Mix Vegetable Paatra Sabji

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A delicious Indian sabji that is perfect for any meal; this Mix Vegetable Paatra Sabji is super addictive.

This Vegan sabji has a perfect mix of vegetables, crispy paatra and a tomato based sauce that blends everything beautifully.

Mixed Vegetable and Paatra in a tomato based curry.

Indian weddings often have the most delicious Indian curries. There is generally always a paneer based gravy like Akbari Paneer, Paneer Jalfrezi or Palak Paneer. Plus there is Undhiyu through the winter weddings and the Best Gujarati Dal.

Along with these classics there will generally be a few fusion dishes. A tava vegetable is especially popular there. I remember having it for multiple weddings back to back.

It was essentially a super big tava with all kinds of cooked vegetables lined along the sides. Plus, there was paatra, khandvi and muthiya on the sides. These would be mixed with a pre-prepped tomato masala and was served hot.

This sabji and roti or puri is an instant hit! And inspired by that wedding sabji, here is a homely version of it. The taste is similar but it is pre-mixed for ease. And we add some paatra to make it super yum!

What is Paatra?

Paatra is a delicious Gujarati recipe with colocasia (arbi) leaves, gram flour and a sweet and spicy blend of spices. The rolls are rolled tight and steamed in a steamer. Then they can be stir-fried or fried and served with a tempering on them.

These taste great as an appetizer or snack. But they make this sabji super delicious and add so much texture to it.

While the traditional recipe to make paatra is tedious to make, we can always buy them from the store. There is an option to get the pre-sliced ones or the whole rolls. Either work well in this recipe.

Why this recipe works

This is a crowd pleaser recipe. Having made it for various gatherings like Diwali and Holi party, I can definitely say that the recipe works with most folks.
As it is a mix of vegetables with paatra; each person can definitely find something they like from the mix. That way it is easy to make for a large crowd.
The vegetables and paatra are generally not spicy. The spice level is easy to adjust in the tomato mix to make it super spicy or bland.
While I have used onions and garlic, the same recipe is possible without alliums too.
The recipe is naturally Vegan. Plus it can be gluten-free by picking pure asafetida over a blended one and a paatra brand that is gluten-free too. Moreover, the paatra can be home-made too.

This has been my go-to recipe for the last few parties. It has worked with various groups and finally after so many testimonials, the recipe is here for everyone to try!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients for Mixed Vegetable Paatra Sabji; vegetables, paatra and spices.

Mixed Vegetables: For the recipe we use mixed vegetables. I like to use okra, potatoes, peppers, carrots, beans, cauliflower and tendli. Add more vegetables if you like. Just chop them evenly so they cook well together.
Paatra: The next ingredient in the recipe is definitely paatra. Both fresh and frozen paatra will work well. These can be used as is, stir-fried before using or even fried prior to adding to the vegetable.
Aromatics: The flavor in the curry comes from the aromatics. Onions, green chili, ginger and garlic together form the base of the curry. I like to chop them fine but puréeing them works too.
Tomato: The saucy texture for the curry is from tomatoes. I like to use tomato purée but chopped tomatoes work too.
Whole Spices: Whole spices give the sabji a lot of flavor and texture. I like to add bay leaves, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon and mace. If you do not have a couple of spices, skip them. Add some cloves or pepper corns if you have them too.
Spices: Along with all the whole spices we add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafetida and curry leaves to the tempering. Plus, we use turmeric powder, red chili powder and dhania jeera powder in the sabji as well.
Oil: I like to make the sabji in oil. Using ghee as a fat works too but I have not tried that. Any neutral oil works well for the sabji.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

To prep for the recipe chop the vegetables and purée the tomatoes. These make the preparation of the sabji very easy.

1- In a pan add oil. Heat it up and add the potatoes and beans. Fry till crisp and set aside.

2- Then in the same oil add okra and carrot sticks. Fry them too and remove from the oil.

Fry vegetables like carrot, okra, potato and beans in hot oil and set aside.

3- Next fry the cauliflower, peppers and onions till crisp.

4- Finally fry the paatra till they are crisp on the outside and remove. Set aside.

Fry onions, peppers and paatra in the same oil and set aside.

5- In a large pan or wok heat oil. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and asafetida. Let the seeds pop.

6- Then add the whole spices (bay leaves, mace, cinnamon, star anise and cardamom pods) and curry leaves.

In a large pan add oil and fry the whole spices.

7- Once the spices are toasted add ginger and garlic along with diced onions.

8- Cook till the onions are soft and the raw flavor of garlic vanishes.

Add onions, ginger and garlic and sauté till fragrant.

9- Then add the dry spices and mix everything well.

10- Once the spices cook, add tomato purée.

Add the dry spices and tomato purée and sauté.

11- Add some water if required and mix everything. Bring it to a boil.

12- Season with salt and keep cooking till the gravy is bright red.

13- Then add the fried vegetables to the pan.

14- Mix well till the vegetables coat with the gravy and masalas.

Add the fried vegetables and mix them well.

15- Transfer the paatra discs in the sabji and mix them in too. Cook for another 2-3 minutes and turn down the flame.

16- Serve this Mix Vegetable Paatra Sabji as desired with roti, naan, parathas or even by itself.

Add the paatra and mix well. Serve with roti or rice.

Expert Tips and Notes

Use vegetables that will not turn mushy. This includes cucumbers, tomatoes or zucchini. The will not be great in the otherwise crisp vegetable mix.
The first step involves frying the vegetables. However, air frying or stir-frying in minimal oil works too. Though the taste will not be the same, it still works.
If making the sabji to serve after a few hours, do all the steps of preparing the masala, frying the vegetables and paatra before hand. Mix everything just before serving.
The Mix Vegetable Paatra Sabji recipe is naturally Vegan. We do not use any milk based products in this sabji.
The same sabji can be served separate in a large platter where each guest can mix their choice of vegetables and paatra with the masala.

Indian style vegetable paatra sabji with Gujarati Kadhi, roti and onions in the background.

Recipe FAQs

What all vegetables can be added to this Mix Vegetable Paatra Sabji?

I like to add all vegetables that are firm. Okra, cauliflower, beans, peppers, carrots etc work well. Mushy vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber and zucchini do not work well.

Is this recipe Vegan and Gluten-free?

The recipe is naturally Vegan and can be made gluten-free by using pure asafetida and paatra that is gluten-free.

Can this vegetable be made in advance?

The frying of vegetables, preparing paatra and tomato masala can happen before hand. Mix everything right before serving so it is still crisp when eating.

Pairings

This sabji pairs wonderfully with an array of Indian breads, rice and sides. Here are some of my favorites.

More Indian Curries to try

Vegan Indian sabji made with mixed vegetables, paatra and a tomato based sauce.

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