Sweet Corn Sundal | Easy Corn Sundal

A sundal recipe is one of the most apt dishes during Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri festivals, though it can be made as a quick fix on regular days as well. These are basically a dry preparation of a variety of legumes, a special from South India. This is a Sweet Corn Sundal, wherein steamed sweet corn is tempered with a handful of spices and finished with a generous sprinkle of fresh coconut. Easy, gets cooked in 5 minutes, tasty and vegan as well.

About Sweet Corn Sundal

At home, a sundal recipe is quite the favorite of us all. Personally, for me, it is also a great dish because it is really fuss-free, yet is brimming with flavors, textures and nutrition that comes with the pulses that are used to make it.

The spice list is also a basic South Indian, and you really don’t have to sit worrying how to source any of it, and from where. All of it is readily available across households and even in the market.

A sundal recipe for me is quite varied at home. I mean, I don’t really stick to making this dish with just one kind of main ingredient. It can range from the most popular legumes and lentils to even peas, peanuts and corn. In fact, this Sweet Corn Sundal is an absolute favorite one.

To prepare Sweet Corn Sundal, you will need steamed corn. And this is the only element which takes about 15 minutes. Keep this in place and finish off with your dish in flat 5 minutes. When using corn, keep in mind that if you are preparing the sundal for deities, use fresh corn and steam it.

This is what I did in my Sweet Corn Sundal recipe. I took fresh corn on cobs, steamed them and then sliced off the kernels. However, if you are preparing it for your family, then you can use tinned corn. The dish is equally good with it. Just like all other sundals, this one made with corn is also a great mid-day snack or a side dish in your meals.

Variations

In case you are looking for more sundal recipes, these are some that I have shared here:

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Sweet Corn Sundal

Boiling corn

1. Firstly, steam or boil 2 medium sized corn on cobs in a pressure cooker or pan. If using pressure cooker, add enough water covering the cobs. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles. Once cooled, slice off the kernels from the cob. You will need 2 cups corn kernels.

Making Sweet Corn Sundal

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. When the oil becomes medium-hot, lower the heat. Then, add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon split and husked black gram (urad dal).

3. Stir well. Let the mustard seeds crackle and the urad dal turn golden. Take care so that the urad dal does not burn.

4. Then, add 1 chopped green chili, 1 to 2 dried red chilies, 7 to 8 curry leaves and 1 pinch asafoetida (hing). Mix very well.

5. Add the boiled corn kernels.

6. Season with salt as per taste. Mix again very well.

7. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat.

8. Switch off the heat and add grated fresh coconut. Mix very well.

9. Serve Sweet Corn Sundal hot. If you want, you can garnish with some coriander leaves while serving.

More on sundal

Traditionally, a sundal is simply a South Indian style stir-fry which consists of lentils, legumes or grains. These are essentially tossed in a coconut oil tempering consisting of typical South Indian spices, dals and curry leaves. At the end, it is garnished with a good quantity of freshly grated coconut which acts as a cohesive factor, bringing the flavors together and imparting an earthy feel to it.

A classic sundal is also made without onion and garlic, has satvik ingredients and can be cooked really quickly. Hence, it is a preferred choice of dish in the fasting or vrat season during religious festivals like Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi and more. It is a popular side dish/snack in Tamil Nadu, where it also features as a ‘prasadam’ during the festival of Bommai Golu.

In simple terms, ‘cooked pulses’ is what sundal is. Just like this Sweet Corn Sundal, a sundal recipe has many varieties and can be made from white or black chickpeas, horse gram, kidney beans, black eyed beans, green gram, Bengal gram, green peas, peanuts and the likes. 

A sundal recipe is also one of the simplest ways you can prepare an energy giving and wholesome dish within minutes. Because of the usual ingredients used in this particular dish, it has an impressive nutrition profile and is really beneficial for the health.

More Corn Recipes To Try!

Moderate • 50 minutes mins

Snacks Recipes

Corn Cutlet | Corn Patties

Moderate • 25 minutes mins

Snacks Recipes

Buttered Corn

Moderate • 20 minutes mins

Snacks Recipes

Corn Chaat Recipe | Sweet Corn Chaat

Easy • 25 minutes mins

Salad Recipes

Corn Salad

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This Sweet Corn Sundal Recipe from the archives was first published in April 2017. It has been updated and republished in March 2024.