Kollu Paruppu | Horse gram Kadaiyal

Kollu kadaiyal is one of my favorite lentils. This is Kongu cuisine. Weekly once Kollu (horse gram) or paasi payir (green gram) is must in my home from my childhood. So mostly on Friday we prepare this. Not only in my home also in many of my friends home. Kollu is very good for people who are trying to reduce weight. There is a saying in Tamil, “Elachavanuku Ellu, Koluthavanuku Kollu” – sesame seeds for thin person to gain weight and horse gram for Fat person to lose weight. If you don’t like to use plain Kollu then you can make powder and keep. Use a tsp of Kollu powder in all your curries and gravies. It won’t change the taste of your gravy. Kollu helps to maintain body temperature as well.

Let see how to make this healthy and tasty lentil.

Ingredients:

Horse gram/Kollu - 1 cup

Shallots/chinna vengayam – 20 peeled

Cumin seeds/Jeera – 1 tsp

Garlic – 7 cloves

Red Chili– 5

Coriander seeds– 1 tbsp

Salt as needed

Curry leaves

Oil – 1 tsp

Method:

Soak the horse gram for 5 hours or overnight. This step is to make the cooking process easy and reduce fuel consumption as well to cook.

Keep all the ingredients ready.

First cook the horse gram for 10 whistles adding 3 cups of water, little oil and curry leaves.

Once the pressure subsides, drain the water completely and keep separately for rasam.

Now heat oil in a pan.

Add garlic, onion, red chillies and curry leaves.

Add jeera/cumin and coriander seeds. Fry well till the onion changes to golden slightly.

Switch off the flame and wait for some time

Take the fried items in a blender. Add required salt.

Grind it coarsely giving 1 or 2 pulse. Don’t make it smooth paste.

Now add the cooked horse gram and grind coarsely.

Transfer to serving bowl.

Wow.. My favorite koolu paruppu kadaiyal is ready to serve.

Serve with hot steamed rice and Kollu Rasam

Note:

You can add tomato with onion if you wish. But in the authentic style, no tomato required.