Usually in Kerala households, black channa is made with ground fried coconut or coconut milk. Kerala has a special liking for black channa, but even then I don’t think our coconut version of channa dal curry or kadala curry is impressive.
Though this big secret of non-impressive kadala curry has been hushed up by many mothers and grandmothers, the rebel that I am had to come out with the truth one day.
“Actually, you know, err…I am not really found of our Kerala style kadala curry. Channa and coconut do not blend together and all the curries I have tasted of channa, the adamant black channa refuses to get infused with the delicate coconut”There was absolute silence as I blurted this out during an unofficial family gathering and then my lovely aunt, held my hand, looked into my confused eyes and told me…
”I know what you are saying. I have been there. Come, I will teach you the secrets of this harsh World…err…sorry I got carried away…I will show you how to make proper kadala curry”
She then taught me how to make the best kadala curry I have tasted and how to ditch the coconut.
Black channa dal – 2 cups washed and soaked for more than 12 hours.
Pressure cook 1/2 cup onion, 2 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of garam masala powder, ¼ cup garlic crushed, 1 tsp ginger diced, 3 green chilies and ¼ cup tomato diced with the soaked black channa adding enough salt and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and add ½ cup water. Pressure cook well. Black channa needs a lot of time to get cooked.
Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds, sauté 1 spring curry leaf. To this add a little salt and a pinch of turmeric. Then add the cooked channa mixture. Now is the trick. Add ¼ cup of ordinary tomato sauce, mix well in the curry and then let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve it with rice, roti, or puttu.
20 comments:
u know what. i too love the chana curry without coconut which i learnt from my sister's cook in Trichur. no tomato sauce in that though, just tomatoes and lots of masala. its great to have you back.
Hi Inji,
I love balck channa sundal. I will try your version Next. Thanks for sharing.
This is more like it -- another easy delicious recipe from inji's kitchen ;)
Now I am developing a fondness for this black chana, I have to try yours. Time for a new pressure cooker! It's a lovely pic too, :)
My mother makes kadala curry with fresh tomatoes and masala, i like it too. Will have to try this one out. Thank you Ingi, i am just elated to see you back.
mmmm..I saute onion-ginger-garlic etc with oil in the pressure cooker first, and then add the masala powders, tomatoe, chana and whatever needed...then pressure cook.
The tomato sauce made it real pretty! Will try that.
Good to see you cooking again, inji penne.
I also had the same experience with black chana and coconut milk when I made the Kadala curry, last year. Even though I liked it, I never attempted it again. I should try your secret revealed-version.:)
Inji, what about idiyappam and kadala? I know you like puttu, but give the idiyappam a chance.
I never use coconut milk in the curry. I always thought that it is supposed to be made without any coconut milk. Guess I was in the league already. Anyway...glad you found the right way now. Better late than never.
Good that you ditched...I am definitely going to make this...it sounds good and tahnks for the no coconout, the cocnut would make me think twice
Good to see you back, Inji.
That's a delicious looking kadala curry. A version I would love to try.
Thats a nice recipe....I am not too fond of coconut in the chanas either...Nice to see your posts after a while.
Cheers,TRS
LG so good to know your back.I love kadala curry in both this way and our kerala way.Hugs:)
Hi Ginger,
I love your site and reading your post. Can you please post one more time the recipe of Mundirikottu(kerala snack). Thank you arthi
I love this in any form. Your curry looks delicious ! So good to see you blogging again.
Hey Inji, good to see you back again blogging, kadal curry looks delicious, I will remember next time Kadala curry no coconut.
Usually I prepare the coconut milk added version of black channa dal. I have never felt that channa and coconut do not blend together, but always feel sad when the thick brown colour lightens when I add the coconut milk :-( However, am going to try your recipe with sauce :-)
The older version of your blog isn't visible anymore. Can you make it available again?
injichechi,
i had made puttu and kadala kuttan on sunday and was about to blog about the same when i found your entry.. :)
I liked it. Do u have any ideas on making the white kadala?
No offense,
I have to disagree that keralites do not like kadala curry with coconut and they are hushed up about it. It is your taste buds and you dont like it, and you are entitled to feel so.
I happen to like chana with coconut just as much as I like without cocnut. Especially black chana with cocnut tastes really good for me. Thats me now :)
Sorry I am not a fellow blogger and I dont have to worry that if I reveal the truth and be a rebel then you would do the same on my blog..
And, I am not a mallu or a keralite..
Divine! I came to the blog looking for what I thought authentic kerala kadala curry (which means with coconut) and was stumped to see this. Changed my mind and made this one.. simply divine. Thanks for the recipe.
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