If you like tangy flavors, you’ll love Gundruk Bhatmas Jhol. It’s a Nepalese dish made with fermented leafy vegetables, soybeans, and a blend of aromatic spices.
Gundruk Bhatmas Curry
The key ingredient in this dish is Gundruk, a fermented leafy green that is sour and slightly tangy, usually made by fermenting leafy greens, usually mustard greens.
It adds a unique flavor to the dish and is often used in curries or as a pickle.
Gundruk Bhatmas Jhol is more than just a tasty meal. For me, it’s a dish that holds a special place in my heart.
Living away from Nepal, I still crave this dish. Whenever I have gundruk at home, either sent by my mother or bought from the store, I always make sure to prepare either Gundruk Bhatmas Jhol or Gundruk Ko Achar.
It’s the perfect soup dish to enjoy with rice, especially during the chilly winter months.
Here is a simple step-by-step instruction on how to make Gundruk Bhatmas Jhol /Soup Curry.
Ingredients
Gundruk: It is a fermented leafy green that is sour and slightly tangy. It is made by fermenting leafy greens, usually mustard greens.
Bhatmas: Soybeans are another ingredient in this recipe. Feel free to use brown or white soybeans. Soybeans can also be substituted with eggs, potatoes, or even soya chunks (nutria).
Spices: Turmeric, coriander, cumin, red chili powder, and ginger garlic paste.
Seasoning: Salt.
Tomato, onion, cilantro and green chili.
Oil: Olive oil or any vegetable oil.
Instructions
- Soak a handful of dried Gundruk leaves in hot water for 5–10 minutes.
- Rinse the leaves thoroughly and squeeze out the excess water.
- Then, chop the Gundruk leaves into small pieces and set them aside.
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Add soybeans.
- Roast them for 5–7 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Once cooked, remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add more oil.
- Add chili and sauté for a minute,
- Then add chopped onion and sauté until soft.
- Next, add chopped Gundruk and fry for a few minutes.
- Add all the spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, and red chili kashmiri powder), ginger, and garlic paste.
- Combine everything well and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the chopped tomato and mix everything well.
- Cook for a few minutes, then add the fried soybeans and mix well again. Cover with a lid and let it cook.
- Next, add the fried soybeans and mix well again.
- Cover with a lid and let it cook.
- Next, add water and let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat with the lid on for 10-15 minutes.
- Finally, season with salt and garnish with cilantro.
Note: If you prefer a thicker consistency, add less water or let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Personally, I prefer a thinner consistency.
Serving & Storage
Serving
I would definitely serve it with rice and pair it with the tomato ko achar recipe, but don’t hesitate to pair it with any main dish of your choice, like roti, or eat it on its own.
Storage
If you have any leftovers of Gundruk Bhatmas Jhol don’t worry! You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat the curry and serve it with your main dish.
Other Nepali Curry Recipes
Here are the other Nepali curries you might want to try:
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup gundruk
- ½ cup soybeans
Vegetable
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped tomato
- 2-3 chopped green chili (to taste)
Spices
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp red chili powder (kashmiri)
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
Water
- 2½ cup water (soup)
- 2 cup soak gundruk
Oil
- ½ tbsp olive oil or any vegetable oil (roast soybean)
- ½ tbsp oil
Seasoning
- Salt to taste
Other
- 2 tbsp cilantro
Instructions
- Start by soaking a handful of dried Gundruk leaves in water for 5–10 minutes.1 cup gundruk, 2 cup soak gundruk
- Rinse the leaves thoroughly and squeeze out the excess water.
- Then, chop the Gundruk leaves into small pieces and set them aside.
- Heat oil in a pan and roast soybeans for 5–7 minutes on medium-high heat.½ cup soybeans, ½ tbsp olive oil or any vegetable oil (roast soybean)
- Once cooked, remove the soybeans from the pan and set them aside.
- In the same pan, add more oil and sauté the green chili and onion until soft½ cup chopped onion, 2-3 chopped green chili (to taste), ½ tbsp oil
- Then, add chopped Gundruk and fry for a few minutes until it becomes tender
- Next, add spices and cook the mixture well to bring out the flavors½ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp red chili powder (kashmiri), 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- Add the chopped tomato and combine everything well. Cover with a lid and let it cook.½ cup chopped tomato
- Once the tomatoes are mushy, add the fried soybeans and combine them with the Gundruk mixture.
- Next, add water and let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat with the lid on for 10–15 minutes.2½ cup water (soup)
- Finally, season with salt and garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice.2 tbsp cilantro, Salt to taste
Notes
If you tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. If you liked it, remember to rate the recipe. Your feedback helps other readers decide if they want to make this recipe. Thank you!