Kondakadalai Sundal/Chickpeas Sundal#AlphabetChallenge

Sundal is a healthy and nutritious evening snack or salad with legumes. There are many types of  and variations of sundals prepared with different legumes.  This is a chickpea sundal also know as Kondakadlai Sundal. 

We had this as a salad for healthy dinner,  it's filling that it makes you feel full and reduces hunger pangs, also reduces the urge to have any unhealthy snacks, its simple, healthy and yum too. Lets make the sundal. 

Ingredients
1 Cup Dried Chickpeas/ Garbanzo beans/ Kondakadalai
1/3 Cup Freshly Grated Coconut
A Sprig Curry leaves
3 Dry Red chillies
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A pinch of Asafoetida
¼ Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Oil

Method 

Soak chickpeas/kondakadalai for about 6 - 8 hours or overnight. Drain the water that they were soaked in and rinse them in fresh water.
Pressure cook the these in 2 -3 cups of water and ½ a teaspoon of salt till done. When done and the pressure has cooled down completely then drain the chickpeas in a strainer.  

Heat oil a pan or wok oil, add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Then add curry leaves, asafoetida, dry red chillies, sauté for a few seconds. Add the grated coconut and again saute for a second, add the chickpeas and salt, toss them till they are well mixed in the seasoning. Take off flame.
Serve and enjoy a healthy and delicious meal!!

Labels: Lentils, Chickpea, Salads, South Indian, Healthy, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "K"

• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Baby Kale Salad with Steak and Citrus Vinaigrette
• Blogghetti: Brown Sugar and Ketchup Pork Chops
• Food Lust People Love: Easy Chicken Kapama
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Individual No Bake Key Lime Pies
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Kachhe Kele Ke Kofte
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Kahlua and Cream: Brown Cow Cocktail
• A Messy Kitchen: Kielbasa Pasta Medley (Sicilian Medley)
• Mildly Indian: Kohlrabi Pasta
• Sneha’s Recipe: Kondakadalai Sundal / Chickpeas Sundal
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice:Spicy Cheddar Krispies Crackers  

Dal Sultani#AlphabetChallenge

This yummy dal is a Mughlai cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. Its rich and creamy .  Goes well with both rice/pulao or chapattis.
Ingredients 
1 Cup Moong Dal - washed and soaked for an hour
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt 
For the Gravy 

200 Grams Yogurt
200 ML Milk
100 ML Fresh Cream
6 Cloves  - coarsely ground
6 Small Cardamoms  - coarsely ground
½ Teaspoon Saffron Strands - mix in a Tablespoon water

For Tempering 
½ Cup  Butter or Ghee - I used  half of each
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
8 Cloves Garlic  - chopped
For garnishing coriander leaves  - finely chopped
A Piece of Coal for Dungar / Smoke 

Method

Soak lentil for half an hour, add in it water, salt, chilly powder and boil the dal till its cooked. 

In a another bowl mix,  yogurt,  milk and  malai (cream), beat  well, add the cardamom and cloves powder mix well.  

When lentil  is cooked, add in creamy mixture, stir the dal well, cook on slow flame for 10 minutes  stirring it so that it does not burn at  the bottom.  Switch off flame,  add the saffron water give it quick stir.

Prepare The Tempering

Heat ghee and butter in a pan add the cumin, chopped garlic when the garlic starts to brown take off flame and pour on dal . Cover with a lid. Lastly place the lighted coal in piece of foil or a small bowl pour ghee over it and keep it over the dal covered for 5 minutes. Open garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot. We had this thick, rich, creamy and yummy dal with roti or Naan. 

