Savitha's Kitchen: Black eyed pea sundal - காராமணி சுண்டல் - Navarathri special

Navarathri is a very famous festival in India. Here Maa Durga is worshipped at the beginning of "Autumn" . All nine days, each avathar of Durga is worshipped. After worship, all the devotees are offered prashad . The prashad includes, sundal, sweet pongal or any variety rice. In India, near our home, we have many Brahmin friends, who used to display their goddess dolls on shelves as a display. Here is the link,where I would have posted pictures about the "Golu" which I pictured at my friend's place.

Ingredients:

1.Black eyed peas - 1 cup

2.Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

3.Broken urad dal - 1/2 tsp

4.Red chillies - 3

5.Curry leaves - few

6.Hing - a pinch

7.Salt - as needed

8.Shredded coconut - 1/4 cup

9. Water - as needed

10. Oil - a tsp

Method:

Wash the black eyed peas and soak it for atleast 3 hours. But if we are running out of time, we can also cook it directly ,without soaking and cooking for more whistles. But peas will not hold its shape, if it is cooked without soaking.We can also add some oil in a pan, slightly fry the peas and cook it for 3 to 4 whistles.

Cook the peas for 2 to 3 whistles. Don't try to add salt ,while cooking, then there are chances for the skin to come out. Strain the peas immediately, if not the peas will become mushy.

Take the tempering ingredients ready. We can also add chilli powder instead of using red chillies.

Take a pan, add oil and splutter mustard seeds and urad dal. I was running out of broken urad dal,so used whole urad dal here.

Also add broken red chillies and curry leaves along with hing. Now ,dump the cooked black eyed peas. Care should be taken ,not to mix the peas so harshly.