Ulava Charu Recipe - Spicy Andhra Horse Gram Rasam

Ulava Charu Recipe is a super healthy South Indian Horse Gram Rasam/ Curry made South Indian style, where the horse gram is boiled and dunked in a delicious coconut red chilli gravy, that's absolutely lip smacking. Best goes with some ragi mudde or even piping hot steamed rice.

Archana's Kitchen
Ulava Charu Recipe - Spicy Andhra Horse Gram Rasam
13048 ratings.

Ulava Charu Recipe is a authentic Andhra recipe where you cook the horse gram in a rasam form.  The Horse gram is cooked by itself in a pressure cooker and then immersed in a flavourful onion, tomato and coconut base not to forget the red chillies that lend the apt amount of heat into this dish. 

Did you know:  Horse gram contains the highest protein content of any lentil in the world. This grain is fed to horses to keep them energetic and maintain weight, hence the namesake. Horse Gram is also rich in iron and calcium among other nutrients. It is a poor man's food as it provides a lot of energy for a small portion consumed. It is a drought tolerant crop that can be grown in a low rainfall area and even on rain-fed dry agricultural lands. 

Serve Ulava charu along with Soft & Delicious Ragi Mudde Recipe and a dollop of ghee over this meal. Alternatively you can also serve it along with some piping hot steamed rice, Carrot and Beans poriyal for a a complete meal.  

Here are few more Karnataka Specials which you can try at your home.

  1. Rava Rotti Recipe
  2. Khara Avalakki Recipe
  3. Karnataka Style Set Dosa Recipe

Course: Lunch
Diet: High Protein Vegetarian
Equipments Used: Hard Anodised Kadai (Wok)
Prep in

10 M

Cooks in

30 M

Total in

40 M

Makes:

2 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Horse Gram Dal (Kollu/ Kulith) , uncooked
  • To make the Charu Masala
  • 1 Onion , chopped
  • 1 Tomato , chopped
  • 1 Green Chillies
  • 3 Dry Red Chillies
  • 1/3 cup Fresh coconut , grated
  • Curry leaves , handful
  • 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • Salt , to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Oil
  • For the tadka
  • 1 teaspoon Oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 2 sprig Curry leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon White Urad Dal (Split)
  • 1 Dry Red Chilli

How to make Ulava Charu Recipe - Spicy Andhra Horse Gram Rasam

  1. To begin with the Ulava Charu Recipe, wash and soak the horse gram overnight.

  2. The next morning, transfer the soaked and drained horse gram into a pressure cooker with 1 cup of water, for 4-5 whistles. Ensure the horse gram is boiled well.

  3. Turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally. Open the pressure cooker and set the boiled horse gram aside. 

To make the masala for the Ulava Charu 
  1. In a mixer jar, combine the coconut, onion, tomatoes, curry leaves red chillies, green chillies, salt, turmeric powder and grind into a paste using some water. 

  2. In a heavy bottom pan, heat oil and add the freshly ground masala for the Ulava Charu. Cook this masala for about 6-8 minutes stirring constantly.

  3. When the oil begins to come to the surface, add the horse gram along with its water. Let the Ulava Charu boil for about 5-6 minutes. Check the salt and seasonings

  4. Transfer Ulava Charu into a serving bowl. 

  5. Heat a tadka pan with oil on medium heat; add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter, next add the the urad dal and allow it to turn into a light brown colour. 

  6. To this add the curry leaves and dry red chilli and once the curry leaves crackle, turn off the heat and pour it over the Ulava charu. 

  7. Serve Ulava charu along with Soft & Delicious Ragi Mudde Recipe and a dollop of ghee over this meal. Alternatively you can also serve it along with some piping hot steamed riceCarrot and Beans poriyal for a complete meal..