A sundal recipe is one of the most apt dishes during Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri festivals, though it can be made as a quick fix on regular days as well. These are basically a dry preparation of a variety of legumes, a special from South India. This is a Sweet Corn Sundal, wherein steamed sweet corn is tempered with a handful of spices and finished with a generous sprinkle of fresh coconut. Easy, gets cooked in 5 minutes, tasty and vegan as well.
About Sweet Corn Sundal
At home, a sundal recipe is quite the favorite of us all. Personally, for me, it is also a great dish because it is really fuss-free, yet is brimming with flavors, textures and nutrition that comes with the pulses that are used to make it.
The spice list is also a basic South Indian, and you really don’t have to sit worrying how to source any of it, and from where. All of it is readily available across households and even in the market.
A sundal recipe for me is quite varied at home. I mean, I don’t really stick to making this dish with just one kind of main ingredient. It can range from the most popular legumes and lentils to even peas, peanuts and corn. In fact, this Sweet Corn Sundal is an absolute favorite one.
To prepare Sweet Corn Sundal, you will need steamed corn. And this is the only element which takes about 15 minutes. Keep this in place and finish off with your dish in flat 5 minutes. When using corn, keep in mind that if you are preparing the sundal for deities, use fresh corn and steam it.
This is what I did in my Sweet Corn Sundal recipe. I took fresh corn on cobs, steamed them and then sliced off the kernels. However, if you are preparing it for your family, then you can use tinned corn. The dish is equally good with it. Just like all other sundals, this one made with corn is also a great mid-day snack or a side dish in your meals.
Variations
In case you are looking for more sundal recipes, these are some that I have shared here:
Step-by-Step Guide
How to make Sweet Corn Sundal
Boiling corn
1. Firstly, steam or boil 2 medium sized corn on cobs in a pressure cooker or pan. If using pressure cooker, add enough water covering the cobs. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles. Once cooled, slice off the kernels from the cob. You will need 2 cups corn kernels.
Making Sweet Corn Sundal
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. When the oil becomes medium-hot, lower the heat. Then, add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon split and husked black gram (urad dal).
3. Stir well. Let the mustard seeds crackle and the urad dal turn golden. Take care so that the urad dal does not burn.
4. Then, add 1 chopped green chili, 1 to 2 dried red chilies, 7 to 8 curry leaves and 1 pinch asafoetida (hing). Mix very well.
5. Add the boiled corn kernels.
6. Season with salt as per taste. Mix again very well.
7. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat.
8. Switch off the heat and add grated fresh coconut. Mix very well.
9. Serve Sweet Corn Sundal hot. If you want, you can garnish with some coriander leaves while serving.
More on sundal
Traditionally, a sundal is simply a South Indian style stir-fry which consists of lentils, legumes or grains. These are essentially tossed in a coconut oil tempering consisting of typical South Indian spices, dals and curry leaves. At the end, it is garnished with a good quantity of freshly grated coconut which acts as a cohesive factor, bringing the flavors together and imparting an earthy feel to it.
A classic sundal is also made without onion and garlic, has satvik ingredients and can be cooked really quickly. Hence, it is a preferred choice of dish in the fasting or vrat season during religious festivals like Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi and more. It is a popular side dish/snack in Tamil Nadu, where it also features as a ‘prasadam’ during the festival of Bommai Golu.
In simple terms, ‘cooked pulses’ is what sundal is. Just like this Sweet Corn Sundal, a sundal recipe has many varieties and can be made from white or black chickpeas, horse gram, kidney beans, black eyed beans, green gram, Bengal gram, green peas, peanuts and the likes.
A sundal recipe is also one of the simplest ways you can prepare an energy giving and wholesome dish within minutes. Because of the usual ingredients used in this particular dish, it has an impressive nutrition profile and is really beneficial for the health.
More Corn Recipes To Try!
Snacks Recipes
Corn Cutlet | Corn Patties
Snacks Recipes
Buttered Corn
Snacks Recipes
Corn Chaat Recipe | Sweet Corn Chaat
Salad Recipes
Corn Salad
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Sweet Corn Sundal
Easy recipe of South Indian sweet corn sundal. sundals are South Indian based dishes made with a variety of legumes and is prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi or Navratri festival.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
boiling corn
Firstly steam or boil 2 medium sized corn cobs in a pressure cooker or pan. If using pressure cooker, then add enough water covering the corn cobs. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
Once cooled, slice of the corn kernels from the corn cob. You will need 2 cups of corn kernels.
making sweet corn sundal
Heat a pan and oil. When the oil becomes hot, lower the flame. Then add the mustard seeds and urad dal.
Stir well. Let the mustard seeds crackle and the urad dal turn golden. Do take care so that the urad dal does not burn.
Then add the green chilies, dry red chilies, curry leaves, asafoetida. Mix very well.
Add the steamed corn kernels. Season with salt. Mix again very well.
Saute for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame. switch off the flame and add grated fresh coconut. Mix very well.
Serve corn sundal. If you want you can garnish with some coriander leaves.
Nutrition Facts
Sweet Corn Sundal
Amount Per Serving
Calories 155 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Sodium 602mg26%
Potassium 151mg4%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 133IU3%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 28mg140%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 51mg62%
Vitamin E 2mg13%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 17mg2%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 307µg77%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 18mg5%
Phosphorus 58mg6%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This Sweet Corn Sundal Recipe from the archives was first published in April 2017. It has been updated and republished in March 2024.
