This week I have the honour to present you Surabhi who will share with you her delicious South Indian Sundal recipe!
Read on to find out how to make this delicious Indian dish!
A protein-rich South Indian Treat
A bite into the semi-solid chickpea shundal, coated with coconut and garnished with basic Indian spices, tingle my taste buds with delight.
They instantly send me down memory lane.
My earliest memory of shundal stems from meals on festivals or *temple visits during my childhood. It is one of the most popular *prasadams distributed in temples or religious Hindu festivals like *Navaratri and *Ganesh Chaturthi.
I remember being all dressed up in my silk finery, carrying a fistful of it, my glass bangles cling clanging, as I ran down the stone stairs of the temple in my neighborhood, in India.
The chickpeas shundal is a quick and easy snack, mostly served during religious Hindu festivals in South India.
Since it’s a dry snack, it’s not messy, easy to prepare, easy to pack and easy to serve! It is great as a party starter, an appetizing side dish, an accompaniment in the lunch box or an additional dish on a buffet.
In the picture that I have shared, I have used white chickpeas also known as Kabuli channa.
There are a variety of beans that can be used to make Shundaland like all recipes, this one too can be altered to suit your palette.
This recipe is simple and can be summarized as chickpeas tossed in curry leaves, chilies, and mustard seeds.
Here’s how you prepare the healthy, protein rich snack!
Ingredients – 4 portions
- ½ cup white chickpeas soaked in water for around 6 to 7 hours
- ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
- 3 green chilies, finely chopped
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 2 to 3 curry leaves
- Asafoetida powder (Hing)
- Shredded coconut for garnish
Instructions
Prepare by soaking the chickpeas overnight. After this, you can start with the rest of the recipe.
- Add turmeric and salt to taste.
- Pressure cook the chickpeas, but take care not to over-cook it.
- In a heavy wok or a deep pan, pour a tablespoon of oil. Then heat the oil, add mustard seeds and allow them to crackle.
- After that, add the curry leaves, cut the green chilies and add Asafoetida powder.
- At last, add the chickpeas and sauté them all together.
- Take a moment to allow for the flavor to set in and finally, garnish with shredded coconut.
You can make the same recipe with different kinds of beans such as black-eyed beans, Bengal gram, black chickpeas or peanuts.
They can be served hot or cold.
Enjoy!
The result!
GLOSSARY:
*Prasadam – Literally means gracious gift.
In this context, it can also be explained as something that has been offered to God, which now has spiritual benefit.
*Temple – A religious building, a place of worship
*Navaratri – A Hindu autumn festival extending over nine nights.
*Ganesh Chaturthi – A Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed deity, called Ganesh.
*Asafoetida powder – Also known as Hing, available in Indian grocery stores. It has a unique, strong smell, used in vegetarian cooking meals.
About Surabhi
Words have always been my best friends, allowing me to find comfort and joy in playing the role of a copywriter, storyteller, poet or essayist, not necessarily in that order.
My blog Surabhi Writersmind has links to my work published on several websites in India and the United States.
Apart from being a writer, I am also a book addict, love learning new languages and a trained Carnatic music vocalist and binge watch or hike when I am not writing.
I enjoy conducting Move to Write<>Write to Moveworkshops, a unique workshop where movement enhances creativity and writing ignites expression.
I am offering these FREE workshops in challenging times of this pandemic, allowing participants to explore ways to express themselves and use writing as a coping mechanism, develop a hobby or use it as a distraction, if they like.
After moving to the United States in 2015, I volunteer with public libraries in Charlotte and have a close associationwith Write Like You Mean It, a writer’s group at Main library, Charlotte, North Carolina.
It’s up to you!
Did you like the recipe? I bet you did!
If you’re looking for even more inspiration, take a look at these other Recipes Around The World!
Let me know how your attempt at this South Indian Sundal recipe turned out by placing a comment below!
