senagala talimpu / tempered black chickpeas

Black chickpeas Sundal / Senagala Talimpu

Another one week to go for Varalakshmi Pooja and here I am posting the special recipe for this day - Talimpu senagalu. This is also known as Sundal in Tamil. Senagalu means black chick peas in Telugu. These black chick peas are generally soaked overnight and included in the Taamboolam ( along with betel leaves, betel nuts, banana or coconut, a blouse piece, kumkum and turmeric powder ) to the guests who

visit our house on the Varalakshmi Vratam day.

Tempered black chick peas is also prepared during the Navarathri ( Dussehra ) festival. The Talimpu Senagalu or black chick peas Sundal is very easy to prepare and is very tasty. Though we use very basic ingredients without much of spice, the flavour and the taste is so delicious. The nutty taste of the black chick peas along with the chewy coconut gives a unique taste to the dish.

Health wise, black chick peas are a very good source of fiber and help in controlling blood sugar levels. They are also rich in folates, proteins, carbohydrates, copper, iron and phophorus. These chick peas are a part of Indian diet since a long time because of their benefits. They are also very good for our skin and hair.

You can also check my other Naivedhyam recipes -

Banana Appalu 

Coconut Laddus 

Paneer Kheer 

Dates and nuts ladoo 

Kalakand 

Mango Rice 

Lemon Rice 

Daddojanam 

Poornam Boorelu

Preparation

Soak the black chick peas in water overnight.  

The next day wash the chick peas well with water. Drain the water.

Cook these soaked black chick peas in the pressure cooker for upto 3-4 whistles. Once the cooker is cool, drain the water and keep this aside. Do not throw away the water. We can prepare Kattu ( a kind of rasam ) with this water else you can also use it as a stock in your daily cooking. Take a pan and add little oil in it. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds.

When they crackle, add cumin seeds.

Saute for a minute and add urad dal seeds. Saute until the urad dal seeds turn little golden in colour.

Now add green chillies and red chillies.

Fry for another 2 minutes and add curry leaves.

Mix and add salt.

Now add  the cooked black chick peas. Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Now add fresh grated coconut.

Mix well and check the seasoning. If you are offering as naivedhyam to God, then please do remove a portion of it and then check the seasoning. This is the way I do in my house. Enjoy this hot. This is a no onion-no garlic version as I prepared this as Prasadam. But if you are not offering to God, then you can put in some onion pieces as well.

Ingredients

Black chick peas 1 cup
Oil / Ghee 2 tsp
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Urad dal seeds 1 tsp
Curry leaves few sprigs
Green chillies 3-4
Red chillies 2-3
Salt to taste

Grated Coconut 1/4 cup

Method

1. Soak the black chick peas overnight in water.
2. The next day, rinse the chick peas well with water.
3. Pressure cook the chick peas with water for upto 3-4 whistles.
4. Once the cooker is cool, drain the water well such that there is no water left in the chick peas. Keep this  aside.
5. Do not throw the water. This can be used as a vegetable stock for your daily cooking or you can also prepare kattu ( a kind of rasam ) which goes well with rice. 
6. Put a pan on the stove and add oil in it.
7. Add mustard seeds once he oil is hot. 
8. When they splutter, add cumin seeds. 
9. Saute for a minute and add urad dal seeds. Allow the urad dal seeds to turn into a light golden colour.
10. Add chopped green chillies and red chillies. Fry for a minute and add curry leaves.
11. Fry for a few seconds and add salt. 
12. Now throw in the cooked chick peas and mix well. 
13. Cook for 3-4 minutes and add the freshly grated coconut.
14. Mix well and switch off the flame. 
15. Serve hot and enjoy as Prasadam or as an evening snack which is very healthy.

Notes

• This dish can be prepared with any kind of chickpeas.
• You can add a little chilli powder if you want it spicy. But too much spice will not suit this talimpu senagalu or tempered black chickpeas or chickpeas sundal.
• It should be served hot else it might not be that good. If you have to prepare it beforehand, then just heat it once before serving.
• You can also add some peanuts if you like while tempering.