Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ and is marked with Hindu women praying to Goddess Durga. They observe fast during these entire nine days. Various types of snacks are prepared and distributed among women and children after prayers. Black chickpeas or kala chana sundal is a snack prepared especially during Navaratri festival as prasadam/offering to Goddess Durga. Black chickpeas sundal is also called as kondakadalai sundal in Tamil Nadu. Black chickpeas sundal is a simple South Indian style snack recipe made with black chickpeas, red chillies, curry leaves, spices and grated coconut. It can also be had as an evening snack as black chickpeas are rich in proteins and delicious too.

Ingredients

• Black chickpeas or kala chana - 1 cup
• Cooking oil - 1 tablespoon
• Urad dal - 1 teaspoon
• A pinch of asafoetida
• A string of curry leaves
• Mustard seeds -1 teaspoon
• Whole red chillies - 3 to 4
• Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
• Salt to taste
• TO GRIND
• Bengal gram/chana dal - 2 teaspoons
• Coriander seeds - 3 teaspoons
• Red chillies - 2 nos
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Oil - 1 teaspoon

Method

Step 1

HOW TO MAKE BLACK CHICKPEAS OR KALA CHANA SUNDAL RECIPE Wash and soak black chickpeas overnight or 8 hours.

Step 2

Pressure cook soaked chickpeas with water and salt upto 4 whistles. Once the pressure is cooled down, drain the excess water and keep it aside.

Step 3

Heat a pan on a low flame. Add chana dal, coriander seeds, red chillies and fenugreek seeds and stir fry till light brown and raw smell goes away. Remove from flame and grind into a coarse dry mixture/powder and keep aside.

Step 4

Heat oil in a separate pan. Add 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the oil becomes little hot, add mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add urad dal, red chillies, curry leaves, a pinch of asafoetida and saute them well.

Step 5

Now add the dry mixture and mix well. Add boiled black chickpeas and combine together. Cook on a low flame for about a minute.

Step 6

Garnish with grated coconut and remove from the flame.

Step 7

Black chickpeas sundal is ready to be offered as prasadam to Goddess Durga.