Masala peanuts or congress kadalekai

Iyengar Bakeries in Bangalore are famous for Congress Kadlekai or Masala peanuts. I was addicted to this yummy nutty spicy snack during my growing up days!

One famous story states that following the split of the Congress Party in 1969, the peanuts came to be called Congress, in a parody of the split, as the peanuts were always split to make this snack.

When my friend Prathibha got me some of this home made snack, I was nostalgic, had to make it!

INGREDIENTS:

• 500 gms Peanuts roasted, husked and halved

• 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder

• 1 tsp pepper powder

• 1 tsp hing powder

• 6 gms salt

• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

• 3 sprigs curry leaves minced

• 1 1/2 tbsp sunflower oil

METHOD:

• Heat oil in a pan

• When oil is hot, add minced curry leaves, fry for 2-3 mins until crisp

• Add spices, mix and switch off the heat, [10 secs max] you don’t want the spices to burn

• Add the roasted peanuts and mix well. Taste and adjust spice and salt

• Let it cool before storing it in an air tight container