Congress Kadlekai
Congress Kadlekai or Spicy Masala Peanut is the quintessential snack from Karnataka, is widely found in condiment stores and bakeries.
Ingredients
- 2 cup raw peanuts/groundnuts
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 stalk curry leaves
- 1/4 tsp asafetida
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
- 1/2 tsp powdered sugar optional
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a microwave safe bowl/plate, roast the raw peanuts for 3-4 minutes until it start crackling. Toss it for every 30 sec and make sure not to burn the peanuts.
- allow to cool down the roasted peanuts and then remove the skin by rubbing your hands between the peanuts. Then halve the peanuts.
- Place a kadai/pan in low flame. Heat the oil and add in curry leaves and fry until crisp.
- Next add all the spice powders like red chili powder, pepper powder, asafetida and turmeric powder. Give a quick stir. Make sure not to burn the spices.
- Immediately add in de-skinned and halved peanuts, salt and sugar for taste. Adding sugar is optional but I highly recommend it.
- Mix well for a minute under very low flame. The masala has to coat the peanuts well. Switch off the stove and keep it aside.
- Once it is cool enough to mix with hand, crush the curry leaves well using hands. Doing this will help in blending the curry leaves well with the peanuts.
- Serve the spiced congress kadlekai recipe with tea.
Notes
- Roast the peanuts until it starts crackling else it will not be crunchy. Also, it might get a side odor and it would taste bad after a few days.
- Removing the skin is key to how the congress kadlekai tastes!
- Adjust spices according to your choice. While making the tempering, make sure the heat is low. If not the spices will burn.
- Adding sugar in the spiced kadlekai recipe is completely optional but store brought congress kadlekai has little sugar in them.
- You have to wait until the peanuts cool down completely before you store them in an airtight container. The Congress kadlekai stays good for a month if stored well.
- You can roast peanuts on a stovetop pan, make sure to roast on low flame.