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Chana Dal Sundal | Kadalai Paruppu Sundal helobaba.com


South Indian cuisine is so versatile. I mean from the most robust of curries to the simplest, yet soul-stirring stir-fries, this food repertoire has something for everyone. Just like the ‘sundal,’ essentially from the cuisine of Tamil Nadu. It is a basic stir-fry and can be made with a variety of legumes, lentils or grains, just like this Kadalai Paruppu Sundal. This is typically a Chana Dal Sundal, tempered with spices, curry leaves and coconut. Makes for an excellent vegan, healthy side dish.

chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layovers.chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layovers.

About Chana Dal Sundal

The Kadalai Paruppu Sundal is made with Bengal gram or chana dal. Hence, also popularly referred to as Chana Dal Sundal. It really tastes fab in each and every bite, with the nutty flavor that is imparted by this particular lentil.

This Chana Dal is super easy to make as well. You just have to cook the soaked and drained Bengal gram and temper it. The tempering is also just as basic as it can be – mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, dried red chilies, asafoetida and lots of coconut. Want to make this dish gluten-free? Skip the asafoetida.

However, you do have to take care while cooking the chana dal for this Kadalai Paruppu Sundal. The lentils should not become pasty or too soft. It should be cooked well, yet retain the shape. You can opt to cook the dal in a pot, pan or even pressure cooker.

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chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layover. chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layover.

I have soaked the chana dal and then cooked it in a pan for this recipe. If you decide to cook the lentils in a pressure cooker, then cook the soaked lentils on a medium flame for one whistle. That should be enough to give the you the desired texture and consistency of the chana dal.

As I mentioned earlier, serve this Chana Dal Sundal as a side dish with a main course or have it just as a nutritious snack.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Chana Dal Sundal

Soaking and cooking chana dal

1. Rinse 1 cup chana dal in water for a couple of times. Take the lentils in a bowl and add 1.5 cups of hot boiling water. Cover and soak for an hour. You can even soak chana dal in water (at room temperature) for 3 to 4 hours or overnight.

chana dal soaking in water for making kadalai paruppu sundal. chana dal soaking in water for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

2. Later, drain all the water.

drained chana dal for making kadalai paruppu sundal.drained chana dal for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

3. Add the soaked chana dal in a pan.

soaked and drained chana dal added in a pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.soaked and drained chana dal added in a pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

4. Add 2.5 cups water.

water added to chana dal in pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.water added to chana dal in pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

5. Add ½ teaspoon salt and stir.

adding salt to the chana dal in pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.adding salt to the chana dal in pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

6. Keep the pan on the stovetop.

pan with chana dal and water kept on stovetop. pan with chana dal and water kept on stovetop.

7. Cover with lid and begin to cook the chana dal on medium-low to medium heat. Alternatively, you can cook chana dal in a pressure cooker for 1 whistle.

pan covered with a lid. pan covered with a lid.

8. When the water starts frothing (roughly after 7 to 8 minutes), remove the lid and continue to cook chana dal on medium heat.

water with chana dal frothing. water with chana dal frothing.

9. While the chana dal is cooking, check at intervals.

checking chana dal in a spoon while cooking. checking chana dal in a spoon while cooking.

10. Cook the lentils till done perfectly, yet retain their shape. Taste a few lentils to check if they have cooked well. Cooking soaked chana dal takes about 30 minutes in a pan.

well cooked chana dal in a spoon. well cooked chana dal in a spoon.

11. Drain all the water and keep the cooked lentils aside.

cooked chana dal drained. cooked chana dal drained.

Making Chana Dal Sundal

12. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another pan or kadai. Keep flame to a low and add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds.

mustard seeds added to hot oil in a pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.mustard seeds added to hot oil in a pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

13. Then, add 1 teaspoon urad dal.

urad dal added to the hot oil in the pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal. urad dal added to the hot oil in the pan for making kadalai paruppu sundal.

14. On low heat, fry both mustard seeds and urad dal. Stir often.

frying mustard seeds and urad dal in hot oil. frying mustard seeds and urad dal in hot oil.

15. Fry till the mustard seeds crackle and the urad dal turn golden.

frying till mustard seeds crackle and urad dal turns golden. frying till mustard seeds crackle and urad dal turns golden.

16. Then, add 10 to 12 curry leaves, 1 to 2 dried red chilies (broken and seeds removed) and 1 generous pinch asafoetida (hing).

curry leaves, broken and deseeded dried red chilies and asafoetida added to the hot oil. curry leaves, broken and deseeded dried red chilies and asafoetida added to the hot oil.

17. Mix and fry for a few seconds till the red chilies change color.

spices and curry leaves mixed well into the oil. spices and curry leaves mixed well into the oil.

18. Now, add the cooked chana dal.

cooked chana dal added to the pan. cooked chana dal added to the pan.

19. Add salt as per taste.

salt added to chana dal. salt added to chana dal.

20. Mix very well and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat. If there is any moisture or liquid in the chana dal, then cook till the moisture gets dried.

sautéing chana dal mixture.sautéing chana dal mixture.

21. Lastly, add ¼ cup fresh grated coconut.

fresh grated coconut added to chana dal sundal. fresh grated coconut added to chana dal sundal.

22. Mix and switch off the heat.

coconut mixed well in the chana dal sundal. coconut mixed well in the chana dal sundal.

