Kal Dosa with Ulavala charu is a die for combination. Ulavala Charu is prepared from Ulaval or Horse Gram. Ulaval Charu is what Amma makes during Shivarathri and few other Festival season. When I was a kid, I used to eat this with Jaggary. Amma used to specially grind the ulaval with jaggary in the rubburai (the stone used for grinding food) The taste that comes out is heavenly. I remember many ardent days spent eating this. She makes Ulaval Belam Mudda, which is made by grinding Cooked Horse Gram with jaggary without adding water. It forms a mass which very sweet and God, thinking about it makes me want to get back to those lovely days. I wish I indulge my kids the same way with these wonderful dishes. Alas, I don't have a grinding stone nor think they might enjoy them at this age. Charu is made from the water that's drained after boiling the Horse Gram.
Amma at times makes this some hours before, because that's how it tastes best. Mostly she makes the charu in the previous night and lets it soak. She mostly serves this with Kal dosa for breakfast the next day. Thinking of Kal dosa, reminds me of Dad. He is so fond of Kal Dosa. Amma always takes extra special care with serving food for Dad. She makes sure she makes the dosa for Dad, even if I was making for others.
Its not just Dad, who loves Kal Dosa, but all of us too. Though hubby dear does not like this with Ulaval Charu. I just love the combination. Kal Dosa is something that gets cooked only on one side. After pouring the batter on to the tawa, a hood is placed over it, to obtain the steaming effect and which in turn will have holes formed on the top. I came to know that in olden days, these dosas were made with very little oil, mainly for taking as a packed snack for journeys. Kal dosa is also soft and plumper. Amma even otherwise, makes soft dosas for side dishes like Ulaval Charu or Pithiki Pappu Kura.
In my Pithiki Pappu Kura, many wanted to know how it looks. So here's a picture of the process.
The other day, as this pappu is in season now, we have been having this often for breakfast. Athamma had prepared Ulaval Charu the previous night and I was feeling bad that I couldn't take a shot of it. So we made it again the next day. Having it after so many years reminded me of my many wonderful memories associated with that as a kid. I long for that Ulaval Belam Mudda. Wish I will get around doing that again.
Kal Dosa
Ingredients Needed
Parboiled Rice - 1
Raw Rice - 2
Urud Dal - 1
Methi or Fenugreek Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Method to prepare:
Clean and soak the rice as you do for regular Dosa batter. Grind to smooth paste and let it ferment overnight or minimum 6 to 8 hrs.
Heat the tawa and grease oil over it. Pour a ladleful of batter and spread it as you do the usual way, but take care not to spread too thin one. Sprinkle little oil and cover with a lid.
Put it to medium and cook for 1 -2 mins. Remove the lid, to see if all the parts are cooked. You should not turn over.
Nice holes will be formed on the top and the dosa will be really soft.
Ulaval Charu or Horse Gram Charu.
It was funny seeing charu being mentioned as soup. I guess for want of a better word, this was associated. Anyway, this is a lovely recipe which is Amma's signature one. This has always tasted the same whenever I tasted. Of course, the taste of this comes with age.
Ingredients Needed
Horse Gram or Ulaval - 1 & 1/2 cup
Tamarind - small lemon size
Salt to taste
To be ground
Red chilli i - 5 nos
Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Cumin - 1 tsp
Cinnamon - 1"
Cloves - 2-3
Poppy seeds/ Gus Gus - 1 tsp
Garlic - 5 pods
Small Onions - 3-4
Seasoning
Onion- 1 small
Mustard + Urud dal - 3/4 tsp
Curry leaves few
Method to prepare:
Soak Horse Gram for min 6 hrs. Pressure cook it for 5 - 6 whistles. Once the pressure is down, cook on direct flame for more juice to get into the water. Drain the water from the horse gram. We use just the water and about a tsp of cooked gram in the charu. The boiled horse gram is either eaten with jaggary or seasoned.
Soak tamarind and extract pulp.
Dry roast all the ingredients from Red Chillies to Poppy seeds. Once its cool, grind it along with 1 tsp cooked horse gram.and small onions along with garlic
In bowl, take the tamarind, the ground paste and add required water with salt. Mix well. The amount of water depends on how much charu you want.
Heat a pan with 1 tsp oil. Add mustard seeds, Urud dal and curry leaves. Once it splutters, add the chopped onions. Sauté well till its brown. Then add the mixed liquid and bring to boil.
Cook for 5 mins and remove.
Rest of the cooked Ulaval can be seasoned and eaten or can be ground with Jaggary and enjoyed.
Enjoy this Andhra Specialty with Tamilian one!
There is this incident that happened last evening. I have been wondering on plagiarism and stuff. I had seen few sites use my content, but I never bothered on that before, but something made me change my feed to short. I was pleasantly surprised to get a comment from a reader who had felt sad that I changed to short feed, which makes it difficult for them to read.. I hadn't really thought much on this when I was changing it. So on seeing that comment, I promptly changed it back to full feed. Yes there is this issue with plagiarism. I wish people take proper note on this and not just copy what is not theirs. But give proper credit to the source. At the same time, I don't want my readers to suffer. After all, I get headed and this is going on the encouragement that I get from all. What I publish is publicly accessible, so how they reach it doesn't matter. Still I feel it will be good to receive feedback on what I write. I was very happy to get that note though. Thank you!
