Varutharcaha kadala curry / Chickpeas in roasted coconut gravy kerala style

A delicious Side dish for puttu , Appam and idyappam.I prefer kadala curry woithout coconut but my kid and hubby love this version very much.Atleast once in  week I used to prepare this for them :)


I'm following a weekly menu to pack my kids tiffin box.Idly and sambar, on Mondays then Appam and kadala curry ,Poori and beetroot bhaaji  On lazy days Uthappam with coconut chutney  It is a life saver for me:)
Here I followed the same method what my mom used to do with black chana.We prefer gravy type curries So I added more water while cooking kadala / chana/ chickpeas ..

Ingredients :

• Black chickpeas / Kadala : 1 cup
• Turmeric Powder : 1/2 tspn
• Coconut pieces : 3-4 tblpn
• Onion sliced : 1
• Salt
• Oil

To roast and grind :

• Grated coconut : 3/4 cup
• Shallots / cheriya ulli : 5-6
• Cardamom : 2
• Clove : 3
• Star anise : 1
• Cinnamon : 1 stick
• fennel : 1/2 tspn
• Pepper corn : 1/2 tspn
• Ginger chopped : 2 tspn
• Coriander powder : 1tblspn
• Chilly powder : 1/2 tblspn
• Oil

To temper :

• Mustard : 1/2 tspn
• Curry leaves : few
• Oil

Method :

• Soak black chana over night.Cook it in a pressure cooker with salt and turmeric powder.After first whistle keep it in low flame for 20 minutes.When pressure subsides open it. Keep it aside.

•  Heat a pan with oil.Add in pepper fennel star anise cinnamon,clove and cardamom.Fry it well and now add in coconut chopped ginger and shallots.Fry it well till it turn deep golden colour.Now add in coriander powder and chilly powder.Mix it well.Remove it from stove.Keep your stove in low flame for all the roasting process.
• Let it cool and grind it in to smooth paste.Keep aside

• Heat apan with oil
• Now heat a pan with oil and add sliced onion and coconut bits.
• Saute it well till it become soft and golden in colour.
• Add in cooked chana/ kadala /black chickpeas with stock.Mix it well.
• Now add in ground paste and mix it again.Check for salt.
• Heat a pan with oil add in all the ingredients listed under to temper.
• Pour it to the kadala curry.
• Enjoy delicious varutharacha kadala curry with puttu