Vegetable Chalna

Chalna is the name given for curry generally made with chicken in Tamil Nadu. I have no idea how to make chalna, be it chicken or vegetables.I always had a feel that its a curry made only with chicken. Thanks to my husband for this wonderful version of Chalna. This recipe is by my hubby. We were discussing about making something different and he came out with this idea of Vegetable Chalna. My part in this recipe was just assisting him. The taste was really awesome, so was the smell because of the freshly ground masalas.

Ingredients:

1 Onion chopped
4-5 Garlic pods chopped
1/2 Ginger Chopped
1 Tomato chopped
4 tbsp Grated Coconut
2 Green Chilles
2 Potatoes cubed
2 Carrots cubed
1 Cup sliced beans
1/4 Cup Green Peas
1 tsp Fennel Seeds
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp Peppercorns
2 Cloves
1 stick Cinnamom
6 Red chilles
Hing to taste
Lemon juice to taste.
Oil as needed
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Dry roast Fennel seeds, Cumin seeds,Peppercorns,Cinnamaom,Cloves and Red chilles until you get a nice smell and allow them to cool.
2. Then add oil to the same pan and fry the onions,garlic,ginger and tomatoes till it becomes soft.
3. Fry coconut with little oil until the raw smell goes off.
4. Now grind the roasted spices separatley and the onion mixture with coconut.
4. In a Pressure cooker heat little oil. Add mustard seeds and allow them to crackle. Now add in the ground Onion masala, hing,green chilles and spices masala and saute them for few minutes.
5. Add in all the vegetables to this mixture and saute them for the vegetables to absorb masala. Add Salt and water( as per the thickness you prefer) and pressure cook for one Whistle.
6. Wait for the pressure to release and add a few drops of lemon juice to the Chalna.
Yummy Vegetable Chalna is READYYY...Goes well with Pooris,Parotta and Chapathis.