5 Top Benefits & Side Effects Of Horse Gram (Kollu | Kulthi Dal)

Horse gram also popularly called Kollu, Kulthi Dal and Ulavalu in India is a regular part of Indian diet. It is rich in nutrients and has wonderful health benefits. We include kollu at least weekly twice in our diet, we regularly make kollu paruppu, kollu sundal and kollu rasam at home. Kollu paruppu mixed with rice and little bit of ghee is one my favourite meals.

What Is Horse Gram?

Horse gram is a type of legume and here in India, we can get kollu very cheaply everywhere. Horse gram is grown in many states of India and apart from India, it is widely used in countries like Malaysia and Sri Lanka too. We grow horse gram regularly in our farm as a manure crop. It is a perennial climbing plant, the seeds are brown in color and are found in pods.

In our village, we consume horse gram regularly during winters as it is considered a warming food. We also regularly keep consume it during rainy season too. Kollu rasam which is nothing but a soup made with horse gram is a popular home remedy for cold and cough and nothing is more comforting than a warm cup of kollu rasam when we are suffering from cold and cough.

Horse Gram Botanical & Common Names:

Horse Gram Nutrition:

Horse Gram Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses

1. Stabilizes Blood Sugar Levels:

2. For Reducing Cholesterol:

3. As a Cardio Protective Agent:

 5 Amazing Horse Gram (Kollu) Recipes:

I was given kollu regularly when I was young. Now I make it a point that my son has it too and I am happy to say, like me he also enjoys eating it. If you are looking for ways to lose weight naturally, I would strongly suggest including kollu in your diet at least weekly twice or thrice. I have given recipes using kollu that we make regularly at home, choose and try the ones that you like.

1. Horse Gram | Kollu Water For Weight Loss:

To make horse gram water, take horse gram in a bowl, add water and boil till done. Strain the water, add salt and your horse gram water is ready. You can use the boiled horse gram for making kollu paruppu.

2.  Horse Gram | Kollu Podi Recipe:

To make kollu podi, take 1/2 cup of horse gram and fry in an empty pan till it changes colour and set aside. Fry 2 dry red chillies in empty pan till it changes color and set aside. Now powder horse gram, red chilli along with required amount of salt to a fine powder. Once ground, add 3 pounded raw garlic cloves along with the skin and pulse for a few seconds.

3. Horse Gram | Kollu Sundal :

For kollu sundal, boil kollu, strain the water and take the boiled kollu alone. Now heat a pan with coconut oil, season with mustard. Once it starts spluttering, add asafoetida, channa dal and urad dal. Now add broken red chilli, curry leaves and saute well. Add boiled kollu along with grated coconut (I sometimes skip coconut). Finally add few drops of lemon juice and coriander leaves and switch off.

4. Kollu Rasam

To make kollu soup or rasam, boil horse gram with plenty of water and strain the water. Add broken red chillies, tamarind paste, enough salt, tiny pinch of sugar and mix well. Now in a kadai, heat oil, season with mustard and cumin seeds, add pounded small onions and fresh curry leaves and fry for a few seconds. Add the kollu water mixture and let it boil in low flame till it starts foaming and then switch off.

5.  Horse Gram | Kollu Paruppu:

To make kollu paruppu, boil kollu and strain the water and take the kollu alone. To season, heat oil in a pan. Fry finely cut shallots and red chillies, add coriander powder and cumin powder and fry well. Add the sauteed ingredients to boiled kollu along with salt and little amount of boiled kollu water and grind to a coarse paste.