
Kumbakonam Kadappa is a tasty side dish for Idlis, Dosas, Pooris and Chappathi. It is famous in the Kumbakonam belt and Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. Kumbakonam Kadappa is a very easy to make side dish loaded with spices, fennel and vegetables like onion and tomato in coconut based gravy. I have tasted this many times during my visits to Kumbakonam for our family deity visits annually. It can be made well under 15 minutes and is quite filling .This recipe uses very minimal ingredients for the making and does not require a lengthy procedure to make. We all are used to tasting our tiffin varieties with sambhar and chutney, this recipe will be a nice change to break the monotony of your taste buds. You can try avoiding fennel, if you don’t like it. But it infuses a fragrance and flavour which is so unique to this delightful and delicious recipe.
There are one or two variations of Kumbakonam Kadappa, with an addition or deletion of one or more ingredients. But the basics of the dish are same. Each and every district has its own speciality and the method of preparing it might slightly vary. I have used a simple method here where in with the available ingredients at home, you can easily win hearts of your family members. The masala and the spices used for the recipe is mild.But it imparts a typical country touch to your dish and enhances the main dish so immensely. This dish is very common in Tamil Nadu. But I am not sure whether it is available throughout the restaurants in the country . Nevertheless, do try out this simple recipe and share your feedback with me. I will be trying to post many heirloom recipes as well, which are long forgotten , yet simply outstanding.

Prep Time | 5 minutes |
Cook Time | 10 minutes |
Servings |
persons
|
- 2 number Potatoes
- 1 number onion
- 1/4 cup moong dal
- 2 number Gren Chilles
- 1 number Bay Leaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- To Taste salt
- 2 tsp Oil
- A few coriander leaves
- 2 tsp Roasted Gram
- 2 tsp Grated Coconut
- 1 number green chilli
- 1/2 tsp Fennel Seeds
Ingredients
TO GRIND
|
![]() |
- Boil moong dal and potatoes in seperate containers in a pressure cooker.
- Once cooked peel the potatoes and mash it well. Mash moong dal as well.
- Add the ingredients given in the to grind table, in a blender.
- Grind nicely by adding a little water.
- In a pan add oil, mustard seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick ,green chilli, chopped onion and curry leaves.
- Fry till onion turns translucent.
- Add mashed moong dal and potato mixture.
- Boil for 5 minutes.
- Add salt.
- Add the ground paste.
- Boil for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves.
- Enjoy hot idlis with Kumbakonam Kadappa.
You can add tomatoes . if you want.
Adjust the chillies as per your taste.
Mash moong dal well before adding it to the mixture.
Traditional recipes are always good.
Yes Shobana, indeed.