Name: Maharashtrian Kulith Saar
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 530 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: ¼ cup Horse Gram, soaked overnight; 2 cup Water, for boiling and thinning; 1½ Dried Kokum Rinds, soaked in a little warm water; 2 clove Garlic, crushed; 1 Green Chili Pepper, slit; ½ tsp Cumin Seeds, for tempering; ½ tbsp Cooking Oil, peanut oil preferred; 1 tbsp Coriander Leaves, finely chopped; ½ tsp Salt, to taste

8 hr 50 mintotal

50 min hands-on8 hr hands-off

Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min

Serves: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Spice: High

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Ingredients

¼ cupHorse Gramsoaked overnight
2 cupWaterfor boiling and thinning
1½Dried Kokum Rindssoaked in a little warm water
2 cloveGarliccrushed
1Green Chili Pepperslit
½ tspCumin Seedsfor tempering
½ tbspCooking Oilpeanut oil preferred
1 tbspCoriander Leavesfinely chopped
½ tspSaltto taste

Quantities are for 2 servings.

You'll need: Stovetop, Pressure Cooker.

Includes soaking time.

Method

Drain the soaked horse gram. Boil it in a pressure cooker with a portion of the water for 6-7 whistles until completely cooked. Let it cool.
Strain the boiled horse gram, reserving the dark cooking liquid. Grind the cooked gram into a smooth paste adding a little water if needed.
In a pot, combine the ground paste, the reserved liquid, and the remaining water. Add the soaked kokum rinds and salt. Bring to a gentle boil.
In a small pan, heat the oil for tempering. Add the cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add the crushed garlic and slit green chillies, sautéing until the garlic turns golden.
Pour this hot tempering over the boiling saar. Stir well and simmer for 5 more minutes.
Garnish with the fresh chopped coriander and turn off the heat.

How to tell it's done

A thin, dark brown, earthy broth with a potent garlicky aroma and a sharp tangy finish.

Getting it right

Tip

Do not skip Kokum; it provides the authentic Maharashtrian tartness that cuts through the earthy flavor of the horse gram.

What to serve it with

Best enjoyed piping hot in a mug on a rainy or cold day, or poured over hot plain rice.

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