Ulavacharu
A horse gram-based lentil curry or rasam popular in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Ulavacharu is a traditional thick lentil soup from the Andhra and Telangana regions of India. It is made using horse gram (ulava in Telugu), a highly nutritious legume, along with a blend of spices and herbs. The name Ulavacharu is derived from the Telugu words ulava (horse gram) and charu (rasam or soup).
Ingredients[edit | edit source]
- 1 cup horse gram (ulava)
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
- 4-5 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 2 green chilies, slit
- 1/4 cup tamarind extract
- 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 cups water
- Curry leaves
Recipe[edit | edit source]
Step 1: Soak and cook horse gram[edit | edit source]
- Soak the horse gram in water for 6-8 hours or overnight. Drain the water and rinse the horse gram thoroughly.
- In a pressure cooker, add the soaked horse gram with 2 cups of water. Cook until the horse gram is tender but not mushy (usually 4-5 whistles on medium heat).
- Once the pressure cooker cools down, separate the cooked horse gram and the stock. Keep both aside.
Step 2: Prepare the spice mix[edit | edit source]
- In a pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft.
- Add the crushed garlic and slit green chilies. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and black pepper powder. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down. Once cooled, blend it into a smooth paste.
Step 3: Make the Ulavacharu[edit | edit source]
- In a deep pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida. Let them splutter.
- Add curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds.
- Add the spice paste and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked horse gram and mix well.
- Add the horse gram stock and tamarind extract. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Lower the heat and let the Ulavacharu simmer for 10-12 minutes.
- Add salt to taste and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serving[edit | edit source]
Ulavacharu is best served hot with steamed rice or roti. It can also be enjoyed as a standalone soup.
Variations[edit | edit source]
Ulavacharu Biryani: A popular variant of the dish, Ulavacharu Biryani, is made by combining cooked rice with the Ulavacharu and additional spices. Ulavacharu with Vegetables: You can add vegetables like drumsticks, radish, or carrots to the Ulavacharu for added nutrition and flavor.
Health Benefits[edit | edit source]
Horse gram is known for its numerous health benefits, which include:
- High protein content: Horse gram is a rich source of plant-based protein, making it an ideal ingredient for vegetarian and vegan diets.
- Low glycemic index: Horse gram has a low glycemic index, making it suitable for people with diabetes.
- Weight management: The high fiber content in horse gram aids digestion and helps in weight management.
- Antioxidant properties: Horse gram contains powerful antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation and preventing various diseases.
Note: you can also add vegetables like drumsticks, bottle gourd, and eggplant to make it more nutritious.
This article is part of the series on |
Indian cuisine |
---|
|
See Also[edit | edit source]
Diet | Weight loss | Obesity | Metabolic syndrome | Glossary of dietary supplements
Also see[edit source]
External links[edit source]
This article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by registering to expand it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD