Monday, October 20, 2008

Kollu Chutney and Kollu Kulambu!

I used to love those 'Love is....' comic strips in the morning newspaper. Still do. I wish I could get my daily dose of those comic strips now in email. Anybody know of a source? Anyway, here's my attempt at a 'Love is....'

Love is being served with a plateful of kollu chutney, kollu kulambu, rasam and rice when you have a bad cold and can't think straight and when everything else tastes like mud.
:)

If you are from Kongu region or have friends from that region [Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tirupur and nearby areas] , you must have eaten or at least heard of Kollu Chutney. Though it is called a chutney, it is more like a Thuvaiyal - very thick and is mixed with rice and a dollop of ghee and eaten piping hot. It is almost always made as a first course followed by kollu rasam as the next course. Very hot and spicy - kollu rasam is a great cure for colds and coughs. Kollu also known as Horsegram/Ulavallu/ Kulti / Kulith / Muthira Hurulikalu etc is a very nutritious legume.

I was looking at IndoSunGod's kollu chutney and it brought back memories from home and I set out to make it the way Amma makes. The ingredients are the same as Indo's, except for the addition of curry leaves and my mom's recipe mentions not to roast the onions, garlic, spices etc and grind them raw for a more intense flavor.


Kollu Chutney
Kollu - pressure cooked with 3 garlic pods - 1 cup
Red Onion - 1/2, chopped
Fresh curry leaves - 10-12 [or frozen like this]
Black Pepper - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Tamarind - 1/2 inch piece
Red chillies - 1 [optional. I usually omit this one]

Strain the water from the pressure cooked kollu and use it to make kollu rasam. Grind everything together coarsely. If you need water, add some of the water kept aside for kollu rasam. Do not add too much water. It should have the consistency like the picture above.

Serve with hot rice and a dollop of ghee. And of course, thank me!
Kollu Kulambu
After XII std, when we were preparing for our engineering entrance exams, a friend Suba and me used to have lunch at Suba's grandparent's place everyday, after the classes were over. Her grandma is an amazing cook and was so full of love. She'd stand next to us and serve one thing after the other, till we were too full to move. You couldn't refuse that kind of love. And the food! It was the best I ever had! One day, she had made kollu chutney and a kollu kulambu. I was used to the kollu chutney at home, but the kulambu was totally something! Tangy, thick, and finger licking good and with LOTS of onions giving a slight hint of sweetness! After having this at her place, I couldn't take my mind off that kulambu and tried recreating this, the same weekend. My mom was darn impressed too! It turned out pretty good, but just short of her 50 yrs of cooking experience. ;) Ah, well, I'll get there some day!



Kollu Kulambu
Kollu - pressure cooked with 3 garlic pods - 1 cup
Garlic pods - 4, chopped
Onion - 2, finely chopped
Curry leaves - 5
Asafoetida - a pinch
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Tamarind - lemon size, soak in hot water and extract pulp

Red chilli powder -1/2 tsp
Jaggery/sugar - 1/2 tsp, not more

Salt - to taste


Put the boiled kollu in the blender and just pulse a minute or two, so the beans break down a bit, but not mushy. It should not become a paste, the beans should like they are broken into halves. Keep this aside.

Heat oil in a sauce pan and add mustard seeds. When they pop, add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. Add the onions, garlic and curry leaves and saute for a few mins. Add the tamarind pulp and let it boil for 10 mins. Add the kollu mixture, red chilli powder, salt to this tangy sauce. Add water if necessary. Let it cook together for 5-10 mins. Add the jaggery and stir well. Remove from flame and serve with hot steamed rice and a dollop of ghee.


44 comments:

indosungod said...

Running noses are starting and this post reminded of just the remedy. MIL used to say her MIL used to cook kollu chutney the way you have done with raw onions.

The Kollu Kulambu is another matter altogether, I have never had this one and will try it tomorrow, already done with lunch for today :)

anudivya said...

I have heard of Kollu before, but not chutney or kolambu made of it.
This is one super-healthy food.

Anonymous said...

kay my maternal grandmother used to make the kozhumbhu, got to ask my aunts if they have her recipe! btw kay just curious, have you tried baking bread with atta flour, if so pls can you share your recipe pls??:)
paati

Kay said...

Indo, wow! you sure are super efficient, unlike me.. it's 11.55 AM and your lunch is ready... Maybe I'll learn from you.

Divya, yep, superhealthy... If we make Top ten Indian super foods, this kollu would be one among that I guess.

Paati, sure get your paati's recipe please..I'd love to give it a try.

I have baked banana bread, muffins - basically all sorts of quick breads with WW Atta with GREAT results. BUT on the breadmachine, I used it just once with a sweet bread recipe and it didn't work out. It was just barely edible. I still have to use my tried and tested recipe with WW Atta to see if it works.. will keep you posted if any of my recipes with WW Atta works.

Alak said...

Kollu kulambu is mouth watering. can you please send me one pack home :)

sra said...

Kay, I've seen kollu chutney only in the blogs. However, in the parts I come from, among the agricultural communities, horsegram is used to make a very, very thick, smoked gravy that is highly prized - called ulava charu - and it's eaten with cream and rice. Thanks for the entry!

Sharmi said...

I have heard of kollu. Don't know where to find it and how to cook. recipe looks delicious. So many events going on. want to participate but no time:(

Kay said...

