Skip to main content

Kadi Sauce

This particular kadi sauce is based on the Gujarati (Western India) version of a yogurt-based sauce thickened with gram flour (besan). In that region the sauce is sweet and sour. There is also a Northern Indian version, which is spicier and even more sour. They never add sugar to their kadi as Gujaratis do.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups whole- milk yogurt
2 tablespoons gram flour (besan)
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh Thai green chile
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds
2 large dried Kashmiri chiles, halved
10 (1 1/2-inch) fresh curry leaves (more if smaller)
1/4 teaspoon asafetida
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small saucepan, combine the yogurt, gram flour, water, turmeric, ginger, and green chile. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil, 10 to 12 minutes. (Once the sauce comes to a boil, it is stabilized and the yogurt is no longer in danger of breaking.) Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of the spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.

    Step 2

    In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle. Stir in the Kashmiri chilies, curry leaves, and asafetida. Scrape all of the pan’s contents into the yogurt sauce. Stir in the sugar and salt. If not using immediately, let cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Image may contain: Advertisement, Poster, Flyer, Paper, Brochure, and Bowl
From Rasika: Flavors of India © 2017 by Ashok Bajaj and Vikram Sunderam. Reprinted with permission by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.
Read More
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
The mussels here add their beautiful, briny juices into the curry, which turn this into a stunning and spectacular dish.
Dressed in a spiced yogurt, with ginger and garlic, then roasted until caramelized and tender.
This is one of the best fried chickens ever. From southern Thailand, gai hat yai is known for its crispy skin, great aromatics, and super juicy meat.
Spaghetti is a common variation in modern Thai cooking. It’s so easy to work with and absorbs the garlicky, spicy notes of pad kee mao well.
This luscious chilled yogurt soup, packed with fresh and dried mint, is an incredibly refreshing and cooling appetizer during the summer.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.