23. Serve Kadalai Paruppu Sundal. You can garnish with some fresh coconut or a few coriander leaves, if you want.

chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layover. chana dal sundal served in a copper vessel with text layover.

More on sundals

Making sundals with different legumes, lentils or beans bring in an additional dose of protein in a vegetarian meal. This Chana Dal Sundal is called so as the Tamil word for chana dal is ‘kadalai paruppu.’ Sundals are terrific, given the fact that they can be made easily and in a hassle-free way.

Just like the Kadalai Paruppu Sundal, many other types of sundals are made to be offered to the goddess during Navratri festival. There is usually one type of sundal for each day during the 9 days of Navratri festivities. This dish is also common during Vinayaka Chaturthi and Janmashtami festivals.

In addition to this Chana Dal Sundal with husked and split Bengal gram, I have shared other sundal recipes on my blog. I would really recommend you to try each one of them.

A sundal can also be made on a regular day. Generally, I prepare the traditional recipe of sundal without adding any spices or masala. So, when I make rasam or Vatha Kuzhambu, I also end up making one of the sundals or poriyal to go along with it.

Expert Tips

  1. If you are cooking the chana dal in pressure cooker, soak lentils for an hour in hot water. Then, pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium heat. The chana dal can even be soaked in water at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours or overnight.
  2. Make sure to cook the lentils till well done, yet shape retained. To check, taste a few lentil grains whether they have cooked well or no.
  3. If you are a lover of coconut, add more if you want.
  4. While serving the sundal, drizzle some lemon juice to accentuate the flavors all the more.
  5. Making the dish for a lesser number of people? Halve the recipe.

More Chana Dal Recipes To Try!

cholar dal in a bowl topped with fried coconutcholar dal in a bowl topped with fried coconut

Moderate1 hour

Cholar Dal Recipe

lauki chana dal served in a white bowl.lauki chana dal served in a white bowl.

Moderate50 minutes

Lauki Chana Dal

dal pakwan recipedal pakwan recipe

Moderate1 hour 30 minutes

Dal Pakwan Recipe

chana dal in a white bowl garnished and a white plate filled with cooked ricechana dal in a white bowl garnished and a white plate filled with cooked rice

Moderate1 hour 30 minutes

Chana Dal (Split Chickpeas)

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

chana dal sundal recipe, kadalai paruppu sundal recipechana dal sundal recipe, kadalai paruppu sundal recipe

Chana Dal Sundal | Kadalai Paruppu Sundal

Chana dal sundal is tempered & sautéed dry dish made with cooked chana dal, few spices and fresh coconut. Chana dal sundal is also called as kadalai paruppu sundal where ‘kadalai paruppu’ is the tamil word for chana dal.

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe

soaking chana dal

  • Rinse 1 cup chana dal in water for a couple of times. Take the lentils in a bowl and add 1.5 cups hot boiling water. Cover and soak chana dal for an hour.

  • Later drain all the water.

cooking chana dal for sundal

  • Add the soaked chana dal in a pan and add 2.5 cups water.

  • Also add ½ teaspoon salt and stir.

  • Keep the pan on stove top.

  • Cover with lid and on a medium-low to medium flame begin to cook the chana dal. Alternatively, you can cook chana dal in pressure cooker for 1 whistle.

  • When the water starts frothing, remove the lid and cook chana dal without lid on medium flame.

  • Do check at intervals when the chana dal (kadalai paruppu) is cooking.

  • Cook the lentils till they are cooked perfectly and still retain their shape. Taste a few lentils to check if they have cooked well.

  • Then drain all the water and keep the cooked lentils aside.

making chana dal sundal

  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another pan or kadai. Keep flame to a low and add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon urad dal.

  • On a low flame stirring often fry both mustard seeds and urad dal.

  • Fry till the mustard seeds crackle and the urad dal turn golden.

  • Then add 10 to 12 curry leaves, 1 to 2 dry red chillies and 1 generous pinch asafoetida (hing).

  • Mix and fry for a few seconds till the red chilies change color.

  • Now add the cooked chana dal or kadalai paruppu.

  • Add salt as per taste.

  • Mix very well and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame. If there is any moisture or liquid in the chana dal then cook till the moisture gets dried.

  • Lastly add ¼ cup fresh coconut.

  • Mix and switch off flame.

  • Serve chana dal sundal. You can garnish with some fresh coconut or a few coriander leaves if you want.

A few tips for making chana dal sundal:
  • This recipe can be halved
  • If cooking in pressure cooker, then soak lentils for an hour in hot water. Then pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium flame. 
  • You can add more coconut if you want. 
  • When serving a drizzle of lemon juice on the chana dal sundal also tastes good. 
 

Nutrition Facts

Chana Dal Sundal | Kadalai Paruppu Sundal

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 298mg13%

Potassium 9mg0%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 64IU1%

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 14mg70%

Vitamin C 25mg30%

Vitamin E 1mg7%

Vitamin K 1µg1%

Calcium 49mg5%

Vitamin B9 (Folate) 148µg37%

Iron 1mg6%

Magnesium 3mg1%

Phosphorus 6mg1%

Zinc 1mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Chana Dal Sundal recipe from the archives was first published in January 2018. It has been updated and republished in March 2024.

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