Molake Hurali Kaalu Saaru

Horse gram is probably my favorite pulse! I just love it. We were told during our younger days that high bred race horses were fed this gram because of their nutrition value. We readily ate the story up. Wonder how far it is true in today's world. However it is undoubtedly a wholesome food and what better way to enjoy it than in a curry over hot steaming rice and a dollop of butter!!!

We will need,

Horse Gram 1 cup
Potatoes 4-5 small cut into chunks
Eggplant 4-5 tender ones cut into bite sized pieces
Onion 1
Coconut 1/4 cup
Tomato 1
Red Chillies 7 and above  (toasted on a dry skillet)
Dhania 2 tbsp (toasted on a dry skillet)
Ginger crushed 1 tbsp
Garlic crushed 1 tbsp
Turmeric a pinch
Mustard 1 teaspoon
Ghee 1 tbsp
Butter a few tbsps
Salt
Clove 6-10
Cinnamon 1/4 inch

Method

• To sprout the Horse Gram soak it in water over night. The following morning drain thoroughly and wash a couple of time in running water. Tie it in a damp cloth in a warm place and sit it for a day. After a day check if the seeds are germinating. If they have sprouted well, you can use it right away. If not sit it for one more day, just make sure that the cloth is not dry.
• When you have the sprouts ready prepare for the curry. Pressure cook the sprouted horse gram in plenty of water till tender and keep it aside.
• Combine onion, garlic, ginger,clove,Cinnamon, dhania and Chillies in a blender and grind it into a fine paste. Separately, grind the coconut and tomato into a smooth paste.
• Heat ghee in a pan. Add the mustard and turmeric. Once the spluttering stops stir in the ground onion mixture. Cook till the raw smell disappears, say 20 minutes. Add the coconut-tomato paste and the potatoes and eggplants, followed by the cooked horse gram. Adjust the salt and cook till the vegetables are tender and the curry is fragrant and well combined. Add more water in between if the curry thickens too much.
• Serve it hot with steamed rice and dollops of butter.