Alak, how about you come over? and I'll make it again for you.

Sra, I'm so interested in reading about the smoked ulavu charu that you told me about.

Sharmi, You'll have all the time in the world to participate in all the events pretty soon... now just relax and enjoy your time with the little one.

Rajesh &Shankari said...

Kay - we moved to salem many years ago and I used to have kollu chutney and kozhambu at a friend's place. I was just telling my friend in salem the other day to get the recipe from her mom. I guess I dont need it anymore ;)

Kay said...

Shankari, welcome here! This kollu chutney might be too intense with all the raw stuff. If your original chutney was a bit mild, then Indo's recipe might be the way to go.

It's really cool to meet a fellow blogger who is from Salem. :)

Recipeswap said...

The Kollu Kulambu looks so good.

indosungod said...

Kay, I tried this kollu kulambu finally and it tasted really good. I am not going near the chutney for a while now, love this one so.

Kay said...

Thanks n33ma.

Indo, I'm so glad you liked it. :)

Yasmeen said...

Spices sure do the magic of clearing the sinuses! I'd love to eat such spicy food even when sick and blue :)

Malar Gandhi said...

Kollu kuzhambu sounds perfect to me. I have already soaked them...maybe I 'll fix ur recipe today! Btn....got something for you in my blog dear...please trail back to me.

Alak said...

loved this kulambu. Finally tried this recipe and I simply loved it :) Great.....

Kay said...

Totally true, Yasmeen! meeeee too!

Thanks Malar! You give me, this real lazy blogger, award after award! :) You are just too kind!

Alak, now you are talking! So glad you like it!

Anonymous said...

kay dropped in to say ' thank you ':) , for she has finally removed my posts & i will start posting tomorrow, thank you once again dear for your support:)
paati

Kay said...

You are so welcome, Paatima!

Malar Gandhi said...

Dear Kay, I have an Award waiting for you in my blog....plz trail back to me.

Kay said...

Awwwww! Malar... Thanks!! you keep giving me awards after awards...

Maybe this is your way of telling me to get off my butt and start posting? :) lol.. thanks for thinking of me.

Raks said...

My mom says kollu helps a lot in reducing excess fat,thanx for sharing the recipes!

Kay said...

Rak's kitchen, I've heard this one too. My theory is that it generates body heat and thereby reduces fat?!

Anonymous said...

Hey Kay ..this is Meenal...hope you are doing well, thanks for your comment on my blog:))

DK said...

I have been trying hard to get my hands on those in the local shops with no success! Guess as soon as i get them will try these :)

Mrs. K said...

Kay! Happy New Year!!
Nothing new for the new year? :D

Kay said...

So good to see back to blogging, Meenal!

DK, I have started seeing these in the nearest desi shop very recently and was surprised. Keep looking, you never know when they'll pop up and surprise you too!

RP!!! What a surprise! Happy New year to you too! I have lot of posts pending... gotta food-blog again aoon. :)

sra said...

Happy New Year, Kay!

Kay said...

Thanks and Happy New Year to you, SRA!

Sig said...

Dear Kay, just wanted to wish you and family a joyful 2009! Take care!

Kay said...

Thanks and Happy New Year to you, Sig!

FH said...

So good to see you back, I thought you stopped forever. Great to these Hurulikalu dishes,I LOVE it.Thanks! :))

Happy new year. Good to be back too.

Bong Mom said...

Dear Kay

A fantastic New Year wish

comes your way

it rhymed too

yehhhh....

BTW you are MIA too

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Could you post a picture of kollu so we can look for it in the indian stores ?

Thanks a lot

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

hi first time here n must say u got a real nice place.

will visit often :)

Kay said...

Thanks Asha! so good to see you back too! Hurulikalu, eh? I'll update my list of regional names of kollu. Thanks!

Thanks Sandeepa! Sure, will start posting again...soon!

Anon, sure.. check this out.

Thanks Navita! Welcome here.

lubnakarim06 said...

Never heard of this before. Wow looks warm, comforting and yummy.

Pritya said...

Dear Kay, The way you have presented Kollu kulambu is so tempting. I am going to try this immediately. This looks like a fabulous diet food, that too with kollu sprouts! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Kay,

The recipes look great, but the photos of the finished product makes me drool!!

I'm going to have to convince The Home Minister to try them out.

Cheers,
Chetan

Kay said...

Thanks kitchenflavors, pritya and chetan!

Anonymous said...

hey,thats a rare but awesome dish it seems..yummy as well as healthy.thanks.

Elizabeth said...

I had to look up "kollu" to find out what it was.... It sounds very similar to dahl made with brown lentils - masoor dal?? (or am I way off base?) If I'm right, I can imagine how wonderful this would be even if you didn't have a bad cold!

-Elizabeth

P.S. Found kollu listed as "kulith" and "horse gram" in the Cook's Thesaurus:

http://www.foodsubs.com/Lentils.html

Kay said...

ejm, Yes, it is called kulith. Maybe the names were lost in the word jungle in my post before, :) I've highlighted it now.

It's really yummy. It does look a little like masoor but lighter in color. And even more flavorful. You can get it at most Indian//PAkistani/Punjabi stores.

PaakaPriya said...

Hi, This is my first time into your blog. Tried this recipe today and it was very delicious!!