My Notes 
This dal is not spicy so don't add more chilly powder, this will ruin the taste and color of the dal. 
Do not skip giving dungar/smoke to the dal, as this enhances the flavor.
You can use split pigeons peas/tur dal too instead of moong dal. 
Labels: Dal, Moong dal, Lentils, Mughlai Cuisine, Uttar Pradesh, Alphabet Challenge, Vegetarian

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "D"

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Double Dark Chocolate Waffles 

Blogghetti: Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Dutch Macaroni 

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Date Salad, Ottolenghi Style 

A Messy Kitchen: Sugarplum Date Balls 

Culinary Cam: Gluten-Free Crystal Dumplings 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chicken with Dates 

Palatable Pastime: Balkan Lamb and Rice Casserole (Djuvec) 

Magical Ingredients: Dill Pickle Dip 

Food Lust People Love: Small Batch Dried Apricot Jam 

Sneha’s Recipe: Dal Sultani 

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sun-Dried Tomato Dip with Italian Seasoning 

Veggies Mixed Dal Khichdi#Alphabet Challenge

It's in most people minds that khichdi as a meal for the sick people or it is served to kids its bland and tasteless. But now a days, dal khichdi has become very famous and it has got a place in the restaurant menus as well. A simple and healthy dish ideally served for lunch and dinner, super delicious and satisfying meal.

Serves 7
Measurement 1 cup = 150 ml
Ingredients
1 Cup Rice
1 Cup Mixed Dal ( yellow moong, masoor, tur & chana dal)
8 Cups Water
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1 Teaspoon Meat Masala
¼ Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes
Salt to taste
1 Tablespoons Desi Ghee
10 French Beans - chopped
1 Small Potato - diced
1 Carrot - diced
½ Cup Green Peas
8 Florets Cauliflower
1 Medium Onion - chopped
1 Medium Tomato - chopped
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic paste
½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
For The Tadka
2 Tablespoons Desi Ghee
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
2 - 3 Button Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida
¼ Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
Method
Wash & soak dal for around 30 minutes to an hour. After the soaking time add it to large pressure cooker along with washed rice. Add 5 cups water and salt to taste. Cook it for 2 whistles on high flame. Let the cooker cool.

In a large kadai /pot heat desi ghee, add cumin seeds when they splutter add the chopped onions sauté till it turns translucent. 

Add the ginger garlic pate and sauté for a minute. Add all the veggies and tomato fry on high flame for a minute.

Then add all the dry spices and salt to taste for the veggies. Fry for a minute or two. Now add 2 cups water and bring this to a boil. Then reduce the flame, cover and cook till the veggies are nearly done. 

Now add the cooked rice dal and and a another cup of hot water, give it a good mix. Taste for salt add if necessary, cover and cook for 2 - 3 minutes stirring in between or else it will burn at the bottom. Switch off the flame.
For The Tadka

Heat ghee in a tadka pan, add mustard seeds when they splutter add the button red chillies and give it a stir, add asafoetida and switch off the flame. Then add the red chilly powder and pour this over the khichdi . Cover it let is rest for 2 - 3 minutes.

Stir and serve garnished with coriander leaves. Enjoy with this raita and papad. 

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Khichdi, Lentils, Rice, Mixed Veggies, Healthy, Main course, Indian, Gluten Free Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Vanilla Mug Cake 

Culinary Cam: Teriyaki Sauce-Swabbed Venison Burgers on Seeded Sourdough Buns  

Sneha’s Recipe: Veggies Mixed Dal Khichdi 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: No Churn Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream 

Blogghetti: Homemade Vanilla Latte 

 Mayuri’s Jikoni: Vegetable Cutlets

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Vietnamese Chicken Stirfry

A Messy Kitchen: Tropical Vols Au Vents 

 Food Lust People Love: Spicy Vinegar Braised Chicken

Magical Ingredients: Val Dal Veggie Paratha

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sweet & Spicy Balsamic Vinegar Deviled Eggs

Black Eyed Peas Curry /Safed Lobia ka Salan#SundayFunday

This is a delicious, vegan and gluten free curry, a main course dish , which can be enjoyed with steamed rice or rotis.

Ingredients
1½ Cups Black Eyed Beans /Safed Lobia
½ Cup Oil
1 Medium Onion - sliced
¾ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
2 Bay leaves
2 Teaspoons Ginger Garlic paste
2 Medium Tomatoes - chopped
1+ 2 Green chilies - chopped
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Red chili powder or to your spice level
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder 
2 Teaspoons Coriander powder 
To Be Added Last
1 Vegetable cube
½ Teaspoon Garam masala 
½ Teaspoon Coriander powder 
¼ Teaspoon Cumin powder 
For Garnishing
Fresh Coriander leaves - chopped

Method

Wash and soak the black eyed peas in water for at least 4 hours.

