Road side Mushroom chat (kaalan varuval)

This is the very famous road side snack in all over chennai. Many youngsters were addicted to this snack. We used to eat dis daily in our college days. They used to serve dis with the crispy corn. We can now see how to do this in home.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2cups water or 16oz vegetable stock
• Oil : 1tsp
• Onion : 1/2
• Dried  red chillies : 2
• Turmeric Powder : 1/4tsp
• Bay Leaf : 1
• Ginger : 1/4inch piece
• Garlic : 2cloves
• Whole spices ( Coriander Seeds : 1/2tbsp, 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder , small piece of mace, A small stick of cinnamon, 1 cardamom, 1 cloves, 1/4tsp black pepper corns, 1/4tsp Cumin, 1/4tsp Fennel ) or you can add 1/2tsp Garam Masala plus nutmeg powder (Secret ingredient)
• Salt 

Directions :  Add oil and add red chilies, whole spices, bay leaf and saute for one minute. Now add onion, ginger, garlic and saute till translucent. Add turmeric powder along with 4 cups of water / vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Now allow it to cool and drain. This is the base for your Kaalan. 

Step 2 - Prepare the Batter fried Mushrooms :

• Button Mushroom : 16oz box / 570g, finely chopped
• All Purpose Flour (Maida) : 1/2Cup
• Cornflour : 1/4cup
• Chilly powder : 1tsp 
• Turmeric powder : 1/4tsp
• Garam Masala : 1/2tsp
• Grated ginger / Crushed Ginger : 1/2inch piece
• Grated Garlic / Crushed Garlic : 3cloves
• Red Food color
• Egg : 1(optional)
• Lemon juice / Vinegar : 1tsp
• Salt
• Oil : 2tbsp *

Directions : Mix all ingredients except oil and mushrooms in a wide bowl. Add 1tbsp water(or more if you are not using egg) and make a batter to fry the mushrooms. Now add the mushrooms and combine well. Heat oil in a non stick pan and deep fry them.(*I used 2tbsp oil and shallow fried the mushrooms by spreading in one layer). Drain the excess oil using paper towel.

step 3 - Prepare the final thick Kalan :

• approximately 2 cups of drained  stock we prepared from step 1
• Onion : 1, finely chopped
• Green Chillies : 2 finely chopped
• Red chilly powder : 1tsp
• Garam Masala  / Eastern meat masala : 1tsp
• Coriander leaves : 1/4cup, finely chopped
• Salt 

METHOD:

1. Heat the same vessel from step 2 and add the fried mushrooms. 
2. Now add 1cup drained stock we prepared in step 1 and mix well with the mushrooms.
3. Using the spatula stir continuously ad scramble the fried mushrooms.
4. You should work quickly to separate the mushrooms and stir fry well. 
5. When the water is absorbed add the remaining 1cup stock and repeat the same process and your final result will be bite sized fried mushrooms with a soggy texture.
6. Make sure your Kaalan is not dry.
7. So Before the water evaporates, add remaining ingredients listed under Step 3 - and stir fry for one minute. 
8. Serve hot with some extra onions and coriander leaves on top.