Easy Sev Usal Recipe at Home: A Vadodara-Style Street Food

If you’ve ever visited Vadodara, you probably know why Sev Usal is so loved there. A hot bowl of spicy usal, crunchy sev, fresh onions, coriander and a squeeze of lemon makes this Gujarati street food hard to resist.

The good news is that you don’t need to travel to Vadodara whenever you crave it. With simple ingredients and a good sev usal masala, you can prepare a delicious Vadodara style sev usal recipe right in your kitchen.

Whether you’re planning a weekend snack or simply looking for tasty Indian fast food, this recipe is easy to make and customize.

What Is Sev Usal?

Sev Usal is a popular Gujarati street food made with cooked white peas, onions, tomatoes and spices. It is served hot and topped with crispy sev, chopped onions, coriander, lemon and chutneys.

The combination is what makes it special. You get soft and spicy usal, crunchy sev, fresh onion and tangy lemon in every bite.

Vadodara is particularly famous for its Sev Usal, and different stalls have their own versions of this much-loved dish.

Ingredients

For the Usal

• 1 cup dried white peas
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1–2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1–2 tbsp sev usal masala
• Salt to taste
• 2–3 cups water
• Fresh coriander
• 1 tsp lemon juice

For Serving

• Crispy sev
• Chopped onion
• Fresh coriander
• Lemon
• Green chutney
• Garlic chutney
• Sweet chutney
• Pav

How to Make Sev Usal at Home

1. Cook the Peas

Wash and soak the white peas for 6–8 hours or overnight. Drain them, add fresh water and a little salt, and pressure cook until soft.

Don’t overcook them into a paste. Keeping some texture makes the usal more enjoyable.

2. Prepare the Masala

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Add chopped onions and cook until soft and lightly golden.

Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for another minute. Then add tomatoes and cook until they become soft.

Add turmeric, red chilli powder, salt and sev usal masala. Mix well and cook for 2–3 minutes.

3. Add the Peas

Add the cooked peas and mix everything together. Pour in around 2 cups of water and let the usal simmer for 10–15 minutes.

The gravy should be thick but not completely dry. If it’s too thick, add some hot water. If it’s too thin, simmer it uncovered for a few minutes.

Finish with fresh coriander and lemon juice.

How to Serve Vadodara-Style Sev Usal

Put hot usal into a serving bowl. Add chopped onion, coriander, chutneys and spicy tari if you like.

Finally, add a generous amount of crispy sev and squeeze fresh lemon on top.

Serve immediately with warm pav.

Tip: Add sev just before eating. This keeps it crunchy instead of soggy.

Tips for Better Sev Usal

• Cook the peas until soft but not mushy.
• Give the onion and tomato masala enough time to cook.
• Balance spice with lemon and chutneys.
• Adjust the chilli according to your taste.
• Use fresh, crispy sev.
• Serve the usal hot.

If you want the bold taste associated with Vadodara famous Sev Usal, you can add extra tari and chilli. But don’t focus only on making it spicy. A great Sev Usal should have a balance of spicy, tangy, savory and crunchy flavors.

Final Thoughts

Sev Usal is one of those foods that proves simple ingredients can create something incredibly satisfying. Soft peas, flavorful spices, crunchy sev, fresh onion and lemon come together perfectly.

So the next time you’re craving Indian fast food, skip the usual sandwich or noodles and try this easy Vadodara style sev usal recipe at home.

Make it spicy, add plenty of sev, grab a warm pav and enjoy your homemade taste of Vadodara.