Kulithacha Pithla (Marathi) or Vegan Horse Gram Flour Soup

Horsegram or kulith is not the most popular bean out there, but in Ayurveda, it is a superfood. It is used to treat a variety of health conditions including kidney stones. If you are looking to lose weight, horse gram should be your go-to source for proteins and fibre. It keeps you full for long, provides a variety of macro and micronutrients, is very low in calories and it helps to prevent the absorption of fat. If you’re sold on the benefits of horse gram now, let us look at a typically Maharashtrian horse gram soup recipe, traditionally known as kulithacha pithla.

Kulithacha Pitha Ingredients (Horse Gram Flour Soup)

Serves 2

4 heaped spoonfuls (tbsp) of horse gram flour (kulithacha pith)

5 to 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

3 to 4 pieces of amsul (dried kokum / garcinia indica)

1 tsp turmeric powder

2 to 3 green chillies, slit down the middle

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tbsp cooking oil of your choice

Finely chopped coriander for garnish

Kulithacha Pitha Instructions (Horse Gram Flour Soup)

In a small bowl, add the horse gram flour and add water bit by bit. Keep stirring so as to avoid the formation of lumps and keep adding water till you get a smooth pancake batter-style consistency. Set aside.

In a hot soup pot, add some oil and mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds pop, add the finely chopped garlic. Stir on low flame till the garlic browns and crisps. Then on a low flame (to avoid the turmeric browning), add the turmeric, the chilli powder and the slit chillies. Stir for a minute and then pour in the flour batter that you had set aside.

Add some hot water to achieve a soupy consistency and keep stirring to avoid lumps. Add the amsul. On a medium-low flame, let the soup come to a boil. Serve hot with a garnish of coriander.