Vellai Mochai Sundal (Butter Beans) Recipe for Navarathri | 9 Days, 9 Sundals

Navratri Sundal Recipe 7 of 9

Vellai Mochai Sundal or White Butter Bean* is a hearty addition to the nine-day Navratri Sundal series. Once cooked until tender, the beans are tossed through the traditional tadka and brightened with raw mango and coriander.

This is Recipe 7 in Girija Paati's 9 Days, 9 Sundals series - a different Sundal for each day of Navratri.

*Also called Lima bean or Broad Bean.

INGREDIENTS

For the Sundal

• 100 g dried White Mochai
• 3-4 cups water for soaking
• Salt to taste

For the Tadka

• 3/4 tsp peanut oil, or oil of your choice
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/3 tsp urad dhal
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped green chillies
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped ginger
• 2 whole round red chillies
• 1/4 tsp asafoetida powder
• curry leaves, to taste

For the Final Seasoning

• 3/4 tsp grated raw mango
• Coriander, to taste

METHOD

1. Wash the dried beans and soak it overnight for about 12 hours, using approximately 3-4 cups of water.
2. The next morning, drain the soaking water and wash the beans once again in clean water. Pressure cook with salt to taste for approximately 5 whistles. It should be cooked through while still holding its shape. As a guide, 100 g of dried broad beans will usually give you around 250-300 g once soaked and cooked.
3. Heat the oil in a kadai. Add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add the urad dhal and let it turn golden. Add the finely chopped green chillies and ginger and lightly fry. Follow with the whole red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves.
4. Add the cooked lima beans to the tadka and mix well so that the tempering coats it evenly.
5. Remove from the flame. Add the grated raw mango, coriander and toss together.
6. Serve with love.

Girija Paati's Note

This version is finished without coconut, so the raw mango is important for freshness and contrast. Mix it in only once the pan is off the flame.

A Little Something to Send Home

For many of us, Navratri is as much about the people who come home as it is about the Golu.

In Tamil homes, women visiting for Navratri Golu are traditionally sent home with a thamboolam - typically including betel leaves, areca nuts, turmeric and kumkum, offered as a gesture of respect and auspiciousness. Similar traditions are part of Haldi-Kumkum gatherings in other parts of India.

Alongside the traditional thamboolam, it is also lovely to add a small sweet or savoury treat for your guest to take home.

This Navratri, Girija Paati has put together small sweet and karam (savoury) combinations designed especially for adding to thamboolam bags or giving as simple Navratri return gifts.

Explore our Navratri Sweet & Savoury Gifting Options ->

Making Sundal Through the Nine Days?

This White Mochai Sundal is Recipe 7 of our 9 Days, 9 Sundals series. We are making a different Sundal for each day of Navratri, from Channa and Pattani to Pachai Payaru, Mochai and Karamani.

See all 9 Navratri Sundal Recipes ->

Next: White Karamani Sundal ->