Udhaiyam Roasted Chana/Daria (Pottukadalai) 500g

Udhaiyam Roasted Chana, sold as daria or pottukadalai, is split chickpeas that have already been roasted, so they need no cooking at all. They are dry, crisp and mild, and in South Indian cooking they do a job no other ingredient does: ground into chutney, they thicken it without water and without cooking.

Best for

• Coconut chutney for idli and dosa
• Ladoo and sweets, ground to flour
• Snack mixtures, sundal and eating plain by the handful

How to cook it

For chutney, grind two tablespoons with coconut, green chilli and a little water; add it a spoon at a time, as it thickens quickly and is hard to loosen again without thinning the flavour. For ladoo, grind it to a fine flour first and sieve out the coarse bits. It needs no roasting or soaking, so it can go straight into a mixture or on top of a dish for crunch.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container so they stay crisp.