Verkadalai Sundal (Tempered Peanuts)
By Harini
Sundal (any kind of legume,bean or lentls steamed and tempered with right amount of salt and spicing topped with coconut) is the main attraction of Navrathri.During this festival days,as I have mentioned in my previous post,we go to the neighborhood homes during the evenings to visit their golu and take tamboolam (betal leaves+few other auspicious things). Along with tamboolam they also distribute the sundal that they made as offering to their golu.This part was a great fun during childhood.Sometimes we get the sundal that we like a lot and sometimes we will frown seeing the sundal the neighbors give :)Also I will mostly skip visiting homes during Friday's,why?instead of sundal they will give puttu (A sweet),for which I am absolutely not a fan of :). And among all sundals pattani (green peas) and kadalai(peanuts) were the favorites.Usually there is an order in which sundals are made but we always had our mom make this sundal at least twice.Yesterday along with paneer peda I made this sundal also for offering,here you go with a simple recipe to make peanut sundal.
Caution :Overly addictive :P
Verkadalai sundalStar ingredients:Shelled fresh peanuts
Time:20 minutes
Serves 3
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup shelled fresh peanuts
2 tablespoons coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal
10-12 curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
2 green chillies
1 red chilli (optional )
Oil to temper
Salt
Method:
1.Pressure cook or steam the peanuts along with salt until they ate just cooked.
2.Heat a kadai and add a teaspoon of oil.Add all the ingredients except coconut and saute well.
3.Add the boiled peanuts and saute for 5 minutes.Adjust salt and mix well
4.Add coconut falkes,mix well and remove from flame at once
These kind of sundals can be called as powerhouse of protein,indispensable for growing toddlers and kids.With just one teaspoon of oil it is very healthy for adults too.
Notes:
1.Make sure not to boil peanuts overly.If pressure cooking just cook up to 3 whistles. If cooking in a vessel,open and check if cooked from time to time.
2.This is the simple way of making sundal,sometimes we add a special spice powder and I will post that recipe soon.
3.Here I have used freshly shelled peanuts which are one step ahead in taste,texture and cooks faster.If possible use freshly shelled peanuts.