For today's recipe, I wanted to make the Goan Tondak by Vaishali, that I was drooling when Vaishali had made it for her Indian States. She had visited Archana and along with her cooked up a feast of the special Goan Tondak and Pav. Since I was cooking for a crowd with the wish to bring about a dish from each state, I thought this curry would be very delicious.
I originally wanted to make Butter Kulcha and Goan Tondak, later my team was feeling that butter kulchas would become tough and not be soft when we are making for such a huge crowd. Also, they felt using maida alone may not be a healthy option. I had cooked up Kulcha over the weekend just to verify if it becomes tough over time, though mine were soft even after some time, I realized cooking for a huge crowd, I might not be able to control the rolling and frying part.
So I decided to go with Khamiri Roti, and all were happy that I was going to use wheat flour. I had pinged Archana to ask which other beans I could use instead of the bean she had suggested Vaishali. She said Black Eyed Peas/ Alasanda would be a great option. Since it's a bean I love, I was so happy making it.
On the day of making it, I got around making the dough at about 11. 30 in the morning and had a couple of my colleagues to help knead the dough. The guys were enthu to flex their muscles and made sure the dough was really soft and well kneaded. We mixed about 7 kgs of wheat flour and rolled out about 180 Rotis. The worse or best part was, the 150 Khamiri Rotis disappeared and the last 30 Rotis were plain chapatis. Since this was kneaded at the last moment, it didn't have proper resting time and turned out hard.
The gravy was made with 5 and a half kg of Alasanda and a huge batch of Goan Masala that I blended early morning. The combination was super hit and many had to skip their dinner because they had their fill and couldn't resist. On the whole, I enjoyed making this combination.
I had previously made Tonak Pav, with the Goan Garam Masala that Archana suggested. While a whole Wheat Goan Poee with Feijoada was made for the Indian States.
Alsande Tonak | Black Eyed Peas Goan Special Curry
Ingredients
For the Gravy
- 250 gms Black Eyed Peas / Alasanda
- 2 Onions finely chopped
- A Pinch Turmeric Powder
- Salt to Taste
- 2 - 3 tsp Cooking Oil
- A few springs of Coriander Leaves
For the ground masala
- 1 1/2 cups Coconut freshly grated
- 1 Onion chopped
- 6 - 7 cloves Garlic
- A small ball of Tamarind
- 2 - 3 tsp Goan Spice Masala
Goan Spice Masala
- 1 tsp Coriander Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Cumin Seeds / Jeera
- 1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 1/2 tsp Poppy Seeds
- 3-4 Dry Red Chilies
- 1" Cinnamon
- 4 nos Cloves
- 1/2 tsp Whole Black Pepper
- 1 Star Anise
- A Pinch Nutmeg Powder
Instructions
How to make the Goan Tondak
- Wash and soak the black eyed peas overnight. Change water a couple of times, and pressure cook till soft. Keep it aside. Don't drain the water, you can use it for cooking.
- Heat a kadai with cooking oil, fry the red chilies, keep aside. Fry the other ingredients for the masala individually and add oil if necessary. Keep aside.
- In the same pan fry the coconut, onions, and garlic, on low flame till the coconut is reddish brown in color, use cooking oil if needed. Cool.
- Grind to a fine paste all the fried spices, coconut onion mixture, along with the tamarind. Keep it aside.
- Heat a nonstick pan with cooking oil, fry finely chopped onions till soft, add the boiled beans without water. Combine and cook well.
- Next, add the ground masala paste, turmeric powder, and salt. Saute everything well until the beans get coated well. Then, add the reserved water and bring it to boil.
- When the gravy thickens as required, add chopped coriander leaves and simmer for 5 mins.
- Serve hot with Rotis.
Tried this recipe?Mention @Cooking4all or tag #Cooking4all!
Archana Potdar says
Making me drool Valli. Thanks for the mention.
Kalyani says
I love alasande too and this is s yummy gravy that I had bookmarked from Archana too !! Yummy
Priya Suresh says
Alsande tonak looks prefect to have rotis, beautiful combination..150 Kamiri rotis wow,very impressive.
Varadas Kitchen says
I am enjoying your story about the office cook out. A lot of work but must have been nice to work with colleagues.
Suja Ram says
Both Rotis n Alasande gravy look great. Hats off to you for making in such huge quantity.
Sarita says
Alasande gravy looks too good with roti..Good to know about the recipe.
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
looks so delicious and so comforting!!! such a beautiful blend of spices!!!
Manjula Bharath says
wow roti and alasande looks so scrumptious 🙂 making me hungry !!
Priya Srinivasan says
Black eyed peas is our favourite lentil too! I too have bookmarked it had to try out now. 180 roti's wow valli, quite a task!!!
Harini-Jaya R says
Wow! Another one with black eyed peas! Must try!!
vaishali sabnani says
Oh my God...I am speechless..truly Valli you are an amazing lady...the combo looks awesome
Sapana Behl says
Black eyed pea is ne of my fav in any form . This combo sounds delicious .Good job..
sneha datar says
A classic combination, really delicious.
Padmajha PJ says
Wow! you cooked this for a crowd!! Sounds like a delicious combo! And thanks fro sending it across to the event 🙂