| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 230 | 3.5g | 0.5g | 38g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 8g | 11g | 13g | 0.75g |
When it comes to heartwarming dishes, nothing matches the invigorating experience of indulging in a hearty bowl of Horse Gram Soup. This vegetable based recipe is quite a departure from my usual fare of seafood and chowders, but it’s one that I have come to appreciate for its comforting flavors and nourishing ingredients. With the slightest touch of heat from the green chilies and a robust mix of spices, it’s a bowl of well-rounded, fulfilling goodness.
A Nutritious Twist to Your Regular Soup
The horse gram, an underrated yet protein-packed lentil, is the star of this soup. Its nutritional benefits are substantial, making it a good source of iron, calcium, and protein. Paired with other wholesome ingredients like onions, tomatoes, garlic, and a hint of spices like turmeric and red chili powder, this soup isn’t just a delight for the taste buds; it also fortifies the body with essential nutrients.
A Tapestry of Flavors
What I absolutely love about Horse Gram Soup is its tantalizing play of flavors. Imagine the earthiness of horse gram mingling with the zest of lemon juice and fresh cilantro, all wrapped in a warm spicy hug of turmeric, cumin, and mustard seeds—there’s an interesting palette of tastes with each spoonful. Those who enjoy a bit of heat would find the kick from the green chilies a delightful contrast to the soup’s inherently comforting flavor.
Horse Gram Soup shares delicious similarities with other staple soups like lentil or split pea, but it retains its own unique appeal. And because of its hearty nature, it lends itself well to several meal plans. It could easily be paired with rosemary beef on french bread for a protein-packed meal, or wilted spinach salad with warm bacon vinaigrette for a diverse yet healthy dinner.
The Horse Gram Soup prompted me to step out of my seafood comfort zone, and it was nothing short of being a wonderfully rewarding culinary adventure. Enjoy making it and relish every spoonful just as much as I do.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup Horse Gram
- 6 cups Water
- 1 large Onion, finely chopped
- 2 large Tomatoes, finely chopped
- 2 Green Chilies, finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
- 1 inch Ginger, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh Cilantro, chopped as garnish
- 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
Method
Step One
Soak the horse gram in water overnight or for at least 6 hours. This will make it easier to cook and digest.
Step Two
Drain the soaked horse gram and add it to a pressure cooker. Add 6 cups of water and cook for about 20 minutes or until the horse gram is completely cooked and soft. Usually, it should be done in about 4-5 whistles.
Step Three
In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add mustard seeds and once they start to splutter, add the cumin seeds.
Step Four
Add the finely chopped garlic, ginger, and green chilies. Stir for about a minute and then add the finely chopped onions. Cook until the onions turn golden brown.
Step Five
Then, add the finely chopped tomatoes along with salt and turmeric. Stir well and cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy.
Step Six
Add red chili powder and stir well. Now, add the cooked horse gram along with the cooking water and bring it to a boil.
Step Seven
Let the soup simmer for about 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning if needed.
Step Eight
Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Stir well to combine everything together.
Step Nine
Finally, garnish the Horse Gram Soup with fresh cilantro and serve hot. Enjoy!
