner pulp and seeds.
Dietary Tips:
- Its gluten free
- For vegan option use a vegan yogurt or replace the yogurt with coconut milk and add a bit of lemon juice.
- For a satvik friendly dish, avoid adding garlic.
Ingredients Required For Drumsticks Curry/ Saragva Nu Shaak
- Drumsticks – choose long tender and slightly ‘meaty’ ones.
- Water – for cooking the drumsticks
- Turmeric Powder – hardar, haldi
- Mustard Seeds – rai
- Cumin Seeds – jeera, jeeru
- Carom Seeds – ajmo, ajwain
- Chickpea Flour – chana no lot, besan, chana atta.
- Salt – add according to your taste
- Oil – use any oil of your choice. I have used sunflower oil.
- Garlic – peeled and minced or finely chopped
- Ginger – fresh ginger, peeled and minced or grated
- Green Chillis – add according to your taste. Finely chopped or minced.
- Yogurt – plain and preferably a bit sour. Use thick yogurt.
- Asafetida – hing. For gluten free version of the shaak don’t use it or use pure asafetida without any wheat flour
- Fresh Coriander – washed, chopped with the tender stems. For adding to the shaak and garnishing.

DRUMSTICK CURRY/ SARAGVA NU SHAAK
Ingredients
- 10 long drumsticks
- 2½ cups water
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 -1¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp carom seeds
- ⅛ tsp asafoetida
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp green chilli paste
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 3- 4 tbsp chickpea flour
- ½ cup sour yogurt whipped
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
Instructions
- Trim the ends of the drumsticks. Wash and cut each drumstick into 2½ to 3 inches pieces.
- Put the cut drumstick pieces into a pressure cooker with the water, salt and turmeric powder.
- Cover the cooker and place over medium heat. Cook the drumsticks for one whistle. Take the cooker off the heat.
- In a wide pan heat oil over low flame.
- When it is hot add mustard, cumin and carom seeds, asafoetida. When the seeds begin to splutter add the chickpea flour and stir continuously, till it becomes light pink in colour.
- Add garlic, ginger and chilli and stir fry for a few seconds.
- Add the drumsticks along with the water.
- Mix very gently.
- Simmer the curry till it becomes thick, which will take about 5 minutes.
- Add yogurt and mix well. Let the curry simmer for 5 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat.
- Garnish with coriander and serve with parathas.
Notes
- I prefer to cook the curry ahead because letting it stay for a while makes it thick.
- You can heat it up before serving.
- If you don't want to pressure cook the drumsticks, let it boil in a deep saucepan with salt and turmeric powder till done. You may need extra water. Don't overcook the drumsticks as you don't want to be left with a mass of sticks only.
- The drumsticks will split when cooked but should not fall apart completely. Remember to stir the curry gently.
- Use spices according to your taste.
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21 Comments
Beena.stephy
April 24, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Very interesting recipe . yummy
Mayuri's jikoni
April 25, 2013 at 9:23 am
thanks Beena
Harendra
May 10, 2023 at 5:55 pm
Great recipe enjoyed it well done , try it like in khadi same process and or tuvar ni daal.
mayurisjikoni
May 11, 2023 at 10:04 pm
Harendra I am so glad you enjoyed drumstick curry. My mother in law always use to put in tuvar dal too.
Shobha Keshwani
February 20, 2022 at 2:22 am
This is a very different and interesting drumstick preparation. I have never tried with besan and yogurt gravy. We love anything with besan and I am sure hubby will like this curry.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Thank you so much Shobha, please try the recipe out. It is quite a popular Gujarati style curry using drumsticks. In fact we prepare guvar in a similar way and also potatoes.
Moringa Herbal Tea – AsiaInfo
February 20, 2022 at 10:31 pm
[…] करके करी के रूप में पकाया जाता है। यह नुस्खा मयूरी की जिकोनी की एक रेसिपी है जिसका […]
Seema Sriram
February 21, 2022 at 1:02 am
I have literally brought home 10 drumsticks yesterday. So I am making my list of things to try and so glad to spot this recipe. I am sure my family will like this too.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Thanks Seema, hope your family enjoyed the different kind of drumstick curry.
Mina Joshi
February 21, 2022 at 3:17 am
Your curry reminded me of my mum who used to make saragwa nu lot varu shak. Adding the sour yogurt to it makes this really delicious. I haven’t made this for years. Next time I manage to get some drumsticks, this is on my list to make.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Thank you so much Mina. My family loves it so much that I make it once a week…well at least when I was in Mombasa or India.
Jayashree T.Rao
February 21, 2022 at 8:51 am
We make a similar kind of dish but without drumsticks. This drumstick curry will make a good accompaniment for both chapati and steamed rice.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Thanks Jayashree, enjoy when you try out the recipe.
Archana
February 22, 2022 at 1:28 am
Thanks for the recipe, Mayuri. This drumstick curry with chickpeas my mother-in-law made often but I have never tried it. Was thinking about making it the other day. Seems quite like what she made. Thanks once again.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Thank you Archana, go ahead and try the recipe and let me know if it is similar to what your mother in law use to make.
Sujata Roy
February 22, 2022 at 5:20 am
Drumstick curry with yogurt chickpea flour and spices sounds so flavorful and delicious. A completely new recipe for me. Gravy is something like North Indian kadhi. Now I am eagerly waiting to get Drumstick to try this delectable Drumstick curry.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Thank you so much Sujata, we Gujjus love our yogurt based curries. We use a similar curry for guvar (cluster beans) and potatoes too.
Kalyani
February 23, 2022 at 5:26 am
the summer here will bring in lots of drumsticks back into the kitchen. this yoghurt curry looks so flavourful, must be amazing with steamed rice.
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Thanks Kalyani, we’ve nto tried it with rice as the usual combination with the curry is either paratha or roti. But am sure it will taste delicious.
Priya Vj
February 24, 2022 at 8:05 am
Thanks for this recipe.i simply love the classic flavors of drumstick and besan in the curry. remember eating this in my friend’s house who is a gujju but never really bothered abt the recipe as it tasted so delicious with hot fulkas. It was too tasty to stop eating ..I am.surely going to make this curry with your recipe .
mayurisjikoni
February 24, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Thank you so much Priya. Enjoy the shaak when you make it. We simply love it.