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Kumbakonam kadappa
Moong dal and potato gravy
கும்பகோணம் கடப்பா: mild moong dal and potato gravy with coconut and fennel
Kadappa belongs to the temple town of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, where it is ladled beside idli, dosa and soft poori at breakfast, a mild gravy of moong dal and potato thickened with a paste of coconut, roasted gram, fennel and green chilli. Its gentle, aromatic taste is a world away from sambar. The common mistake is boiling it hard after the coconut goes in; the paste separates and loses its fragrance, so heat it just to a simmer. Chef's tip: a teaspoon of poppy seeds ground into the paste gives the creamy body of the Kumbakonam hotels.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the dal
- 3 ½ oz split yellow moong dalrinsed
- 2 potatoespeeled and cubed
- 3 cups water
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
For the paste
- 2 ⅛ oz fresh grated coconut
- 1 tbsp roasted chana (pottukadalai)
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp white poppy seeds
- ⅓ oz ginger
- ¾ in cinnamon stick
For the tadka
- 1 ½ tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 1 onionthinly sliced
- 10 curry leaves
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Pressure-cook 3 ½ oz split yellow moong dal and 2 potatoes with 3 cups water and ¼ tsp ground turmeric for 2 whistles (about 8 minutes) until the dal is soft and the potatoes tender. Mash the potatoes lightly.
10 minStep 2: Grind 2 ⅛ oz fresh grated coconut, 1 tbsp roasted chana (pottukadalai), 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp white poppy seeds, 3 green chillies, ⅓ oz ginger and ¾ in cinnamon stick with a little water to a fine paste.
4 minStep 3: Heat 1 ½ tbsp coconut oil in a pot, crackle ½ tsp mustard seeds, add 1 onion and 10 curry leaves and cook 4 minutes until the onion is soft.
5 minStep 4: Add the dal mixture, the paste and 1 tsp salt, and heat gently to a bare simmer for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until it smells fragrant. Do not let it boil hard.
5 minStep 5: Finish with 1 tsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp fresh coriander. Serve with idli, dosa or poori.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kumbakonam kadappa take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
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