I am posting Vinakaya Chavithi/Ganesh Chathurdhi special recipes from the beginning of this week. If you have not checked my Sojjapalu Recipe from yesterday, pls check it right away! 🙂 The next recipe in line is a very popular Vinakaya Chathurdhi recipe – Sundal. The elephant God of India likes varieties of Sundal and today I am posting a very basic Mookadalai/Black Chickpeas/Kala Chana Sundal or Stir-fry. Variety of Kozhukattais are prepared for the festival and Sundal is one of the essentials. The preparation of Sundal is quite simple and the recipe very easy. My MIL prepares the Sundal using the white chickpeas and they are in such a consistency that they melt in your mouth. I prefer using the black chickpeas compared to the white, even though the skin is a little harder.
Usually the chickpeas are soaked in water over night and cooked in a pressure cooker before made into Sundal. I take it a step further and let the chickpeas sprout. I have a particular liking towards sprouted legumes and love the little shoots that come up. I let the chickpeas rest for another 8hrs to sprout and use them for my Sundal recipe. The best part about this dish is that it not only is a festival preparation but can be pretty much easily made on any other day. Especially, works the best as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. Loaded with proteins, it’s quite tasty too. I add two tablespoon of grated coconut as it is offered to God and it enhances the taste multiple times. Even if you are calorie conscious, your body needs the nutrients from coconut and there is no harm in using a few tsps. Apart from that, only ½ teaspoon of oil is used in the making of this dish – totally healthy.
To make Mookadalai Sundal | Senagala Sundal
What I used –
- Black Chickpeas/Mookadalai/Nalla Senagalu, ½ cup
- Oil, ½ tsp
- Mustard Seeds, ¼th tsp
- Cumin Seeds, ¼th tsp
- Urad Dal, ¼th tsp
- Dried Red Chilli, 1
- Green Chilli, 1
- Asafoetida, a generous pinch
- Curry Leaves, a few
- Salt, as required
- Coconut Grated, 2 tbsp
- Water, as requited
How I made –
- Soak the chickpeas in enough water for atleast 8 hours. Rest them for another 8hrs to have them sprouted.
- In a pressure cooker, add the soaked and sprouted chickpeas with enough water and cook it for 1 whistle.
- Let the pressure drop and drain the excess water. Keep the cooked chickpeas aside.
- In a pan, heat oil. Add mustard, cumin seeds and torn dried red chilli along with urad dal. Once the mustard and jeera begin to splutter, add slit green chilli and the generous pinch of asafoetida. Add curry leaves and fry for 10 secs.
- Add the cooked chickpeas and add enough salt for the chickpeas. Mix well. Stir fry for 2-3 mins on medium flame.
- Add grated coconut and switch off the flame. Mix well and the coconut should still be tender.
- Offer as neivedhyam for Ganesha Chathurdhi and serve hot.
Note –
- Sprouting the chickpeas is optional but its just healthy to eat sprouted legumes. Leave the soaked chickpeas in a warm place to have them sprouted.
- The water strained from cooked chickpeas can be used for making your roti dough or as stock in soups. Do not throw away the water.
- Green chilli adds a hint of spiciness to the Sundal. Its optional though.
- Coconut adds a good sweet taste to the Sundal and is highly recommended.
- The chickpeas can be soaked and sprouted, stored in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
Lynz Real Cooking
Very different and looks delicious
CHCooks
Thank you Lynz 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking
I love the name it sounds so fun
CHCooks
Hahaha 😀
Lynz Real Cooking
Also beautiful!
CHCooks
You are a sweetie 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking
Forgot the beautiful ha ha
CHCooks
🙂 🙂 🙂
Freda @ Aromatic essence
I've never tasted this ! But the flavors sound really nice ! I like coconut in my food 🙂
CHCooks
Thank you Freda 🙂
The Girl Next Door
We make black chana sundal the same way, except that we do not add dry red chillies, urad dal to it, and we do not use sprouts. We just soak the chana overnight and pressure cook it before making the sundal. Sprouting the chana beforehand sounds like such a great idea! All the more protein and all the more healthy, right?
What a coincidence! Our apartment is organising a Ganesha Pooja soon, and has invited people to make prasadam at home. I was thinking of making this very same sundal at home for the occasion. Amma plans to make kesari. 🙂 Shall I take this as a sign? 🙂 Actually I was a bit tensed about making the sundal because I have never really cooked for people outside of my family, and you are not even supposed to taste this before serving to the guests, as this is prasadam! I taste my dishes quite a few times while making, usually, and adjust spices and salt accordingly.
I will take it as a good sign from Ganesha and go ahead and make it fearlessly! 🙂 Maybe He wants me to improve upon my confidence or cooking skills by asking me to cook without tasting? 😉
CHCooks
TGND, have you already made the sundal for the pooja? if not, all the very best. I would get nervous if I have to cook for people outside my family too - so quite understand how you must be feeling. One thing I have realized is, whenever we make prasadams we dont taste them and yet they turn out very tasty. My amma says thats the effect of the Prasadam being offered to God. While I dont know if I should believe this concept or not, I have experienced it first hand too 🙂 So I am sure Ganesha would be with you while you make His Prasadam and that it turns out super yumm 🙂 yes yes, you should take it as a good sign from Him 🙂
The Girl Next Door
Haven't made it yet. Making it for prasadam for the pooja in our apartment this evening. 🙂
Thank you so much for the best wishes!
CHCooks
Nice! 🙂 I am sure it would turn out awesome 🙂
Chitra Jagadish
Love this...yummm
CHCooks
Thank you Chitra 🙂
Jo
I Am a big fan of black chana. I make this often. Also kadala curry n puttu is my fav. 🙂
CHCooks
Oh I love appam kadal curry too! Actually love black chana more than the kabuli chana 🙂
Traditionally Modern Food
Never cooked Sundal with spirited Chickpea.. Looks yum should try
CHCooks
🙂 🙂 Thank you Vidya 🙂
srividhya
Sprouted beans are always healthy and also these are one of the quickest prasadams to make
CHCooks
Yes totally agree with you Sri 🙂
The Girl Next Door
Made it yesterday for prasadam. Turned out nice. 🙂 Will post about it soon, hopefully!
Lina
I love this a lot...thanks fr participating?
CHCooks
Thank you 🙂