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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish For Idli Dosa

    Kumbakonam kadappa recipe | Side dish for idli dosa

    July 4, 2011 by Raks Anand 79 Comments / Jump to Recipe

    Kumbakonam kadappa recipe with full video, stepwise photos. A flavorful side dish for idli dosa and puri.

    Kumbakonam Kadappa Recipe
    Jump to:
    • 💭 Top tip
    • 🎥 Video
    • 📖 Variations
    • 👩🏽‍🍳 Why I love it
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 🍽 Goes well with
    • Recipe card
    • Kumbakonam kadappa method

    I tasted kumbakonam kadappa first time in my SRC hostel mess in Trichy. That time I used to hate that. Then once after marriage, when my MIL made, I totally developed taste for it, may be the way she made it, changed my taste.

    Kumbakonam kadappa is made with roughly mashed pototoes, moong dal and coconut with spices added to it. It's a very unique side dish famous in Thanjavur/ kumbakonam region.

    Though she avoids fennel in her recipe, I tried adding fennel and bay leaves in addition to the way she makes and the result was really awesome!

    I remembered my hostel mess used to serve it with cinnamon and quite sure it had fennel seeds flavor. So I added soambu in this recipe.

    Just love the flavor and makes a great combo with idly. Vj doesn't like fennel at all, so I avoid it most of the times, still will add whenever I get a chance.

    If you like fennel you can add or you can skip it and just use the main ingredient pattai (cinnamon). Check out my tomato kurma.

    kadappa-recipe

    💭 Top tip

    Since we use potato and yellow lentils in this recipe, it gets bland if we do not season it with right amount of salt, chilli and tanginess from either lemon juice or tomato. We are also adding coconut, so use a lot of spice to balance it.

    🎥 Video

    Here's a quick video on how to make this

    📖 Variations

    • I have heard from my relatives that you can even add mixed vegetables and make kadappa.
    • While grinding coconut, you can add any one of some pottukadalai, cashews or kasa kasa for more rich gravy.

    👩🏽‍🍳 Why I love it

    It has got perfect balance of all flavors, nothing overpowering. The consistency is just right, neither too thick like kurma nor thin like sambar. It's in between.

    Also, brings back so much nostalgic moments of our hostel life even though it was not pleasant that time, later I realized how gifted we were to get such decent delicious food.

    👪 Serving size

    Though kadappa will be looking like so much volume, it gets over easily because of the mild spice and thickness from moong dal. So make sure to prepare enough depending on the size of the group.

    🍽 Goes well with

    • Idli
    • Dosa
    • Puri

    Recipe card

    Kumbakonam Kadappa Recipe
    Print Pin
    4.72 from 7 votes

    kumbakonam kadappa

    Kumbakonam kadappa is a popular south Indian side dish for idli, dosa mainly in Thanjavur, kumbakonam. Full video recipe with step by step pictures.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Servings 4

    Equipments (Amazon Affiliate links)

    • pressure cooker
    • kadai/ pan
    • ladle
    • blender
    • chopping board
    • knife
    Cup measurements

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup Moong Dal/ Paasi paruppu
    • 2 Potato
    • 2 Onion
    • 4 Green Chillies
    • Salt - As needed
    • Lemon Juice From ½ of a lemon
    • 1 teaspoon Coconut oil
    • 1 tablespoon Coriander leaves For garnish

    To Grind

    • ½ cup Coconut grated
    • 2 Green chilli
    • ½ teaspoon Fennel seeds/ Soambu Optional
    • 2 Garlic flakes

    To temper

    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 Cinnamon piece
    • 1 Biryani leaf
    • ½ teaspoon Mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
    • 1 sprig Curry leaves
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • First, pressure cook potato and moong dal.Peel the potatoes,mash it and mash the moong dal too.
    • Slice onion and green chillies.Grind coconut,fennel (If addinand garlic with water to a smooth paste.
    • Heat a pan with oil and temper with the items given under" ‘To temper’ table. Add onion,green chillies and fry until onion turns just transparent,do not let it change its colour.
    • Pour 2 cups water,salt and boil for 3 minutes. Add the mashed dal and potatoes.Mix well, bring to boil.
    • Keep in low flame as after adding dal and potato it easy gets burnt at the bottom,so keep stirring. add the Ground masala,mix well and cook until the gravy thickens.

