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Home » Recipes » Curry

Kerala Kadala Curry (Instant Pot & Stovetop)

Published: Mar 26, 2020 · Modified: May 22, 2022 by Bhavana Patil ·This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Kadala Curry or Kerala Style Brown Chickpeas in Coconut Curry recipe is a popular accompaniment in Kerala Cuisine usually served with Appam or Puttu made in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop.

It is made at least once every week in most Kerala homes. Kadala means 'chickpeas.' Also known as Kala chana, whole Bengal gram.

I have included the recipe for Instant Pot, Stovetop Pressure Cooker, and Stovetop Pot Method below

instant pot kerala kadala curry served in a black bowl served with white rice on side
kerala kadala curry

The chickpeas used in this recipe are brown chickpeas which are different from white chickpeas(garbanzo beans). Brown chickpeas take longer to cook, so I highly recommend soaking overnight or at least 6-8 hours before preparing this dish.

Traditional Kerala style, Kadala Curry is spicy and has extra liquid, as it is mainly enjoyed with puttu or appams or rice. If you like it to be less soupy, you can reduce the water for cooking to 1.5 cups. 

The traditional way of cooking Kadala Curry (Black chickpeas curry) is to soak chickpeas overnight in water, boil it using a pressure cooker and then cook in the onion-tomato masala, coconut paste, and spices and finally add the tempering into the curry.

Try out other chickpeas curry from my blog like Chana Masala, Chickpea Coconut curry, Beetroot Chickpea Stir fry, Chickpea Biryani.

This is the Instant Pot version of making Kadala curry. It is simple and easy to make without much hassle.

Dont have Instant Pot?

No worries, I have shared the stovetop pressure cooker and stovetop pot method below.

How to Make Kerala Kadala Curry in Instant Pot

Soak chana (black chickpeas) overnight or for at least 6 hours.

step to soak black chickpeas in water collage

Grind the tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom, and fennel seeds into a smooth paste—no need to add any water while grinding. Keep aside.

step to make tomato ginger garlic to smooth paste collage

Also, grind the fresh coconut with a half cup of water to a fine paste. Keep aside.

**Note: You can also roast the coconut and then grind it. If you don't have fresh coconut, you can also use ½ cup of full-fat coconut milk instead.

step to make coconut paste collage

Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil to the POT. Once POT is hot, add onions and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.

Next, add the masala paste and cook for 2-3 minutes.

step to saute onion and tomato collage

Add the soaked kadala(chickpeas), spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt, and water for cooking. Stir well.

step to add soaked chickpeas and spice collage

Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to "BEAN/CHILI" Mode and set the timer to 30 minutes.

Do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE.

Meanwhile, prepare the tempering. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies, asafetida (hing) and sauté for 30 seconds and keep aside.

step to prepare tempering collage

Once the pressure has released naturally, add the ground coconut paste and press sauté to cook for 3-4 minutes. Adjust the consistency by adding water if required. Finally, add the tempering to the curry.

step to add coconut paste and tempering to kadala curry collage

Serve Instant pot Kerala kadala curry recipe with appam, puttu, or steamed rice.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

Follow the same steps as above. Then, cook the kadala, aka chickpeas, on a stovetop pressure cooker for two whistles on high heat and then 2-3 whistles on low heat or till they are tender and cooked through.

Stovetop Pot Method

  1. Pressure cook the soaked kadala (chickpeas) on a stovetop pressure cooker for 2 whistles on high heat and then 2-3 whistles on low heat. Let the pressure release naturally.
  2. Grind the tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom, and fennel seeds into a smooth paste. No need to add any water while grinding. Keep aside.
  3. Also, grind the fresh coconut with half a cup of water to a fine paste. Keep aside.
  4. Heat oil in a pot, once hot add onions, saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Next, add the masala paste and cook for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell of the spices goes away.
  6. Add the cooked chickpeas, coconut paste, spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt, some water and close the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, prepare the tempering. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies, asafetida (hing) and sauté for 30 seconds and add it to the curry.
  8. Serve kadala curry with appam or puttu or steamed rice.

Tips & Variations

  1. You can replace coconut paste with thick coconut milk.
  2. If you want thicker and creamy gravy you can mash a ladle full of chana and add them back to the curry.
  3. Curry thickens once cooled. Adjust the consistency as required.
  4. Make sure to soak the chana for at least 6-8 hours in water. If you forget to soak, then soak the chana in hot water at least for 3-4 hours.
  5. Coconut oil is preferred in this recipe, but any oil will work as well.