In a pressure cooker, heat oil and sliced onions, cumin seeds, bay leaves. Sauté until the onions start to turn light golden. Then add ginger and garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell vanishes. Add chopped tomatoes and one chopped green chilly cook until the tomatoes are soft & mushy and the oil separates from the gravy. 

Now add salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder, sauté for two minutes. Now wash the black eyed peas once again with fresh water and add to the gravy. Add 3 - 4 cups of water and pressure cook on high flame for one whistle then for 7 to 10 minutes on low flame. After that switch off the flame, let the pressure release and the cooker cool completely.

Open, remove the lid and cook for 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally until completely done and you have the gravy consistency you require. Now add vegetable cube, garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder and remaining two chopped green chilies. Mix and let is simmer for just two minutes, then turn off the flame. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice. Enjoy!!

Labels: Black Eyed Peas, Curry, Main course, Indian, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free, Sunday Funday, Lentils, Pressure Cooker, One Pot Meal 

• Anti-Hero Appetizers from Culinary Cam
• Banana Cream Pie from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Black Eyed Peas Curry - Safed Lobia ka Salan from Sneha's Recipe
• Crab Rangoon Ravioli from Food Lust People Love
• Crockpot Pulled Pork with Ale from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Mini Chicken Tostada Appetizers from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Shrimp, Papaya and Pineapple Salad from Palatable Pastime

Dill With Chana Dal & Potato#Alphabet Challenge

Dill leaves or Shepu as we call in Marathi, is a super nutritious and healthy leafy greens and it's also vegan meatless! .
This green vegetable can be prepared in many ways and can be enjoyed with rice and rotis both.

Ingredients
1 Cup Heaped Chana Dal/Gram lentil
2 Medium Potatoes - cubed
1 Large Onion - sliced
1 Teaspoon Heaped Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
2 - 3 Tablespoons Dill / Shepu- chopped
½ Cup Oil
1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds 

Method

Boil gram lentil with salt, chili powder, and turmeric, when gram lentil half done add potato cubes, cover and cook till potatoes tender, add soya bhaji / dill, cook for 5 minutes.
For The Tempering

Heat oil half cup, fry onion light golden and add the cumin seeds and fry then add this to the dal, mix serve with paratha.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge, Dill, Lentils, Chana Dal, Potato, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Asian Cuisine

• Sneha’s Recipe: Dill With Chana Dal & Potato
• Culinary Cam: Dark Chocolate-Juniper Panna Cotta
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Dark Chocolate Mousse
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Durum Wheat Sesame Bread
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Devil’s Food Cake Mix Cookies
• Blogghetti: Deviled Egg Crostini
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Dangella | Tawa Handvo
• Magical Ingredients: Dates Walnut Paratha
• Food Lust People Love: Cajun Chicken Eggplant Dressing
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Italian Deviled Eggs with Heart-Shaped Tomatoes
• Palatable Pastime: Durkee’s Famous Sauce  

Bisi Bele Bath#Improv

Bisi Bele Bath or Bisi Bele Huliyanna is a dish meal which is flavorsome, spicy and slightly tangy complete meal made with lentils, rice, mixed vegetables and a super aromatic spice powder. This is a famous Karnataka cuisine dish. It's actually a masala khichdi with lots of veggies. The term “Bisi bele bath” translates to “Hot Lentil Rice Dish”. “Bisi” is a Kannada word meaning “Hot”, “Bele” translates to “Lentils” and “Bath” is a word that denotes a “Soupy Rice".

Bisi Bele Bath is so popular that you get it so easily in the South Indian restaurants in Bangalore.  To make this dish I have used readymade Bisi Bele Bath masala, which is readily available in any store. I am sharing the quick and delicious way to prepare this dish/ a pressure cooker version. 

