Wishing all my readers a blessed Navaratri!

We always plan for something and something else happens! So true right. I have been looking forward to the pooja so much, thinking about what new neivedhyams I should do this year. With planning according to the colour and taste of the nine days, I have almost covered what possible varieties I could.

For various reasons, I couldn't do much in terms of decorating the new Lakshmi Idol hubby dear got for Pooja.

Luckily the first day Naivedyam has to be Ven Pongal. So I went with my regular Ven Pongal and for Sundal I made with Peanut, with spice.

There are a couple of Pongal Varieties, so there is always a choice.

Kara Verkadalai ~ Healthy Salad

Ingredients Needed:

Raw Peanuts - 1 cup
Mustard Seeds, Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Curry leaves handful
Green Chilies - 2 small
Dry Red Chilies - 2
Red Chili flakes - 1/2 tsp
Hing a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tsp
Fresh Grated Coconut - 2 tsp

How to make the Kara Verkadalai

Wash and soak the raw peanuts for 30 mins. Pressure cook for 3 whistles with 1/2 cup water.

Once the pressure falls, if the water is more, cook for the water to evaporate.

Heat a nonstick pan with oil, when hot add curry leaves, mustard seeds, urad dal, chopped green chilies, red chilies, hing, saute well.

Then add the cooked peanuts, sprinkle salt, and red chili flakes.

Simmer and cook for 5 mins.

Finally before removing garnish with freshly grated coconut.