Kala Chana Sundal Recipe For Ashtami

It is the eighth day of Navratri today. The eighth day or Ashtami has a very special significance among the nine divine days of Navratri. On Ashtami, it is a popular practice among many Hindu households to worship and feed little girls. This practice is known as Kanya Pujan or Kanjak Pujan.

During the Kanya Pujan, the girls are usually fed halwa, poori, kala chana sabji and aloo sabji. Kale chane ki sabji is an important dish which is served to the girls. Usually the kala chana is made with a few spices with a North Indian touch. However today we have a South Indian style kala chana recipe which is equally amazing. This recipe is called kala chana sundal and it has a spicy and tangy taste.

So, try out kala chana sundal for Navratri on this auspicious day of Ashtami. You may also offer it to the Goddess as prasad.

Serves: 3
Preparation time: 6 hours
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• Kala chana (black gram)- 1 cup
• Water- 3 cups
• Coconut- ½ cup (grated)
• Mustard seeds- 1tsp
• Hing- a pinch
• Red chillies- 2
• Urad dal- 1tsp
• Green chilli- 1 (chopped)
• Curry leaves- 10-12
• Lemon juice- 2tsp
• Ghee- 1tbsp
• Rock salt- as per taste

Procedure
1. Soak the kala chana overnight or for 6 hours in water.
2. After the chana is properly soaked for 6 hours, drain the water and pressure cook the chana with 3 cups of water. Wait for 3-4 whistles to blow.
3. Once done, remove the pressure cooker from the flame and let it cool down.
4. Heat ghee in a pan and add the mustard seeds, urad dal. Let them splutter.
5. Then add the curry leaves, red chillies and hing. Fry for a minute.
6. Now add the green chillies, kala chana and cook for 4-5 minutes on medium flame.
7. Add in the grated coconut, rock salt, lemon juice and cook for another 5-6 minutes.
8. Once done, switch off the flame and serve.

Kala chana sundal is ready to be served. You may serve this sundal in the form of prasad or naivedyam.