    Video

    Notes

    • Add garlic only maximum two flakes,otherwise it will give different flavour. If you use bigger flake,just use one.
    • I have skipped fennel seeds in the video and yet the flavour is awesome with cinnamon, garlic combo.
    • Instead of lemon juice,you can add 1 tomato in the recipe. Just fry after onion and proceed.
    • Instead of grinding garlic along with coconut you can crush it and fry along with onion too,just add 2 more garlic flake additionally.
    • Kadappa is usually white in colour in our mess,I too didn't add any turmeric in the recipe, add turmeric if you like it.
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    InstagramMention @rakskitchen or tag #rakskitchen if you have tried this recipe.

    Kumbakonam kadappa method

    1. First, pressure cook potato and moong dal. Peel the potatoes, break it roughly and mash the moong dal.

    2. Slice onion and green chillies. Grind coconut, fennel (If adding), 2 green chillies (NIP) and garlic with water to a smooth paste.

    grind coconut, chilli, garlic & fennel

    3. Heat a pan with oil and temper with the items given under" ‘To temper’ table. Add onion, green chillies and fry until onion turns just transparent. Do not let it change its color.

    temper

    4. Pour 2 cups water, salt and boil for 3 minutes. Add the mashed dal and broken potatoes. Mix well, bring to boil.

    boil

    5. Keep in low flame as after adding dal and potato it easy gets burnt at the bottom, so keep stirring. Add the Ground masala, mix well and boil until the gravy thickens (2-3 mins).

    add ground paste

    Squeeze with lemon, drizzle coconut oil, add coriander leaves and serve with Idli or Dosai.

    Kadappa recipe_2
    « Thengai sadam, Coconut rice recipe, South Indian style
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. hemalata

      July 04, 2011 at 3:27 am

      Nice recipe,looks so delicious.

      Reply
    2. Priya Sreeram

      July 04, 2011 at 4:08 am

      yum - 1 I too prepared kadappa y'day and relished immensely- nice clicks !

      Reply
    3. Mahi

      July 04, 2011 at 4:13 am

      Once I prepared this, my hubby dear didn't liked it a lot,so haven't tried after that! 😉

      Clicks are nice Raji! Its dinner time here,wannna grab that idly plate! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Kalpana Sareesh

      July 04, 2011 at 4:42 am

      wow very good dish hv never heard abt this.. will sure try n let u know!!

      Reply
    5. Prathibha

      July 04, 2011 at 4:58 am

      Saw it in many blogs...but I never tried r tasted it...recipe sounds nice,would give a try sometime..nice clicks raji..ur idlies always make me hungry any time I see dem..:)

      Reply
    6. Valarmathi Sanjeev

      July 04, 2011 at 4:59 am

      Wow....looks super delicious....will try this.

      Reply
    7. lata raja

      July 04, 2011 at 5:22 am

      Don't even remind me...in the whole of the two post graduate years in SRC (tricy, ammaangOv, adhe college), this was staple atleast thrice a week, if not more!
      Your post just made it sound something exotic...which the hostel caterer made a point to make as uninteresting as possible!

      Reply
    8. Divya Kudua

      July 04, 2011 at 5:40 am

      Something new to me,never heard of this dish before.I was lucky to have 'not' tasted hostel food as I was a day scholar throughout!

      Reply
    9. LG

      July 04, 2011 at 5:53 am

      This is a very new recipe to me, looks yummy!

      Reply
    10. Kaveri

      July 04, 2011 at 6:12 am

      That's very new to me...never heard of Kadappa....but the recipe sounds good...will try it sometime

      Reply
    11. jeyashrisuresh

      July 04, 2011 at 6:15 am

      Though i have heard this i have never tasted or tried this. Sounds interesting too.

