The Forgotten Recipe | Kultha Khotto | Horse Gram Idli

Kulitha Khotto (Horse gram idli)

In Konkani language "kulithu" means "horse gram" and "kotto" means "a small bucket made from jackfruit leaves" to hold the batter.

Ingredients used for this recipe are horse gram, red rice and urad dal. Horse gram idli tastes delicious with ginger chutney.

Note: You can steam the batter in jackfruit leaves basket or in normal steel idli containers. You can also pour batter in small plates and steam them. Choice is yours.

Some things which my mother told me:

In my childhood days, kulithu(horse gram) was affordable. Urad dal was expensive in those days(during 1950). And there were very less breakfast to prepare without urad dal. That was the time when my grandma used to prepare idli/khotto with horse gram. But now a days(as of 2021) horse gram costs Rs.80/ per kg. Horse gram itself comes with many health benefits.

And as generation passed this recipe is being forgotten. I wish to keep this recipe alive.

Ingredients

Horse gram - ½ cup
Urad dal - ½ cup
Red rice - 2 cups
Water - as required
Salt - as per taste

Method (youtube video and description)

To Soak:

Soak 2 cups red rice in water for 6-8 hours.
Soak 1/2 cup urad dal in water for 2-3 hours.

For Grinding:

Wash urad dal and start grinding to fine paste by adding adequate water(add water little by little).
Remove urad batter after 15-20 min(consistency should be thick fine paste).
Next wash red rice and start grinding to coarse paste. Do not add more water.
This will be ready within 10-15 min. Remove the red rice batter in the urad batter vessel.
Wash the grinder adding little water. Store this water for later use.
Add salt as per taste and ferment urad dal and red rice batter for 6-8 hours.
Next we will grind horse gram and add it to same batter and steam. Here do not soak the horse gram and also fermentation is not required.
Wash 1/2 cup horse gram and grind to fine paste. Add adequate water well grinding.
Horse gram well grinding turns fluffy. Remove after 10-15min. Add horse gram batter to same vessel and mix well.
Add little water to the grinder and wash well. Use this water only if required.
Mix well, Consistency should be similar to idli batter,not too thick not too runny.
Add the batter to jackfruit leaves container. You can also use steel plate or steel tumbler.
Steam for 30 min(in steamer).
If you are using pressure cooker then steam without whistle for 20min.
Horse gram idli tastes delicious with ginger chutney.