Instructions: The farmers of central India are hard working folk who need robust wholesome food to sustain them through long periods of hectic activity. One of the main providers of this energy is horse gram. Every day the women of the farming community pack a lunch of rotis horse gram curry and a raw onion and carry it to the fields where their men are working. The lunch break is spent under a shady tree after which work continues until dusk.

how it grows
Horse gram is grown extensively in India. It is a hardy crop that does well in a wide range of soils where there is little rainfall. When the seed bearing pods mature they are picked dried and beaten with wooden poles. The seeds thus separated are cleaned and sorted.

appearance and taste
Small brown and oval these seeds resemble whole red lentils. Horse gram has a powerful earthy aroma and a strong fresh taste. The fragrance Is reminiscent of freshly cut hay.

buying and storing
Horse gram may be a little difficult to find. Do not confuse it with whole red lentils. It is available whole or ground to a grey brown flour.

medicinal and other uses
A teaspoonful of horse gram boiled in about 0.5 litre of water makes an infusion which is prescribed for cold and high blood pressure. Horse gram is also used as cattle feed and as a green manure.

culinary uses
Horse gram is sprouted and used in stir fries or curries. It is also powdered and made into a thick soup which is served with rlce and ghee. The seeds go well with fried garlic and are combined with mustard seeds and asafoetida. On the west coast horse gram is cooked with grated roasted coconut and peppercorns.

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