Serve 5 as a complete meal
Ingredients
1 Cup Short Grain Rice(- washed)
1/3 Cup Tur Dal
1 Medium Onion - chopped
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Ginger
1 Large Tomato - chopped
8 - 10 Beans - cut into big bits
½ Cup Green Peas - I used frozen
½ Cup Cauliflower Florets - I used frozen
½ Cup Pumpkin - cut into medium cubes
½ Cup Carrot - cut into medium cubes
2 Small Potato - cut into medium cubes
½ Cup Diced Capsicum - I used Red , Yellow and Green - you can use any one color
½ Cup Tamarind Juice
1½ Tablespoons Level Bisi Bele Bath Powder
¼ Teaspoon + ½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
For The Tadka
½ Cup Oil
1½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida
2 Sprig Curry Leaves
¼ Cup Cashewnuts or Raw Peanuts - I used Cashewnuts
2 Dried Red Chillies

Method
For Cooking The Veggies

In a pressure cooker add the all the veggies, beans, pumpkin, potato , carrot ( since I used frozen cauliflower and peas I did not add to the cooker. If you are using fresh then add this to the cooker). Add ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ cup water. Take one whistle on high flame. Let the cooker cool completely. Strain the stock & veggies. Keep them aside separately.

In the same cooker add the rice and lentils, with ½ teaspoon salt. Measure the stock from the veggies. Add total 5 cups water. Keep it on medium high flame and take 5 whistles. The rice and lentils should be mushy, then you do not need to mash them.

In a big kadai/ pot heat oil, add the mustard seeds, when they splutter add the asafoetida, curry leaves , dried red chillies and cashewnuts sauté for a minute or till the cashewnuts turn golden. Remove ½ of the tadka and keep aside for garnish ( this is optional).
Now add the capsicum, peas and cauliflower, saute for a minute or two. Then add all the cooked veggies, the bisi bele bath powder and saute till it releases an aroma, say for 2 minutes on medium low flame. 

Add the tamarind water and cooked rice dal mix. Give it a good mix, add more hot water if necessary to make it a soupy dish. Let this simmer for 4-5 minutes so that the flavors infuse on very low flame, covered with a lid. Taste for salt,  add accordingly.  After 4 -5 minutes switch off the flame. 

Serve garnished with the remaining tadka this hot. As this cools the rice and dal will absorb most of the stock and will thicken. 

We enjoyed this hot with fried rice papad or falafel. pickle and raita. Bisi bele bath is a delicious complete and healthy meal. My guest enjoyed this meal. Do try this recipe, you will definitely fall in love with it.

Labels : Khichdi, Karnataka, Rice, Lentils, Mixed Veggies, Pumpkin, Complete Meal, Healthy, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Tur Dal, Pressure Cooker, Improv Cooking Challenge

Improv Cooking Challenge

Squash & Rice

Bisi Bele Bath by Sneha's Recipes
Butternut Squash Methi Pulao by Magical Ingredients
Butternut Squash Rice Pudding by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Pilaf by Palatable Pastime

Vegan Egyptian Koshari#EattheWorld

Egyptian Koshari is comfort meal of lentils, rice, chickpeas, with a topping  tomato sauce and  browned crispy onions! 
Koshari  is also spelled as, "Kushari",  it's a national dish of Egypt. Koshari is street food  and is  more or less like our Khichdi, which is supposed to have been taken  to Egypt in the late 19th century, during British occupation of both countries. This also similar to the Mujaddara, a classic rice-brown lentils dish.

Although this recipe takes a little extra time to put together, each element is simple to make and has to assembled just before serving.

This Koshari is a real comfort food , so satisfying, am, sure you will make it more often!