      Reply
    12. Aruna Manikandan

      July 04, 2011 at 6:20 am

      one of my favorite...
      looks delicious and very tempting dear...
      Nice clicks 🙂

      Reply
    13. Priya

      July 04, 2011 at 6:40 am

      My favourite anytime, i can have two more idlies or dosas with this wonderful and fingerlicking kadappa..

      Reply
    14. jayasree

      July 04, 2011 at 6:41 am

      Sounds like a delicious combo....Lovely clicks.

      Reply
    15. Vardhini

      July 04, 2011 at 7:06 am

      New one and looks delicious.

      Vardhini
      Event: Fast food not Fat food

      Reply
    16. Sharmilee! :)

      July 04, 2011 at 7:17 am

      My MIL does this too....but am not sure of the recipe but I just love it. Urs looks creamy and thick perfect for idlis and dosas

      Reply
    17. Sarah

      July 04, 2011 at 8:31 am

      this dish is new to me.. and the idli-lover in me is dying to try it out! looks yummy!

      Reply
    18. The Mad Jammer

      July 04, 2011 at 9:33 am

      i love tht vessel you have on the stove - what material is it?

      Reply
    19. Sayantani

      July 04, 2011 at 9:49 am

      very healthy, looks nice.

      Reply
    20. Rinku Naveen

      July 04, 2011 at 10:07 am

      Loved the texture of the curry. A welcome change from the sambar and chutney..

      Reply
    21. Ms.Chitchat

      July 04, 2011 at 10:38 am

      Have had this only in weddings, yet to make at home,ur version sounds interesting. Would definitely give a try. Clicks are too good.

      Reply
      • Matilda

        March 17, 2022 at 10:22 pm

        Brings me memory of my days in Holy Cross, where I tasted this for the first time. They used to serve it with dosa. Though it was slightly watery, my - the taste , I used to long for more. Missing such food.

        Reply
    22. RAKS KITCHEN

      July 04, 2011 at 10:40 am

      Hi mad jammer,its VISIONS...You can google and find the site easily

      Reply
    23. Jay

      July 04, 2011 at 10:41 am

      looks heavenly...awesome clicks..
      Tasty Appetite

      Reply
    24. Chitra

      July 04, 2011 at 11:12 am

      Looks yummmy, i am making these nowadays. I make it a bit watery for sen :)We love this..!!First click is awesome 🙂

      Reply
    25. Anonymous

      July 04, 2011 at 11:21 am

      My son likes moondal recipes and potatoes. I'll have to try this soon. Photos are very nice.

      Reply
    26. Rekha shoban

      July 04, 2011 at 11:32 am

      very new to me!! lovely curry n nice click!

      Reply
    27. Annapoorani

      July 04, 2011 at 11:34 am

      My chithi makes kadappa often...I have tasted it only once.
      Should try it out once.
      btw I am also from trichy,if possible let me know which college you were from

      Reply
    28. Sushma Mallya

      July 04, 2011 at 11:37 am

      Lovely presentation Raji, looks delicious will try this rec soon:)

      Reply
    29. Deeksha

      July 04, 2011 at 11:59 am

      very new and interesting side dish with idly! would love to try this!

      Reply
    30. Radhika

      July 04, 2011 at 12:32 pm

      Trichy and kadappa. Don't remind me. It is a daily treat in my grandparents home when I visit them during holidays. made me so nostalgic.
      Let's Cook: School Break-Time Snacks

      Reply
    31. Premalatha Aravindhan

      July 04, 2011 at 1:40 pm

      I too make this almost the same way,pass those five idlis(not that 2 idlis)with kadappa...Iam ready to leave my diet only for this kadappa:)

      Reply
    32. miri goes phishing!

      July 04, 2011 at 2:15 pm

      i have been served this a lot of times but never made this myself....a very interesting post...:)

      Reply
    33. Annapoorani

      July 04, 2011 at 3:08 pm

      I am also from the same college...2006 passed out 🙂 glad to meet u 🙂 not sure if you have given ur mail id here in this blog...if possible lemme know 🙂

      Reply
    34. Archana

      July 04, 2011 at 4:16 pm

      Kadappa to me was only a stone so I was quite surprised when I saw your title. Love it. Will try it some time soon.