More Curry Recipes

  • Lauki(Bottle gourd) Sabji
  • Black Eye Pea Curry(Lobia curry)
  • Zucchini Stir Fry
  • Lauki Chana Dal
  • Rajma Masala
Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
Kadala Curry served in a bowl with side of rice

Instant Pot Kerala Kadala Curry

Bhavana Patil
Kadala Curry or Brown Chickpeas in Coconut Curry is a popular accompaniment in Kerala Cuisine usually served with Appam or Puttu
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 4
Calories : 225
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: South Indian
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Prep Time : 6 hours
Cook Time : 30 minutes
Total Time : 6 hours 30 minutes

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
  • Stovetop Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used (1 cup = 250ml)

    For Masala Paste:

    • 2 medium tomatoes
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 inch ginger
    • 2 cloves
    • 1 cardamom
    • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf)

    Other Ingredients:

    • 1 cup kala chana/kadala/brown chickpeas soaked overnight
    • 1 medium onion finely chopped
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
    • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
    • 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
    • 2 cups water
    • salt to taste

    For Coconut Paste:

    • ½ cup shredded coconut (fresh or frozen) or full fat coconut milk
    • ½ cup water

    For Tempering:

    • 2 teaspoons coconut oil
    • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
    • a big pinch asafetida (hing)
    • 1 stalk curry leaves
    • 2 dry red chillies

    Instructions
     

    Instant Pot Method:

    • Soak chana (black chickpeas) overnight or for at least 6 hours.
    • Grind the tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom, and fennel seeds into a smooth paste—no need to add any water while grinding. Keep aside.
    • Also, grind the fresh coconut with a half cup of water to a fine paste. Keep aside.
      **Note: You can also roast the coconut and then grind. If you don't have fresh coconut, you can also use ½ cup of full-fat coconut milk instead.
    • Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil to the POT. Once POT is hot, add onions and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
    • Next, add the masala paste and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add the soaked kadala (chickpeas), spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt, and water for cooking. Stir well.
    • Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to "BEAN/CHILI" Mode and set the timer to 30 minutes.
    • Do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE.
    • Meanwhile, prepare the tempering. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies, asafetida (hing) and sauté for 30 seconds and keep aside.
    • Once the pressure has released naturally, add the ground coconut paste and press sauté to cook for 3-4 minutes. Adjust the consistency by adding water if required. Finally, add the tempering to the curry.
    • Serve kadala curry with appam or puttu.

    Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method:

    • Follow the same steps as above. Just cook the kadala aka chickpeas on stovetop pressure cooker for 2 whistles on heat heat and  then 2-3 whistles on low heat or  till they are tender and cooked through.

    Stovetop Pot Method:

    • Pressure cook the soaked kadala (chickpeas) on a stovetop pressure cooker for 2 whistles on high heat and then 2-3 whistles on low heat. Let the pressure release naturally.
    • Grind the tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom, and fennel seeds to a smooth paste. No need to add any water while grinding. Keep aside.
    • Also, grind the fresh coconut with half a cup of water to a fine paste. Keep aside.
    • Heat oil in a pot, once hot add onions, saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
    • Next, add the masala paste and cook for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell of the spices goes away.
    • Add the cooked chickpeas, coconut paste, spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt, some water and close the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, prepare the tempering. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies, asafetida (hing) and sauté for 30 seconds and add it to the curry.
    • Serve kadala curry with appam or puttu or steamed rice.

    Notes

    I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

    Tips & Variations

    1. You can replace coconut paste with thick coconut milk.
    2. If you want thicker and creamy gravy you can mash ladle full of chana and add them back to the curry.
    3. Curry thickens once cooled. Adjust the consistency as required.
    4. Make sure to soak the chana for at least 6-8 hours in water. If you forget to soak, then soak the chana in hot water at least for 3-4 hours.
    5. Coconut oil is preferred in this recipe, but any oil will work as well.
     
    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSodium: 95mgPotassium: 313mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 749IUVitamin C: 141.1mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 2.1mg
    Keyword brown chickpeas, chickpea curry, coconut milk, Indian Vegetarian Curry Recipes, instant pot brown chickpeas, kadala curry, kerala kadala curry, kerala style, Vegetarian One-Pot Meals
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. John says

      April 19, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      Hi Bhavana,

      Thanks for this recipe. Would it be okay to avoid soaking the dried chickpeas and adjust for this in the cooking time?

      Reply
      • bhavana says

        April 20, 2020 at 1:54 pm

        I highly recommend to soak ,this brown chickpeas is slightly different from garbanzo beans (white Chickpeas).If you cant soak overnight,you can soak in hotwater for 4 hours and cook on highpressure for 30-35 minutes.

        Reply
    2. Pooja says

      March 01, 2022 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe for the first time yesterday - followed it almost word for word (my only sub was using a can of coconut cream instead of fresh coconut).
      The resulting dish is absolutely delicious, and has even improved overnight! Thank you so much for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Bhavana Patil says

        March 02, 2022 at 1:44 pm

        Thank you, Pooja 😊 I am really glad to hear that, have a nice day 😊

        Reply

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