Chandrakanthalu Recipe | How to make Chandrakantha | Diwali Sweets | Step by Step Recipe

Chandrakantalu is a special sweet from Andhra. The name personifies the moon like and is supposed to be shaped as the waxing moon, which looks so cute. This is again dish from Amma. She has been having this recipe in her files for so many years. I am so glad that she was finally able to bring it out.

This is a delightful recipe that is made from Split yellow moong dal. When I was discussing with her on what special Andhra Deepavali sweets can be made, the first thing she remembered was this dish. On hearing I was assuiming Chandrakala, which I think is very similar to Kaja. Maybe I will end up doing that for this festival season too.

Anyway now for the recipe, which is crispy on the outside and soft and sweet inside.

Chandrakanthalu

Split Yellow Moong dal - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Oil for deep frying.

How to make Chandrakatalu:

Wash and soak the yellow dal for an hour. Then drian the dal from water and grind it to a fine paste. There is no need to add water, should be able to grind with the soft dal by itself.

Heat a non stick kadai with ghee. Add this ground moong dal paste, and keep cooking for couple of minutes. Then add the sugar. It will start melting and letting out moisture.

Continue frying till the paste is dry. You will know it's done, when it starts leaving the sides.

Transfer to a greased bowl, spread it well and allow it to cool. Once it's manageable to handle, shape them as waxing moon. Continue with the entire paste.

Heat a kadai with oil, when hot, simmer and deep fry the chandrakantulu to golden brown.

Notes:

The batter should be of the vada consistency. Water should not be added, else it will dunk lot of oil. If required for the batter to get well ground, just sprinkle some water.

Since the batter is already cooked, when it is dropped into hot oil, it will start to brown very quickly. So the oil should always be low flame. 

Sending this to the following events:

Suma, who is hosting my favorite event MLLA# 40, an event started by Susan

Gayathri  who is hosting 'Only'- Sweets and Desserts, an event started by Pari
Serve it - Festival Potluck hosted by Krithi and Danny 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#9

Pesarattu with Yellow Moong dal | Ideas for Healthy Diet Lunch | Diet Program Updates

I am back with my weekly updates on the Diet program. I know I haven't been very strict with the diet the whole of last week. Well I had lot of excuses. With Athamma not being in town and no help with the household work, I was stressed beyond words. I needed energy to just move about or so I said to myself! This forced me to eat the regular food that was cooked.

Anyway I tried compensating at least one meal. Tough times won't last long, so here I am in a much better situation, being able to manage things to an extent. In fact I have gone back to my diet regime. The major dish that helped me in this aspect was the Goduma Dosa, when rolling out or even cooking those rotis sounded tough, these quick doses came as a big help.

If plain goduma dosa bores you, then spice it up by mixing in Green chili paste, or add vegetables or even onions would really help. When you are on diet there is no need to eat boring stuffs right.

So here is the plan, when rolling out Phulkas sound like a herculean task, try these Dosas with Wheat flour

1. Plain Goduma Dosa
2. Spiced Goduma Dosa with either Red chili powder or Green Chili paste
3. Vegetable Goduma Dosa
4. Goduma Uthapam with Onions.

Similarly you can make Dosas or Adais with Channa Dal/ Bengal Gram dal. Spilt Yellow Moong Dal.

The famous Andhra Pesarattu is made with Whole Moong Dal. When we don't add the rice flour, the dosas/ pesarattus comes out soft. But as a replacement for nutrition, it is really good.

With the Vada Pappu I offered as prasadam on Sri Rama Navami, I didn't want to make the salad with the whole lot. Instead ground it to make dosas for the lunch.

Pesara pappu Dosa / Pesarattu / Split Yellow Moong Dal Dosa

Yellow Split Moong Dal - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 -3 tsp
Cumin Seeds - for garnish
Onions (opt)
Grated Ginger (opt)

Method to prepare:

Wash and soak yellow moong dal for 30 - 40 mins. Drain and grind to a smooth paste. Add salt.

Heat a tawa and grease with oil.  Pour one ladleful of batter and spread as you would a regular dosa.

Sprinkle the cumin seeds, Onions and ginger if you are using on the top. Sprinkle little oil. Cook on medium flame to ensure it gets cooked well.

Then flip to the other side and cook again.

With one cup, you would get about 4 medium sized dosas.

Serve with Chutney or Dal.

Well I clicked a photo with groundnut chutney. But since I should not eat, I again took it with the Gongura Dal that I took for Lunch. I wouldn't say these were the best of combos, but then it was one healthy lunch. You can serve this with Sambar or other regular Dals.

How is everybody's diet going on?