Ingredients 
For the Koshari 
1/2 Cup Brown Lentils / Puy Lentils / Sabut Masoor
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1 Cup Small Elbow Macaroni
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1/2 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper powder
1 Cinnamon stick
1 Cup Boiled Chickpeas
1 Cup Fried Onions
2 Tablespoon Vegetable oil
Salt to taste
For the Sauce 
1 Teaspoon Garlic - minced
1 Cup Home made Tomato sauce
1 Onion - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Vinegar or to taste
1 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Paprika powder


MethodFor the Sauce

In a saucepan, heat a tablespoons of oil, add garlic when the garlic releases an aroma, add the onion saute till soft and translucent, stir in tomato sauce, cumin and paprika powder and saute for few seconds. Add, sugar and pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens. Stir in the white vinegar,give it a good stir. Take off flame, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Make the Koshari

To cook the Brown Lentils
Put lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water in a large pot/ pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer lentils until done and not mushy. Drain lentils and set aside. Rinse the pot / pan .To cook the rice 

In the same pot /pan , heat a oil, add rice, cinnamon stick saute for a minute add 2 cups of water, salt, pepper, cumin and coriander powder. Bring the water to a rolling boil then to cover the pan and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through (about 15 - 20 minutes). Add the cook lentils on top and Keep covered and undisturbed for 5 minutes or so. Now combine the lentils and the rice - fluff with a fork. Set aside.

To make the pasta 

Cook the pasta according to package instructions by adding the elbow pasta to boiling water with a dash of salt cook until the pasta is al dente. Drain.

Cover the chickpeas and warm it in the microwave just before serving.

To serve it 

Place the rice and lentils to a serving platter. Top with the elbow pasta and a tablespoon or two of the tomato sauce, then the chickpeas, and finally a sprinkle of the fried onions for garnish. Serve, Keep the remaining sauce and crispy onions separately in bowls, to add more if required.

Enjoy this delicious and filling meal.

Join us as we Eat the World!!!


Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods. This month it's Eygpt.

Check out all the wonderful  Egyptian recipes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!


Labels : Rice, Vegan, Lentils, Chickpeas, Tomato Sauce, Eygpt

Check out all the wonderful Egyptian dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!
Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Lahma Bil Basal (Egyptian Beef in Onion Sauce) PalatablePastimeBedouin Stuffed Grape Leaves
Sneha's Recipe:Vegan Egyptian Koshari# Eat the World
Literature and Limes: Taameyya
Pandemonium Noshery: Ful Medames
Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Ghorayebah Cookies
The Gingered Whisk: Basbousa Cake Recipe
Margaret @ Kitchen Frau: Egyptian Fava Beans and Feta
A Day in the Life on the Farm: Koshary

Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney/Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi#Improv

This is a Vegan & Gluten Free Moong Dal & Mango Chutney using raw mango, moong dal and other spices. Pachadi's in Andhra cuisine is mainly a chutney. This can be had with rice or dosa, this will actually pair well for sandwiches or even with rice. 

Ingredients

¼ Cup Yellow Moong Dal
1 Small Raw Mango- peeled & chopped
2 Dried Red Chillies
¼ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Oil
For the Tadka
¼ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Urad Dal
A Sprig Curry Leaves
2 -3 Dried Red Chillies
1 Teaspoon Oil
A pinch of Asafoetida

Method

Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan. Add the moong dal and fry it, stirring continuously on a low flame till golden brown. Transfer it to a plate and set aside. In the same pan add the cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds. Transfer it to the plate and set aside. After this add the red chillies and fry for a few seconds.  Let them cool completely.

In a small mixer jar first grind the cumin seeds, moong dal and red chillies into a coarse powder. Now add  the chopped mango, salt  to taste and grind it to a little coarse paste by adding water. Transfer the chutney into a bowl.

For the Tadka

Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal and let them splutter and the urad dal turns brown, add the curry leaves, asafoetida and red chillies, mix it well and immediately pour this over the ground chutney.

Serve with rice or with Tadka Dosa, this is a quick, easy, tasty and delicious chutney.
My Notes

For this chutney, have used  semi ripe yet firm mango, can use raw mango too, just add the quantity mango according to its sourness. So taste it before you take it out from the mixer jar. 

Labels: Chutneys & Dips, Raw Mango, Lentils, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, Andhra Pradesh, Improv Cooking Challenge,South Indian

Improv Cooking Challenge: August 2019  

Theme - Chilly & Mango
Chileta Mango suckers by Pandemonium Noshery
Grilled Steaks with Mango and Jalapeno byA Day in the Life on the Farm
Raw Mango Moong Dal Chutney / Mamidikaya Pesarapappu Pachadi by Sneha's Recipe