Kerala Kadala Curry Recipe - Spicy Chickpeas in Coconut Curry

Here is a delicious Kadala Curry the most famous and popular dishes from the kerala cuisine which you must try. The Kadala Curry gets its delicious flavours from the freshly ground coconut along with delectable flavours from green chillies, fennel, coriander, curry leaves and more. Serve it along with Puttu, Appam, Kerala Parotta or even just hot steamed rice topped with ghee to make a delicious meal.

Archana Doshi
21662 ratings.

Kerala Kadala Curry Recipe is a delectable recipe that is a popular dish from the Kerala Cuisine. Kadala in this dish means chickpeas and most popularly the kala chana or the brown chickpea is used to make this dish. The coconut is ground along with fennel and coriander seeds and then cooked along in a gravy that has flavours coming from baby onions, green chillies and curry leaves along with the addition of cooking it in coconut oil.

The simple and yet delectable flavours make this Kadala Curry absolutely lip smacking delicious. 

Serve the Kerala Kadala Curry along with Puttu for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner or even make it for the festival of Onam.

Here are a few more Kerala delicacies to try

  1. Vendakkai Uppadan Recipe (Kerala Style Okra Curry Without Coconut)
  2. Kerala Style Konju Curry With Thengakothu Recipe (Kerala Style Prawn Curry)
  3. Kerala Cheriya Ulli Sambar Recipe
  4. Kerala Chicken Curry Recipe With Freshly Ground Spices

Cuisine: Kerala Recipes
Course: South Indian Breakfast
Diet: High Protein Vegetarian
Prep in

400 M

Cooks in

60 M

Total in

460 M

Makes:

5 Servings

Ingredients

    Ingredients for the Curry
  • 1 cup Kala Chana (Brown Chickpeas) , soaked overnight and cooked
  • 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 2 sprig Curry leaves , finely chopped
  • 2 Green Chillies , slit
  • 15 Pearl onions (Sambar Onions) , finely chopped
  • 5 cloves Garlic , finely chopped
  • 1 inch Ginger , finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Homemade tomato puree
  • 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
  • Salt , to taste
  • Ingredients to be ground to paste
  • 1 cup Fresh coconut
  • 2 tablespoons Coriander (Dhania) Seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds (Saunf)

How to make Kerala Kadala Curry Recipe - Spicy Chickpeas in Coconut Curry

  1. To begin making the Kerala Kadala Curry Recipe, soak chickpeas overnight or for at least 8 hours.

  2. Place the soaked chickpeas in the pressure cooker along with a little salt and 2-1/2 cups of water and cook until for 4 to 5 whistles. After 5 whistles, turn the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes and turn the off the heat.

  3. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Ensure the kadal is completely cooked and has a soft bite. If not cook it for a longer time. 

  4. Next to make the coconut paste, into a mixer grinder jar, add the coconut, fennel seeds and coriander seeds. Add 1/2 cup of warm water and blend to make a smooth paste. 

  5. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat.

  6. Add the mustard seeds and allow it to crackle. Once it crackles, add the onion, garlic, ginger and green chillies and saute until the onion is soft and translucent. 

  7. Add the curry leaves and saute for a few seconds. Stir in the tomato puree, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and the coconut puree and give the curry mixture a stir.

  8. Finally add the cooked chickpeas, a little salt to taste and bring the Kadala Curry to a boil.

  9. Add a cup of water, give the Kadala Curry a stir and turn the heat to low. 

  10. Simmer the Kadala Curry for a good 15 minutes until all the masala is well absorbed to make a delicious taste Kadala Curry.

  11. Give it a taste and adjust the salt and chilli accordingly. Turn off the heat and transfer the Kerala Kadala Curry to a serving bowl and serve hot.

  12. Serve the Kerala Kadala Curry along with Puttu for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner or even make it for the festival of Onam.