Muthira Thoran

Recipe for Muthira thoran / Kerala style horse gram stir fry - a great side dish for rice porridge/Kanji.

Ingredients

Muthira / Horse gram ~ 1 cup
Grated coconut ~ 1 cup
Turmeric powder ~ 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilly / Unakka mulaku ~ 1 no
Whole black peppercorns / Kurumulaku ~ 1 tsp
Garlic ~ 2 cloves
Cumin seeds ~ 1/2 tsp
Shallots / Kochu ulli ~ 2 nos
Mustard seeds / Kaduku ~ 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves
Oil ~ 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method

Wash the horse gram and soak it in water for at least 5 hours. Cook horse gram by adding salt and 3 to 4 cups of water in an Indian pressure cooker till 4 whistles and keep the pressure cooker aside for the pressure to release automatically. When the pressure is fully released, drain the horse gram using a colander.

Grind coarsely grated coconut, cumin seeds, dry red chilly, turmeric powder, peppercorns, garlic and shallots. Note: 3-4 pulses in mixer grinder would be enough.

Next heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, when it crackles, add curry leaves followed by ground coconut. Fry the coconut mixture for 1 to 2 minutes in low flame. Finally add drained horse gram and mix it nicely and cook it covered in a low flame for about 5 minutes and uncovered for about 5-10 minutes. Finally adjust the salt, if its needed and then remove from the flame.

Enjoy with Kanji / Rice.