Name: Maharashtrian Lal Bhopla Chi Bhaji
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 250 g Pumpkin, lal bhopla, cut into medium cubes with the skin on; ½ Onion, finely chopped; 2½ clove Garlic, crushed; 1 Green Chili Pepper, slit; ¼ tsp Mustard Seeds; ¼ tsp Cumin Seeds; ¼ tsp Ground Turmeric; ½ tsp Red Chilli Powder; ¾ tsp Goda Masala, authentic Marathi spice blend; ½ tbsp Jaggery, crushed, amplifies the pumpkin's sweetness; ¾ tbsp Cooking Oil; ½ tsp Salt; 1 tbsp Coriander Leaves, chopped for garnish

25 mintotal

Prep 10 min · Cook 15 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Spice: Mild

Add to your week

Method

Heat oil in a kadhai or pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, letting them crackle.
Add crushed garlic and slit green chillies. Sauté for a few seconds until the garlic smells fragrant.
Add the finely chopped onion and fry until translucent and slightly pink.
Stir in turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and Goda Masala. Sauté quickly for 10 seconds.
10 sec
Add the pumpkin cubes and salt. Toss thoroughly to coat the pieces in the tempered spices.
Cover the pan and cook on low heat for 10-12 minutes. Pumpkin cooks very fast in its own steam; do not add water.
10–12 min
Once the pumpkin is tender, add the crushed jaggery. Toss gently for another 2 minutes until the jaggery melts and glazes the vegetable.
2 min
Turn off the heat, garnish with fresh coriander, and serve.

How to tell it's done

Soft, melt-in-the-mouth pumpkin cubes with a slight bite from the skin, glistening with a sweet, savory, and spicy glaze.

Nutrition

Per serving, from 2 servings.

113kcal

Where the calories come from

Protein2.1 g7%
Carbohydrate16.3 g53%
Fat5.5 g40%

Sugars: 8.2 g
Saturated fat: 0.9 g
Fibre: 1.5 g
Sodium: 587 mg
Potassium: 519 mg
Calcium: 48 mg
Iron: 1.6 mg

Estimated by calculation from the ingredient list, using USDA FoodData Central. Not a laboratory analysis.

Getting it right

Tip

The combination of Goda Masala and Jaggery (Gul) creates the quintessential Maharashtrian flavor profile—a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and earthy tones.

What to serve it with

A dry, comforting sabzi that is perfect for lunchboxes along with hot Chapatis and Dal.

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Ingredients