Kadala Curry | Varutharacha Kadala Curry | Kerala Style Kadala Curry

Puttu and Kadala is a Sunday staple at home.I have posted a few kadala curry recipes here already but off late,this is the recipe I follow as it gives a great result and is quick as well.I personally feel kadala curry tastes best when it made with roasted coconut and spices.This gives it a great texture and no doubt,tastes great too.Pairs really well with Puttu,Appam and Idiyappam.

Somehow varutharacha curry sounds difficult and time consuming for many.Believe me,it isn't.Even though the original version requires roasting of coconut along with red chillies and coriander,here we take a small detour by roasting coconut and then adding spice powders which quickens the process without compromising on the taste one bit,that's win-win right?

Varutharacha Kadala Curry

Ingredients

Brown Channa/Kadala/Chickpeas - 1 cup,washed well and soaked for 8-10 hours and then drained

Salt to taste

For roasting

Grated coconut - 1/2 cup

Shallots - 4-5,sliced

Garlic - 1 clove

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Pepper - 1/4 tsp,crushed

Turmeric powder/Haldi - 1/4 tsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tsp

Red chilly powder - 3/4 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

For Tadka

Coconut oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Shallots - 3-4,sliced

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Red chillies - 2-3,broken

Method

Pressure cook the channa/kadala adding enough water for 10-15 minutes or until well cooked.Add salt to taste and keep aside.

In a thick bottom pan(I use cast iron) add the ingredients for roasting - coconut,shallots,garlic,curry leaves and crushed pepper.

Saute on medium flame till everything heats up.Lower the flame and roast the ingredients till the coconut starts changing colour to a golden brown.

Once the coconut is evenly browned add in the masala powders - haldi,garam masala,chilly and coriander powder.Saute on low flame for a minute or two until the raw smell of the masala leaves.

Switch off the flame and let it cool down a little.

Grind to a smooth paste in the mixie-first grind without adding water.Once everything is powdered add enough water and grind to a smooth paste.

Into a pan add coconut oil and give tadka with mustard seeds,curry leaves,red chillies and shallots.Once the shallots starts changing colour add the ground paste and give it a boil.

Mix in the cooked channa along with the water and let it come to a boil.Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve hot with Puttu:)

Step by Step Pictorial

Pressure cook the channa/kadala adding enough water for 10-15 minutes or until well cooked.Add salt to taste and keep aside.

In a thick bottom pan(I use cast iron) add the ingredients for roasting - coconut,shallots,garlic,curry leaves and crushed pepper.

Saute on medium flame till everything heats up.Lower the flame and roast the ingredients till the coconut starts changing colour to a golden brown.

Once the coconut is evenly browned add in the masala powders - haldi,garam masala,chilly and coriander powder.Saute on low flame for a minute or two until the raw smell of the masala leaves.

Switch off the flame and let it cool down a little.

Grind to a smooth paste in the mixie-first grind without adding water.Once everything is powdered add enough water and grind to a smooth paste.

Into a pan add coconut oil and give tadka with mustard seeds,curry leaves,red chillies and shallots.Once the shallots starts changing colour add the ground paste and give it a boil.

Mix in the cooked channa along with the water and let it come to a boil.Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve hot with Puttu:)

The consistency of the gravy depends on how much water we add.When serving with Puttu I make it slightly of thin consistency whereas while serving with appam,I make it slightly thickish.

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Pressure Cooker Chole Recipe | One Pot Cooking Recipes

I hope all of you are doing great,staying home and staying safe.

I'm really enjoying the time spent with my husband and child.Except for the piling housework every minute of the day,for me it's just like any other day.I badly miss my house help Selvi though,always smiling and so gentle with Arjun.Picking after his toys,asking me to let it go when I insist he doesn't scatter his toys around and hiding from me when he spills something by quickly mopping up after him.

I can see through her son's Whatsapp status that she's whipping up a storm for her family and I feel so happy about that.Isn't it what we all are doing?Trying to keep our family happy by doing whatever we can during these trying times.I find so many people posting about how not to post food pictures during these times because so many are going hungry and so many are without food.

