Divine Congress Kadlaikai (peanuts) : ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಕಡಲೆಕಾಯಿ

Thanks for the recipe by our own realtor Girish Bangalore 

Ingredients:

1. Cups dry roasted split peanuts
2. Red chilli powder - 1 Tsp
3. Salt - 1 Tsp
4. Turmeric - 1 Tsp
5. Pepper - 1/2 Tsp
6. Asafoetida (hing) - 2tbsp
7. Curry Leaves - 20
8. Sugar - tbsp

Procedure: 

Step 1: Prepare the peanuts

Use 2 Cups dry roasted split peanuts (regular grocery stores carry it including Safeway). This will save you tons of time if you have to roast and split the peanuts yourself.

Step 2: Prepare the Masala

Add the Red chilli, Pepper, Turmeric, Salt into a bowl and mix well

Step 3: Make the Congress Kallekaayi

1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadai - do not heat the oil too much as it will burn your masala.
2. Add lots of hing (at least 2 tsp) and switch off the stove.
3. Add the Masala mixture and fry for a few seconds.
4. Add 20 curry leaves and mix
5. Now add the roasted peanuts and mix thoroughly. Switch the stove on for two minutes.
6. Add 1 tbsp of sugar and mix again.
7. Switch off the stove and you have to wait until the peanuts cool down completely before you store it in an airtight container.

Tips:

• I use 1.5 tsp of Red Chilli powder but most people might find that spicy. Hence I have suggested 1 tsp in my recipe. I recommend making it with 1 tsp the first time and then adjusting the amount of red chilli powder the next time to your taste.
  
• The secret to a bakery-standard congress peanuts lies in just one ingredient - The hing (Asafoetida). The quality of the hing you use makes all the difference to this recipe. Unfortunately, I have seen only LG brand Hing in the US. Using this brand will only give you okay-tasting congress. If you really want bakery standard, use SSP brand special hing from India. It is super expensive though. One small 10 gm box is Rs. 250. But it just changes the quality of your congress peanuts like you won't believe it!! If you are using SSP brand, then 1 tsp should be sufficient. Adjust according to your taste.