ALASANDE KAALU USLI

ALASANDE KAALU USLI 

Usli in Karnataka and Sundal in Tamilnadu  are a light snack generally made of legumes like chickpeas, dry green peas, black eyed beans etc. Over the years this has come to become common fare during festivals like Navartri  in many South Indian homes.

As I write this, we in India are celebrating the festival of Navaratri. It is customary to offer some prasad or snack to guests who drop in, usually one sweet and one savoury. Today's recipe is for the easy to make Alasande Kaalu Usli, which is made with black-eyed beans.

Black-eyed beans are called Alasande Kaalu in Kannada, Karamani in Tamil, Lobia in Hindi and Alasande Bi in my mother tongue, Konkani.

This recipe does not call for the use of onion or garlic, so it can also be made on days when many in Hindu families fast or avoid dishes using onion or garlic.

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for other types of Uslis , such as :-

• Kadale Kaalu Usli
• Hesaru Kaalu Usli

Do try out these yummy Uslis. They are easy to make and are healthy too!

Ingredients:-

• Alasande Kaalu,  (Black Eyed Beans) , 1/2 cup (yields 1 and 1/4 cup on soaking)
• Green Chillies, slit or chopped , 2
• Red Chilli, broken into halves, 1
• Mustard Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Hing, ( Asafoetida), 1/8 tsp
• Curry Leaves, 6 to 8
• Coconut Gratings, 1/3 cup 
• Salt, to taste
• Oil, 2 tsp
• Coriander Leaves, finely chopped, 2 tbsp, for garnish
• Lemon Juice, as required (optional) 

Method:-

Wash and soak the Alasande Kaalu ( black-eyed beans) for about 4 hours in adequate water 

Please note that 1/2 cup of Alasande Kaalu, when soaked increases in volume to become 1 and 1/4 cups 

Next, pressure cook the soaked Alasande Kaalu with fresh water along with a little salt for about 2 whistles

Make sure this does not get overcooked
Wait for the cooker to cool and remove the cooked Alasande Kaalu 
Drain the excess water and keep aside
Heat oil in a kadhai and on medium heat add the mustard seeds
When they splutter add the green chillies and sauté till they change colour

Add the broken red chilli and curry leaves and saute for a few seconds

To this add the cooked Alasande Kaalu and salt to taste
Cook uncovered for a few minutes till the excess water evaporates
Mix in the fresh coconut gratings and finely chopped coriander leaves

If you wish, you can add a little lemon juice and mix once again