Nepali Beans Stew – Kwati Recipe

Kwati is a traditional Nepalese dish which is a thick stew of several kinds of beans. The beans used in this dish are kidney beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, soyabean, mung bean, green bean, black bean and white beans.  It’s a healthy and wholesome family meal. Kwati is mainly eaten during  Janai Purnima/ Rakshya Bhandan in Nepal.

 Nepali Beans Stew – Kwati

INGREDIENTS:

 

• 2 cups dry mixed beans (kidney beans, black-eyed beans, chickpeas, soya beans, mung beans, green beans, black beans, white beans)
• 500 gms Mutton, diced into small pieces
• 1 tsp Fennel seeds ( Sauf)
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds ( zeera)
• 1 tsp Black Mustard seeds ( Rai)
• 1 tsp Lovage seeds (Ajwain / Jwano)
• 1 Medium Onion, 5 cloves Garlic and 1″ Ginger  - Made into a paste
• 4-5 Medium Tomatoes
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder ( Dhania)
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder ( Zeera)
• 1 tsp Turmeric Powder ( Haldi)
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 4 tbsp Mustard Oil
• Salt to Taste 

 How to Make :

1. In a large bowl , soak the beans overnight. The mix of beans is quite colorful
2. Drain the water and keep aside (Some people also keep it for 2-3 days till it sprouts !  You can try it too )
3. Heat the oil in pressure cooker and add the cumin seeds, black mustard seeds, fennel seeds and lovage seeds. When the seeds start spluttering, then add the onion-ginger-garlic paste and fry for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the diced mutton pieces and stir fry for couple of minutes till the meat becomes light brown.
5. Add the sprouted mixed beans, cumin powder, chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder and salt and mix well and fry for 5 mins till the meat and beans are nicely coated with all the masalas.
6. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 2-3 mins. Then add 5 cups of water to the cooker and pressure cook for 20-25 mins ( you can make this recipe in open dish but it takes longer to cook the beans ) .
7. Release the steam and check that the beans are cooked till they are tender. At this point of time, most of the water would have dried up.  Add about 2 cups of warm water and boil it for couple of minutes till you get the desired consistency. Depending upon your preference, the soup can be made thicker or thinner.
8. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve with rice.