Kumbakonam Kadappa

As the name calls for itself, it is a native dish of Kumbakonam. It is a common side dish widely used in the southern part of Tamilnadu. More like a stew that goes with idli, dosa, idiyappam, and poori. It's a mild and savory dish made with a combination of dal, potatoes, and ground coconut. 

Ingredients:

moong dal - 1/4 cup

potato - 2 nos

turmeric - 1/2 tsp

onions - finely chopped - 1/4 cup

tomato (optional) - 1/4 cup, or lemon juice from half a lemon

curry leaves

green chili - finely chopped - 3 nos

bay leaf - 1

cinnamon -1 

mustard - 1/4 tsp

oil 

salt to taste

cilantro for garnish

To Grind:

coconut - 1/2 cup

green chili - 3

garlic - 3 cloves

ginger - a small piece

fennel - 1 tsp 

poppy seeds - 1 tsp

Method:

• Pressure cook the moong dal and potato with 1/4 tsp turmeric.

• Meanwhile, grind the ingredients from the above list to a fine paste.

• Keep the cooked potatoes separately to add at a later stage.

• Temper mustard, cinnamon, and bay leaf in the oil.

• Add the chopped onions, green chili, garlic, curry leaves.

• Add salt and 1/4 tsp turmeric.

• Saute for 2 mins and add the chopped tomatoes.

• Add the cooked moong dal with water.

• Once it starts to boil, crush and add the potatoes.

• Add the ground coconut masala.

• Bring it to a boil. Switch off.

• Garnish with cilantro and curry leaves.