Kerala Style White Chana Curry / Varutharacha Vella Kadala Curry

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1. White chana / White garbanzo beans / vella kadala – 1.5 cup, soaked in enough water for 8 hrs
   Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
   Water – 1.5 cups or as needed
2. Coconut oil – 2 tbsp
3. Mustard seeds – 3/4 tsp
4. Dried red chili – 1, broken
5. Onion – 1 medium, thinly sliced
6. Ginger and garlic – 1.5 tsp each, thinly sliced or chopped
   Green chili – 1, sliced
   Curry leaves – A few
   Thenga kothu / coconut tidbits – 1/4 cup
7. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
   Kashmiri chili powder – 1 tsp
8. Tomato- 2 small, sliced and halved
9. Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
10. Salt – As required

To dry roast

10. Grated coconut – 3/4 cup
Shallot – 1 small, sliced
Coriander powder – 4 tsp
Regular chili powder – 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Pressure cook white chana adding turmeric powder and enough water for 1 – 2 whistles until soft.
2. Heat 1/2 tsp coconut oil and fry grated coconut and shallot until coconut turns light golden. Bring down the heat to low. Add coriander powder and chilli powder. Stir for 1 – 2 mts until their raw smell is completely gone . Switch off. Set aside to cool completely. Grind to a very fine paste adding water.
3. Heat coconut oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds. Next fry dried red chilies and then add onion and little salt. Cook till onion turns transparent. Add ginger, garlic, green chilly and curry leaves. Saute until onion turns light golden. Add turmeric powder, kashmiri chili powder and stir for a minute over low heat. Add chopped tomato and cook for a few minutes until it gets mashed up. Add garam masala powder and cook for a minute. Next add ground coconut paste and mix well. Finally add the cooked chana along with gravy . Mix well. This curry tends to thicken a lot as it rests so adjust the consistency accordingly. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook for 10 minutes over low heat. Add 1 tsp coconut oil and a few curry leaves. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve vella kadala curry with puttu, idiyappam, chapathi etc.