Kollu Thoran/Sundal/Chundal (Horsegram With Coconut)

Kollu Thoran/Sundal

Kollu Thoran/Sundal/Chundal is a delicious and delightful dish. This homey chundal is an everyday recipe and not served for festivals or special occasions. 

I love savory chundals any time of the day; as snacks or part of a meal. Most whole beans or split legumes may also be used to make chundals, like one of my all time favorite brown chick pea chundal. Dried peas and split legume chundals taste great with a squeeze of lime/lemon.

Although traditionally chundals are made with unsprouted dried legumes, I like to make them with sprouts also. If you have sprouts on hand, it takes just a few minutes to make nutritious and delicious chundal. 

NOTE: Do reserve the cooking broth for making delicious Kollu Rasam; it is an awesome treat and so worth the few minutes it takes to make it! 

4 to 6 Servings of about 1/2 cup each

Ingredients:

1 cup dried Kollu (Horsegram), soaked and/or Sprouted

1/2 tsp salt or to taste

1 pinch Turmeric

Thalippu/Tadka:

1 Tbsp Oil

2 dry Hot Red Chiles, broken in half

1 Tbsp Urad Dal (Optional)

1 sprig Fresh Curry Leaves, finely sliced

1 pinch Asafoetida

2 Tbsp Fresh Coconut, cut into small pieces about the size of corn kernels or shredded

Method:

Sort to pick out foreign objects such as stones and debris, wash, and soak for about 6 hours or overnight in plenty of fresh water in a large bowl or container. Drain, rinse and add fresh water to cover. Bring to a boil, and simmer until soft but not mushy. A pressure cooker makes the cooking very quick. Drain and cool; do reserve the broth for Kollu Rasam or other soups - it is a rich source of soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

If using sprouted beans, cook them in water as mentioned above or steam or just use raw with the seasonings and cook for a few minutes longer until done.

Heat oil in a large kadai (Indian wok) or skillet and add the mustard seeds, urad dal and red chiles. When the mustard starts to pop and the dal is turning pink, stir in asafoetida. Quickly add the coconut pieces, the curry leaves, and the cooked kollu or the raw sprouts along with the salt. Heat stirring for a few minutes until dry and well mixed. (Add a pinch of turmeric if using raw sprouts and cook until tender with a sprinkle of two of water).

Remove the chiles before serving so no one chews on them inadvertently; chiles, other whole spices, or even curry leaves are not generally eaten unless the diner specifically wishes to do so.

Serve hot, warm or at room temperature with rice, breads, curries, etc or as a snack. Enjoy!!