I think this post would define what this blog is all about! Its just not about recipes, but about everything that is concerned with food.
This post is the one which I wrote for sending it to a popular tamil magazine, but didn't for no-reason at all! I think it is destined to have its place here, after all!
Here goes the translation of my article. But I have baptised this post with the same name I had given to the article 2.5 years ago....
"Horse-gram?, to cook?" "Is it not the one that is fed for horses?" These are the common questions that arise from people when they read the topic!
My mom used to make awesome 'kollu rasam' from where my inspiration for 'kollu' started. Kollu or horse-gram, as it is called in English, is a lentil which has near-magical properties.
"What makes horse-gram so special? It is after all a lentil!"
Before giving the answer straight-away, I have to explain certain things here. The food we consume gets digested to release energy for our bodily day-today activities. The unspent energy and the fat we consume gets stored as fat or lipid molecules in the tissues of our body. These 'fatty' tissues are called as adipose tissues. It doesn't stop there! The excess fat starts to clog the arteries and veins that supply and take away blood to/from the heart, starts forming inner and outer lining of all the internal organs thus hampering their functions, in serious cases causing organ failures! The fat molecules are very difficult to disintegrate. Thats why too much fat consumption is an absolute no-no! Overweight or obese individuals are required to work their socks out to reduce their plump, because of the above mentioned reason. When doing work-outs, the lipids stored in the tissues start to disintegrate/break-down for the release of energy for physical activity, thus reducing the weight.
Okay, let me answer the question now!
Yes, horse-gram is a lentil. The thing that sets horse-gram apart from the others is, its thick jacket, which it wears proudly, boasting off its uniqueness. The jacket is so thick that it does not get cooked unless it is soaked for atleast 8-10 hrs, or through the night. When it is consumed, the thick jacket is the toughest to break-down. It just fights back as a brave warrior would, bringing down the fat molecules, stored in the adipose tissues along with it!
"Am I hearing it correctly? Will mere consumption of horse gram reduce weight then?"
Er.... Well! Yes.. but gradually, over a period of time. It acts as a catalyst in the weight loss, when combined with physical exercise. It not only aids in reducing weight, it breaks down the villainous lipids in the body.
The other thing about horse-gram is, it is highly rich in protein and iron. The high protein content, makes it very nutritious to eat for people who maintain normal weight too.
"Oh!.... then I have to make a sacrifice and tie my wagging tongue for sometime to do this!"
Nah!.... I bet you will experience no or little or enhanced difference in taste. Your tongue can wag even stronger!
So having given a green signal to horse-gram, let us ignite the fuel of our creativity here and list out the various recipes that can be made using horse-gram. The below mentioned ideas are just starters! Other recipes are always welcome!
1.) When making 'milagai podi ' (some call it gun powder!!! :)) Dunno for what reasons though!),for dosas and idlis, replace the full measure of chana dal or kadalai paruppu with half the measure of chana dhal (kadalai paruppu) and half the measure of kollu.
2.) When making the batter for adai, add a handful of soaked kollu (8-10 hrs soaking mandatory) with other lentils and grind. Adai will have a better and improved flavour, crispiness and taste! What more do you want?
3.) Instead of adding thoor dhal /thuvaram paruppu for rasam, soaked kollu can be used to make it an awesome 'kollu rasam'.
4.) Do you have a habit of eating sprouts for breakfast in the morning? Add a handful of soaked horse gram to it!
5.) Dhal fry and yummy! Made for each other! Add a handful of soaked horse-gram to the mixture of dhals and then cook it in the same way! People will ask for your new recipe of dhal fry!
6.) When making paruppu podi too, a proportion of kollu can be added to it!
In the above mentioned ideas, wherever I have said 'soaked' it means soaked for 8-10 hours!
I think this article will be an inspiration for us to cook much healthily and lead a better life!
Happy cooking!
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