Kadappa

Kadappa is the Tamil Brahmin version of Kurma - a spicy gravy with vegetables. This dish has its origins in Kumbakkonam, a town in Tamil Nadu. The recipe comes from my mother-in-law and from her in-law's kitchen :)

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup - uncooked moong dhal / payatham paruppu
2. 3-4 medium sized peeled and boiled potatoes - cubed
3. 2 tomatoes - diced
4. 1 medium-sized/large onion - finely diced
5. 4 teaspoons pottu kadalai / Split roasted gram dhal
6. 2 teaspoons white poppy seeds / kasa kasa
7. 1.5 teaspoons worth minced/grated ginger
8. 2 green chillies
9. 2 tablespoons grated coconut
10. 5 cloves
11. 6 cardamom pods (with the seeds)
12. 1 cinnamon stick
13. 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
14. 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
15. Juice of half a lemon (optional)
16. 1/4 cup cilantro / coriander leaves - cut

Preparation:

1. Cook the moong dhal with about 2 cups of water till it is mashable
2. Heat a saucepan with oil. Add the cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom and let them sizzle in the oil for a minute.
3. Add the diced onion and saute (on medium heat) until the onion turns translucent
4. Next add the tomatoes and salt and saute till the tomatoes soften.
5. Add the boiled/cooked moong dhal and 1.5 cups of water. Stir everything together and let the dhal seep into all the flavors. Cook for 5-10 minutes.
6. In the meanwhile, prepare a flavorful paste to thicken the gravy. Grind together the pottu-kadalai, poppy seeds, ginger, green chillies, and coconut with about 1/4 cup of water till everything is a smooth paste. 
7. Add this paste to the bubbling dhal and stir well. Allow the mixture to cook for another 5 minutes. The paste will thicken the gravy. If you would like, add more water to dilute the gravy to your liking.
8. Finally, add the boiled, cubed potatoes and stir well. Heat for another 2 minutes. Then remove from heat. 
9. Garnish with coriander leaves and the juice of half a lemon to bring out all the flavors.

That's it. It's an aromatic and mildly spicy variation of Kurma that goes very well as a side-dish. I absolutely love this dish!