I disagree totally.Let us all do what makes us happy.Of course,let's do our bit for those who don't have any help but that shouldn't stop us from doing what we feel like.Our emotional state of mind has gone for a toss,so whatever keeps you happy,do it!

I made these Chole with plans to serve it with Bhatura.But deep frying in this already hot climate didn't sound appealing at all and I paired it with our humble chapathi/roti.It tasted delicious and I made our season's first Mango Milkshake to go with it---Nirvana :)

Pressure Cooker Chole Recipe
Recipe courtesy Kabita's Kitchen

Ingredients

Kabuli Channa - 1 cup,washed and soaked overnight or for 6-8 hours
Onion - 3 medium,chopped
Ginger - 1" piece,chopped
Garlic - 6-8 cloves
Tomato - 2 medium,chopped
Oil - 2 tbsp
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Whole Garam Masala - 2 bay leaf,4 cloves,2 cardamom,1' piece Cinnamon
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Chole Masala - 1 1/2 tsp
Roasted Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp {I didn't have this,so skipped}
Water - 2 cups (I boiled the water and added 1 tsp tea to it,let it boil.Strained and used this water to cook the chole.This gives it a deep brown colour without any aftertaste of tea.You could skip this step and use plain water or use one tea bag if you have)
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves to garnish

Method

Make a paste of onions,garlic and ginger.Puree the tomatoes.Reserve.
In a pressure cooker add oil and splutter jeera along with the whole garam masala.
Add red chilly powder and haldi and simmer the flame.Cover and cook for a minute.
Add the onion+ginger+garlic paste and saute well.Cover and cook for a minute.
Now mix in the rest of the spice powders - coriander,garam masala and chole masala.Mix well and cook for a minute.
Add the tomato puree and mix well.Cook for a minute or two.
Now add the soaked and drained channa,tea water(or plain water),salt to taste.
Cover with the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium flame for 5-7 whistles.
Let the pressure settle down completely before you open.Check if the channa is cooked well.If not cook for another 3-5 whistles.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot :)

Step by Step Pictorial

Make a paste of onions,garlic and ginger.Puree the tomatoes.Reserve.

In a pressure cooker add oil and splutter 

jeera along with the whole garam masala.

Add red chilly powder and haldi and simmer the flame.Cover and cook for a minute.

Add the onion+ginger+garlic paste and saute well.Cover and cook for a minute.

Now mix in the rest of the spice powders - coriander,garam masala and chole masala.Mix well and cook for a minute.

Add the tomato puree and mix well.Cook for a minute or two.

Now add the soaked and drained channa,

tea water(or plain water),

salt to taste.
Cover with the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium flame for 5-7 whistles.

Let the pressure settle down completely before you open.Check if the channa is cooked well.If not cook for another 3-5 whistles.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot :)

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Paneer Pull-apart Rolls

How many times have we said to ourselves we'll do stuff "when we are free" "when I have time" or "when all of us are home".All of it is happening right now as we are all under the Covid-19 scare isolating in our homes.It is ok if you cannot find time to do interesting and productive things like every one else in social media.Let's all stay happy and stay sane,doing whatever we can.

Let us thank our stars that we have a roof over our head,fresh food to eat and a family for support.I can't thank God enough for these luxuries.As for the virus,let's really do our bit and stay home because that's the only way we can fight it.

Today being Good Friday,I wanted to bake and post some Hot Cross Buns,but haven't been able to bake any.So next best thing is to post something which is quite easy to bake and gets ready in no time.Do you remember the famous Garlic Pull apart rolls which took the blogosphere by a storm a while back?These reminded me of that.Soft rolls,filled with a wholesome paneer filling,these will definitely become your family favorite,I assure!