      Reply
    35. Nithya

      July 04, 2011 at 4:48 pm

      Finger licking kadappa. Romba pidikum idhu yenakku. Will make it tomorrow and let you know how it came out 🙂

      Reply
    36. Shanthi

      July 04, 2011 at 5:08 pm

      Kadappa is the favourite side dish of everyone at home. Yours look yummy. Love the bowl full of kadappa. Wish I am your neighbour.

      Reply
    37. Varshini Sudharsan

      July 04, 2011 at 5:26 pm

      This is the first time i am hearing this dish name...looks so yummy.sure will try this soon and link ..

      Happy to follow you 🙂

      Do chk out my blog :
      http://cookingwithloveandforlove.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    38. Shanavi

      July 04, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Kadappa is very famous in thanjavur,my place..U can see this dish in every parotta shops.. Just love this Raks, U made me remember my home town..Touching

      Reply
    39. aipi

      July 04, 2011 at 9:12 pm

      Never heard of this before but seeing all the yummy ingredients n the process I know this is something I am going to love 🙂
      Thanks for sharing Raks!
      US Masala

      Reply
    40. Cilantro

      July 04, 2011 at 10:31 pm

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
    41. Cilantro

      July 04, 2011 at 10:32 pm

      My MIL makes it and I have her version on my blog too. Next time I will grind garlic with the coconut. Looks delicious!

      Reply
    42. Rumana Rawat

      July 05, 2011 at 5:18 am

      That is lovely curry...

      Reply
    43. Priti

      July 05, 2011 at 9:47 am

      New for me and looks interesting ...guess will do well with roti n paratha too

      Reply
    44. Nithu Bala

      July 05, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      Yummy:-) My favourite side dish..

      Reply
    45. kothiyavunu.com

      July 05, 2011 at 3:54 pm

      New interesting recipe for me..sounds yum! love to give a try!

      Reply
    46. Purabi Naha

      July 05, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      This is an interesting side dish to try out! Loved your recipe collection and photographs! YUMMY!!!
      http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com

      Reply
    47. SpicyTasty

      July 05, 2011 at 5:28 pm

      love kadappa..looks yummy 🙂

      Reply
    48. Saras

      July 05, 2011 at 5:50 pm

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
    49. Saras

      July 05, 2011 at 5:51 pm

      Heart winning combo dear...Love your pictorial..

      SIGNATURE RECIPES & A GIVEAWAY till july 31st 2011

      Reply
    50. Angie's Recipes

      July 05, 2011 at 6:27 pm

      This is new to me. I love how it looks...simply delectable!

      Reply
    51. Anonymous

      July 05, 2011 at 7:38 pm

      Wow this is something. Looks super delicious

      Reply
    52. Laavanya

      July 05, 2011 at 8:08 pm

      I've seen this recipe in a few places and have been wanting to give it a shot but never got to it.. must be mild,creamy & delish.

      Reply
    53. Sukanya Ramkumar

      July 05, 2011 at 8:22 pm

      This sounds to be a different one. Nice recipe. Really want to give it a try. Love to try such traditional recipes.... YUM!

      Reply
    54. Anonymous

      July 05, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      I have never tried anything other than sambar and chutney for idli and dosa..I have to try your awesome looking recipe 😀 Thnak you

      Reply
    55. Babli

      July 06, 2011 at 3:45 am

      Wonderful recipe. Kadappa looks yummy and tempting. Very beautiful presentation.

      Reply
    56. vidhas

      July 06, 2011 at 3:11 pm

      kadappa looks and sounds yum!! surely will try this

      Reply
    57. sowmya

      July 07, 2011 at 6:06 pm

      Hi,
      I tried this recipe. It was very delicious and a great side dish for Idli.Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    58. ushaprashanth

      July 09, 2011 at 6:45 am

      Hi!
      My neighbor told me about this recipe. This is a perfect combination for idlis! Kadappa looks delicious! Photos are very nice.

