Chickpeas Sundal - A Vegan Snack!

This is a South Indian treat from my kitchen. It is specially made during the Navratri festive season in our households. Sundal as its popularly known, can be made using different legumes, beans and lentils. It is served as an offering to the goddess and then distributed amongst the devotees present. Growing up, me and my brother would look forward to this treat at the end of any temple visit. Somehow it always tastes better inside a temple than at home. But that is the case with any offering to god, it always tastes better. Here is a little trivia for you - There is a temple in South of India called Uppiliappan Temple which has something unique w.r.t to the prasadam offered there. The food made in the temple is made without salt even today. As the legend goes, Venkatesh Balaji God wanted to marry Lakshmi goddess but her father informed him that she is still young and can barely cook food. Balaji being adamant, wanted to marry her still and said, "If your daughter must cook without salt, then I will still take it as my best food, but I will not leave from here without marrying her". 

 

Therefore, as a tradition, even today the temple Neyvethiyam (food offering in the temple) is always prepared without salt in the food. But you know the best part, if you eat this prasadam inside the temple, you will not miss the salt at all. But once outside and you eat it, you will what's missing! Strangely true! I have experienced first time although when I was very young. Sorry about this small detour, let's now talk about this super easy recipe. Boil the (soaked overnight) chickpeas in water with salt and turmeric powder or use the canned ones. Cook it for 5-6 whistles in a pressure cooker or crockpot. Do not over cook it as then the chickpeas will be all mushy. Drain the water once done and keep it aside. In a non stick pan, heat the oil, temper the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add the kalonji/nigella seeds, chana dal and urad dal. Fry them along with dried red chillies for a minute or two.