Paneer Pull-apart Rolls
Recipe courtesy - CulinaryLabz

Ingredients

Flour/Maida - 1 cup/125gms
Whole wheat flour/Atta - 1 cup/125gms
Yeast - 1/2 tsp(Instant yeast)
Sugar - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil/Butter - 2 tsp{I used butter}
Milk+Warm water(50-50) - 1 cup minus 1 tbsp

For the filling

Oil - 1 tbsp
Onion - 1,chopped
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Tomato - 1,chopped
Paneer - 200gm,crumbled or chopped fine{I used homemade paneer}
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp,chopped
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Kasoori methi - 1/2 tsp,crushed
Grated cheese - 2 tbsp{optional}

Method

Mix together flour,whole wheat flour,sugar,salt and yeast.
Add milk+water to the dry ingredients and combine well.
Mix in the butter and knead for about 10-12 minutes into a smooth and elastic dough.
I used my food processor for this purpose.
Allow the dough to rise in an oiled bowl,covered in cling film,for an hour or until the dough doubles in volume.

Meanwhile make the filling

In a pan add oil and saute onions along with the ginger garlic paste till the onions slightly change in colour.
Add the spice powders - red chilly powder,coriander powder and haldi and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add chopped tomato and cook covered for about 2 minutes or until the tomatoes turn pulpy.
Mix in the chopped paneer,salt to taste,coriander leaves and saute for 2 minutes.
Lastly add garam masala and kasoori methi and switch off the flame.
Let the filling cool down completely.

Making the rolls

Gently punch the dough and knead for 1-2 minutes on a floured surface.
Roll it into a rectangle of about 12 by 10 inches.
Spread the filling evenly on the rolled dough and sprinkle grated cheese on top.
Gently roll into a log and slightly elongate the roll by rolling it again on the counter.
Cut the stuffed rolls into even pieces of about 2" using a sharp knife or a bench scraper.
Arrange these pieces on an oiled pan or tray and let the rolls rise for about 25-30 minutes.Brush with milk or water and cover loosely with a towel or a lid.
Preheat the oven at 180 for 10-15 minutes.
Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes and increase the temperature to 200-220C and bake for another 5 minutes till you get a golden crust.
Apply some butter on the warm rolls if you prefer and serve warm.

Step by Step Pictorial

Mix together flour,whole wheat flour,sugar,salt and yeast.

Add milk+water to the dry ingredients 

and combine well.

Mix in the butter and knead for about 10-12 minutes into a smooth and elastic dough.

I used my food processor for this purpose.

Allow the dough to rise in an oiled bowl,covered in cling film,for an hour or until the dough doubles in volume.

Meanwhile make the filling

In a pan add oil and saute onions along with the ginger garlic paste till the onions slightly change in colour.

Add the spice powders - red chilly powder,coriander powder and haldi and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add chopped tomato and cook covered for about 2 minutes or 

until the tomatoes turn pulpy.

Mix in the chopped paneer,salt to taste,

coriander leaves and saute for 2 minutes.

Lastly add garam masala and kasoori methi and switch off the flame.

Let the filling cool down completely.

Making the rolls

Gently punch the dough and knead for 1-2 minutes on a floured surface.

Roll it into a rectangle of about 12 by 10 inches.

Spread the filling evenly on the rolled dough and sprinkle grated cheese on top.

Gently roll into a log and 

slightly elongate the roll by rolling it again on the counter.

Cut the stuffed rolls into even pieces of about 2" using a sharp knife or a bench scraper.

Arrange these pieces on an oiled pan or tray and let the rolls rise for about 25-30 minutes.
Brush with milk or water and cover loosely with a towel or a lid.
Preheat the oven at 180 for 10-15 minutes.
Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes and increase the temperature to 200-220C and bake for another 5 minutes till you get a golden crust.

Apply some butter on the warm rolls if you prefer and serve warm.

Here are some more simple rolls you can try :)

Whole wheat Garlic Pull-apart rolls

Spiral Mint rolls

Pesto Rolls with Homemade Pesto

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

Cheesy Chutney Pull-apart Rolls

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