Asha says
I knew it! My ajji from mysore has a big brass lid with a handle on top to cover the dosa. It does smell and taste good and soft too. Kallu is referred to as Dose kallu which dosa tava in Kannada.
Guess where their farm is, near the border of Koyambattur! Lot of Tamil influence in the way they dress and cook too!:D
Both palyas look yum, I need to save your whole blog!!:))
Uma says
Hmm. dosa! My favorite item. Never tried this combination. Shall give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
musical says
One really mouthwatering combo, Srivalli! I totally love this 101 dosa varieties series here! Very informative and enjoyable!
Thanks a ton, dear!
Anonymous says
I cannot thank you enough. Appreciate that you changed the feed.:)
As you know there are many blogs and you file away the recipes to use them later. Unless you plan to cook that dish,I don't think one necessarily spends time reading the post.
The stories are the ones which hold the attention and makes the whole experience more enjoyable.For the ones who are familiar with the culture, it is nostalgic and for others it gives a peek in to another world.
This is orangette's blog orangette.blogspot.Her posts are entertaining as well.
I am planning to try your Ragi Sangati. It looks extremely healthy .Whole grain flour as such is quite
boring to consume .But I think rice definitly makes it much more palatable.
Thanks again.
-O
Anonymous says
damn. I wrote a long comment and the blogger ate it up :(. I will have to write it all another time.
Thanks for making the changes in the feed.Cannot appreciate it enough.
Thanks again.
-O
Dhivya says
wow nice pics,,looks yummy....and great idea too.thanks for sharing
Jayashree says
What I call Kal dosa is made the same way except that the batter is not fermented. It is made as soon as it is ground.
The charu looks good.
Seema says
Kallu dosa looks yum! Ulva saaru - I tasted this very recently at my Telugu friends place & Oh ! my it tasted awesome.. It was made by her mom & it was simply delicious - the first time i heard & ate it was then.. thanks for the recipe will try.. Liked your Averekalu curry too & picked up a pac today only from grocery so will try soon & let u know!
Anonymous says
You have a very impressive collection of recipes.
Charu Katira
Sukanya M says
Hi Srivalli,
Thanks for stopping by at Timid Cook. I did contact a few bloggers...but with little luck. So would really appreciate some help. I would love to pass on a secret packet or two to some intrepid foodie out there 🙂
satya says
That porous dosa looks inviting Srivalli.I heard so much about ulava [kulath or kulthi in Hindi]chaaru.Now i can try it with your recipe. Thank you for sharing.A small doubt though,what we get in super markets{dried ones]look small and flat.Are there varieties in ulavalu?
Latha Narasimhan says
Incidentally just last week lakshmi said satish's grandma bought a new kallu and used it for a few days and gave to lakshmi. This was to make it easier for lakshmi to use. We call it Pazhagina dosa kallu! The dosas are definitely heavenly when prepared in the kallu!
Nice side dish for the dosas Sri! 🙂
Padmaja says
Valli can you believe if i say i never tasted this combo!!
Its looks so different and i guess it must be so yummy. I can wait until you serve these wonderful dosas for me!!
satya says
Oh,they are not ulavalu as i thought.sorry for the confusion.
Bharathy says
You too make Pithikki mochai koora??Needs lots of patience! 🙂
I make kootu with mochai similarly.:)
Srivalli says
Asha, thats great to know..thank you for your kind words
Anon, thank you, glad to get your feedback! Yes I checked on her blog and found it very interesting too...thanks...
Do try Ragi sangati...its gives an unique feeling to senses.
Jayashree, thanks...thats nice to know yoru version too
Uma, glad to share!
musical, thank you!...Glad to indulge!
Charu, welcome to my blog...thanks for your appreciation..stay back and enjoy!
Dhivya, thank you
Seema, good that you tasted...its hard to explain to others who haven't!...good to know that...thats our family special..and everybody loves it!
satya, thank you...I dont' remember seeing a dried ulava..but mocha yes...I will try to find out abt them!
Lathamma, thats nice to know...now lak can enjoy kal dosa
Sukanya, good to know..thanks for dropping by!...I have sent you the details!
Padmaja, thats really shocking..but then you got to redeem the situation! will be happy to serve you these!
Bharathy, yes everybody at home love this...so got to do it...will ask for the recipe for kootu
Ramki says
Hi Srivalli,
Am blogging your Charu as a model recipe in the 1001 Andhra curries cookbook
srikar's kitchen says
mouth watering receipes. great pics and very superrrrrrrrrrr.
Srivalli says
Ramki, Thanks for the note...
srikar, welcome to my blog...thank you...
Sunshinemom says
Hi, Sri, I have seen my MIL also do this. Ulaval is somewhat similar to vala chi amti made in Maharashtra I think! In my house its the other way, hubby loves val and I wellll would rather avoid it!
pavithra says
Hi... I tried this today....aagaagagaagaa......