Spiced Cashew Stir-Fry

Name: Spiced Cashew Stir-Fry (Karwar-Style Bibya Usal)
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup whole cashews; 1 tablespoon coconut oil; ½ teaspoon mustard seeds; 1 teaspoon white urad dal (split); 2 dried red chiles, halved; 2 green chiles, finely chopped; 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped; 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1 sprig curry leaves, torn; ¼ cup freshly grated coconut; 1 teaspoon sugar; ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder; Kosher salt; 1 lemon, juiced; 1 lemon, juiced; 6 sprigs cilantro, finely chopped

Karwar-Style Bibya Usal

Preparation info

Yield:
4
servings

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Everyday Indian from Archana’s Kitchen

By Archana Doshi

Published 2026

About

Hailing from the Konkan region near Karwar, this innovative sabzi features cashews simmered in a tangy, spiced gravy. Its rich, robust flavor and delightful crunch offer a unique twist to traditional coastal cuisine—a favorite of adventurous eaters.

Ingredients

1 cup whole cashews
1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ teaspoon

Asia
India
Karnataka
Karwar
Side dish
Vegan

Method

Soak the cashews in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal and let the seeds crackle and the dal turn golden brown and crisp. Add the red chiles, green chiles, ginger, and garlic. Sauté for a few seconds.

Add the soaked cashews, curry leaves, coconut, sugar, and turmeric powder and