      Reply
    59. sabina

      July 09, 2011 at 11:27 am

      Tried tis recipe...my little daughter luvd it with dosa...Perfect sidedish and wholesome,luv the presentation..Keep up the good work...

      Reply
    60. RAKS KITCHEN

      July 10, 2011 at 3:59 am

      Thank you so much Sowmya & Sabina for taking time to write here,glad that you liked it 🙂 Thanks Usha 🙂

      Reply
    61. Shady gardener

      July 12, 2011 at 1:13 pm

      OH GOD, at last i found someone who love that kadappa from SRC.nobody in my house believed that there is a dish called as kadappa.i love kadappa,i love my hostel, i love SRC. i love ur blog

      Reply
    62. pavi

      September 19, 2011 at 12:16 pm

      i loved it:) this s my first trial of your recepie n loved it...all my friends liked it:)am from kumbakonam and it tastes lik wat i get in kumbakonam:)gonna try all in ur series:)thank u so much:)

      Reply
    63. shantha

      October 17, 2011 at 7:35 am

      Hi,
      i'm also from src.. in my first year i also dont like kadapa.. but after that i like kadapa with idly chili powder... thanks for giving kadapa recipe..

      Reply
    64. Pavithra

      May 06, 2012 at 6:06 am

      You cant use silverware with visions.

      Reply
    65. Supriya Arcot

      June 11, 2012 at 9:53 am

      Hey something nice and original after a long time.Came out well.

      Reply
    66. Gayram

      August 27, 2012 at 12:16 am

      Awesome recipe..I tried and it came out good.
      my husband loved it...thank u..

      Reply
    67. Anu

      October 02, 2012 at 1:45 am

      hi,
      I am a new reader of your site and have tried 2 recipies tiffin sambhar and kadapa from your site. Both came out very well. Your method of explaining the dishes with pictures is also excellent.I have become a great fan of yours. Wishing you all the best.

      Reply
    68. indirag

      December 28, 2012 at 6:16 am

      Tried this yesterday and had it with rawa idli , turned out real tasty !!

      Reply
    69. rashmi satishraju

      March 01, 2013 at 10:49 am

      hi, i am rashmi, i have started my cooking blog, i am very much impressed by u r blog. u have created very good blog, give me some hints how to create nice beautiful background for blog

      Reply
    70. Anandhi Manimaran

      August 14, 2013 at 5:15 am

      Hi Raks,
      I've tried this recipe yesterday and it was delicious. All in my home loved it. My bro literally licked it.
      The step wise procedures & photographs are really helpful.

      Reply
    71. sukanya Ram

      September 07, 2013 at 11:14 am

      Ths s the first time im hearng abt ths recipe. I tried ths today it came off very well..grt thng s my hubby liked it..he s very choosy and he don't like south indian dishes..thnks a lot raji..im n luv wit ur blog...I chk ur site atleast once a day...keep up the gud work 🙂

      Reply
    72. Bala

      January 27, 2014 at 7:26 am

      It looks yummy. Can I ask a question here. What material is that vessel that u r using on the stove.. it looks neat.

      Reply
    73. Raks anand

      January 27, 2014 at 7:30 am

      Its VISIONS a kind of corning ware

      Reply
    74. Raks anand

      March 29, 2014 at 1:40 am

      May be your chilli is not spicy enough. Adding lemon juice is also a must to give the recipe a punch. So add more chilli and lemon juice next time if it is very bland for you.

      Reply
    75. Chella KS Nathan

      August 19, 2014 at 12:32 am

      hi Raks another win win recipie of yours. thank you so much . it tasted very well:))

      Reply
    76. Sudha Sreedhar

      March 04, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      Hi raks tried 2 times and was a hit in the family. It is neither kurma nor dal. I feel it is a combo of both. Gives volume yet tasty. Thx for the recipe. Bye.

      Reply
    77. Raks anand

      March 04, 2017 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    78. vidhya

      April 30, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      When to add lemon juice? And also green chillies are to be grind along with coconut or just along with onions?

      Reply

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

    More about me →

    Popular

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