Kulith (Horse Gram) Usal

Hi there! How is everyone doing? Texas weather is really hot these days. Fortunately, mornings are still  pleasant for a walk. After enjoying my walk, I am ready to take care of my first baby. My blog! My 9 year old is not too fond of my blog baby. 

Today's recipe is a vegan, protein rich Marathi style Kulithachi Usal. Kulith is not so common in my kitchen. I cooked it after decades. Do give this a try if you like lentils.

Ingredients:

Kulith/Horse Gram/Hulga - 1/2 cup

Boiled Potato - 1 small (optional)

Red Onion - 1 big

Tomato - 2 medium

Garlic - 4 big cloves

Green Chili - 1

Black Pepper Powder - 1/4 tsp

Turmeric/Haldi - 1/8 tsp

Usal Masala - 1 tsp

Cumin Seeds/Jeera - 1 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Salt

How to cook Kulith Usal:

• Soak dry Kulith in plenty of water for about 2 hours. Wash soaked kulith well. Drain all the water and set it aside overnight or longer to sprout.
• Wash the sprouted Kulith well. Add 1 - 2 cups of water and cook it in a pressure cooker. Save the water used for cooking sprouts.
• Finely chop onion, tomato and green chili. Grate or finely chop garlic.
• Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. After a minute or so, add onions. Saute on medium heat until onions soften. Add grated garlic and saute for another minute.
• Add tomatoes, green chili and saute until tomatoes soften. Lower the heat and continue sauteeing until oil starts separating. 
• Now add all the seasonings - salt, turmeric, usal masala, black pepper. Saute at low heat for few seconds. 
• Lastly, add the cooked sprouts, chopped boiled potato and stir well. Depending on how thick or thin you want the usal to be, add water. You can use the water used for cooking sprouts too.

Taste for seasonings and garnish with cilantro. Serve Kulithachi Usal with Chapati, Rice or Pav. Enjoy!